REIGNING champion, Maria Sharapova lost the first six games, then won the last four to reach the French Open semi-finals.

The defending champion overcame a miserable start in the quarterfinals Wednesday to beat Jelena Jankovic, 0-6, 6-4, 6-3.

It was the first victory of Sharapova’s career after losing an opening set 6-0. Her opponent Friday will be two-time Australian Open champion, Victoria Azarenka, who reached her first Roland Garros semi-final by beating Maria Kirilenko 7-6 (3), 6-2.

Sharapova won her first French Open title a year ago to complete a career Grand Slam. She’s 42-9 at the French Open, best among active women. Maria Sharapova fights back to reach French Open semi-finals

Serb Jankovic made a scintillating start as she reeled off the first six games, yet Sharapova slowly upped her game and a break in the seventh game of the final set proved decisive. She will now meet Victoria Azarenka, who beat Maria Kirilenko 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.

Sharapova lost a set 6-0 for only the fourth time in her Grand Slam career after committing 20 unforced errors in the opening set.

But she managed to put that behind her and extend her unbeaten run at Roland Garros to 12 matches.

“After the first set I knew if I wanted to win this match I’d have to change things around,” she said.

“I just had to erase that chapter and move forward because the match was not over. I still felt like I was in the match and I was - I broke her in the first game and that was extremely important.

“I just fought really hard in the third set. It only gets tougher from here but I’m really happy to be at this stage again.”

Azarenka became the first woman representing Belarus to reach the semi-finals in Paris. The two-time Australian Open champion won five straight points to lead 6-1 in the first-set tiebreaker before taking it 7-3.

Kirilenko, who is still to progress beyond the last eight in a Grand Slam tournament, double-faulted to trail 3-1 in the second set and a long forehand handed Azarenka victory.