Mirra Andreeva in French Open last four after defeating ailing Aryna Sabalenka

As soon as Aryna Sabalenka stepped onto Court Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday afternoon, it was evident that she wasn't feeling well. She seemed uneasy, bending over between points, clutching her stomach, and making exaggerated movements towards her team. Haltway through the first set, Sabalenka summoned the trainer and started taking pills.

Facing an opponent who is physically challenged can be advantageous in tennis, but it can also be a double-edged sword. Mirra Andreeva had to deal with this circumstance during her first grand slam quarter-final match. Her challenge was to block out any distractions, such as her opponent's difficulties and the enormity of the moment, and concentrate solely on playing the next point to the best of her capabilities.

Andreeva has demonstrated that she possesses the necessary composure and confidence to perform well in significant events, even though she is still early in her profession. She proved this once more on Wednesday by maintaining her calmness amidst the intense closing moments of the match to secure her first ever grand slam semi-final spot at Roland Garros. She won 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 against Sabalenka, who currently is ranked as the world No 2.

Andreeva just recently celebrated her 17th birthday in late April, which means there is a cap on the number of tournaments she can participate in per year. Nonetheless, she manages to make the most out of each tournament she competes in and always delivers impressive performances.

She has just made history by becoming the freshest athlete to enter a grand slam semi-final since Martina Hingis at just 16 years old in 1997. Additionally, she's the newest athlete to knock out a top-two participant at a slam since Jelena Dokic in 1999. As a result of her astounding performance, the Russian will ascend to an all-new career pinnacle, ranked at number 23 in the world. She's inching closer to becoming one of the top 20 players, having achieved an impressive milestone.

During this tournament, it appeared that Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina would ultimately face off in the lower bracket of the women's singles. To everyone's surprise, Andreeva and Jasmine Paolini, the 12th seed, both unanticipated players, will compete against each other with the exciting opportunity to reach their first grand slam final.

On Wednesday, Paolini managed to beat Rybakina despite being much shorter, only measuring in at 1.63 metres (5ft 4in). Her impressive victory secured her place in the semi-finals for the first time and also broke into the top 10 rankings with a score of 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. This is a significant achievement for Italian tennis as both Paolini and Jannik Sinner have made it to the semi-finals, marking the first time in the Open era that Italian players have succeeded in both the men's and women's singles draws.

Paolini revealed with a grin that her height was not a hindrance for her. Instead, she chose to focus on enhancing other skills such as her serve to compensate for her height. Though she wishes she was taller, she accepts and makes the most of her current height.

Sabalenka has been performing consistently well in major competitions, and was hoping to make it to the semi-finals for the seventh time in a row. Despite facing physical challenges during her latest match, she still managed to maintain her composure and play at a high level. Even though she wasn't able to move around the court as easily and made some mistakes, she was able to rely on her powerful serves and forehand shots when it mattered most. She played an intense first set and dominated during the tie-break.

Andreeva's ascent is attributed to her astute approach on the court, effortlessly absorbing and deflecting her adversary's momentum. She adds diversity to her game by incorporating an array of techniques, such as utilizing drop shots, angles, and making strategic net advances. Above all, she showcases a fervent spirit of competition.

To be honest, I have my own way of approaching the game," she stated in retrospect. "I don't really follow a set plan. Instead, I go with my instincts and move to wherever there's an opening on the court. If I think my opponent may move to a certain area, I'll try to hit the ball behind them. Although my coach and I had a game strategy in place for today's match, I didn't really adhere to it."

Instead of feeling intimidated after the initial set, Andreeva decided to step up her game by hitting the ball sooner, highlighting Sabalenka's restricted mobility and causing her already uneasy opponent to feel even more uneasy.

Towards the end of the last set, the 17-year-old faced a chaotic and challenging match. Despite this, she showed some remarkable moments of skill and emerged victorious. To secure the most significant win of her career, she expertly defended the court from one sideline to the other and finished with an excellent backhand lob over Sabalenka's head.