No, a pin wasn't stuck in a collection of names to pick these semi-finalists. Tennis/Women's Singles, semi-finals preview: All unheralded players, except for Jennifer Capriati, no one would have chosen her opponent today, Anastasia Myskina, or either of the other pairing, Argentina's Paola Suarez and Russia's Elena Dementieva, for promotion to the rung of one step from a grand slam final.

The early departure of Justine Henin-Hardenne and Tuesday's implosion of the top three remaining seeds, the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, and Amelie Mauresmo, has thrown the doors open for the 2001 champion Capriati.

Myskina and Suarez are contesting their first grand slam semi-finals, and for Dementieva this will be her first since the 2001 US Open.

For the statistics junkies, it is also the first time in four years that Henin-Hardenne, the Williams or Kim Clijsters are not in a Roland Garros semi-final.

On paper then, it would appear that Capriati should be rubbing her hands with glee as she faces the sixth seed Myskina.

Although at six she is seeded higher than the American, the 22-year-old Myskina remains the underdog. Her stated dream of winning the first round has clearly been exceeded, and now she gives herself a chance.

"I do believe that I can beat Jennifer," said Myskina. "I do believe that I can play better. Whoever is stronger mentally, I think is going to win."

Beating Venus for the first time in her career is the best endorsement Myskina could have wished for, but to roll over this American and former world number one she will probably have to play more aggressively than she did against Venus.

Capriati's experience will also be a factor. Apart from winning at Roland Garros three years ago, she has also been champion in Australia twice, in 2001 and 2002, and she's beaten Serena twice in recent weeks.

"I didn't see any of the match (with Myskina) because I was playing. But Myskina is a good player and she's consistent," said Capriati. It's probably not enough.

Suarez goes into her semi-final hoping to cause an upset over the towering Dementieva, who is seeded five places above her. But the Argentinian may have the psychological edge, having won their only previous meeting on clay two years ago in Acapulco.

In addition, three of her four WTA singles titles have been on clay. She will be glued to the baseline and want to trade punches.

Her concern will be that Dementieva was just 20 years old when they last met and since then has considerably improved, particularly in physical strength.

The Russian has also been ranked sixth in the world, while the highest the 27-year-old has reached is 13.

And lest it be forgotten, Dementieva is also the player to have upset Amelie Mauresmo in straight sets in front of a raucous Parisian crowd.

"The last time I was in a semi-final, it was almost four years ago," said Dementieva.

"Now I feel like I have more experience and I did everything right before this tournament, whereas last time I could not show my game. I wasn't prepared and I couldn't handle all this pressure. I didn't know what to do when I had a break between the matches."

The possibility now is that there could be an Argentinian player in both the men's and women's final. Suarez is known for being loud and vocal during her matches, which the French crowds enjoy.

"Sometimes I'm a little crazy on court, you know, yelling a lot. It depends if I'm nervous or if I'm calm," she said.

That's a good omen. The whole week has been pretty much that way.