PARIS—Lucie Safarova, who is in the semifinals at Roland Garros, believes she has finally hit her stride. The 28-year-old upset defending champion Maria Sharapova in the fourth round and then beat rising 21-year-old Garbine Muguruza in the quarterfinals. The Czech also reached the Wimbledon semifinals last year and will enter the Top 10 for the first time following the French Open.
"It's not easy because you have so many emotions going on," said Safarova, who hasn't dropped a set so far in Paris. "I couldn't really fall asleep [before playing Muguruza], and then I wake up so early. So I was like a little tired in the morning. But the will to win and to be in the semifinals was so big that once I stepped on the court I was just fighting and playing really well.”
Safarova will play the 2008 Roland Garros champion Ana Ivanovic in the semis.
“I haven't reached my dream yet, and that's what you kind of work for and follow,” Safarova said. “I was many times very close, but it didn't happen. Didn't turn out to my side. So I was just like keep working hard and waiting for those moments."