The 2013 French Open: Maria Sharapova Advances To Semifinals Against Helena Jankovic; Will Face Victoria Azarenka

Maria Sharapova's defense of her French Open title continues on after she rallied from losing the first set to advance to the semifinals Wednesday.

Sharapova, who was buried in the first set, came roaring back to beat Jelena Jokovic, 0-6, 6-4, 6-3. The victory marked Sharapova's first match win after losing an opening set 6-0. The win sets the stage on Friday for Sharapova to meet No.3-seeded Victoria Azarenka.

A two-time Australian Open champion, Azarenka advanced to the semifinals of the French Open for the first time in her career when she beat Maria Kirilenko 7-6 (3), 6-2.

Jankovic took Sharapova, the tournament and world No.2 seed, by surprise Wednesday when she took advantage of Sharapova missing the lines and playing off her game in the first match to rack up 27 points in the first set, 20 of which came by unforced errors from Sharapova.

However, Sharapova, who completed her first career Grand Slam title by winning the French Open last year, began to regain her form as the match progressed, hitting harder and managing to find her stroke before she took her first lead in the final set at 4-3.  

Prior to Wednesday's match, Sharapova had lost all five matches in which she had dropped a first set 6-0.

Heading into Friday's match, Azarenka is on a roll, sporting a 27-2 record and having looked strong at the French Open so far. More importantly, however, she has looked impressive against Sharapova, against whom she has a 7-5 win-loss career record. Yet, prior to Wednesday, Sharapova had looked all but unstoppable, having won her first four matches at Roland Garros in straight sets. And with her French Open title on the line, Sharapova can be expected to bring her "A-game."