Stephens powers past Kasatkina into French Open semis

Paris - Sets up repeat of last year's Flushing Meadows final with fellow American and good friend Keys

US Open champion Sloane Stephens brushed aside Russian Daria Kasatkina in the French Open quarterfinals on Tuesday to set up a repeat of last year's Flushing Meadows final with fellow American and good friend Madison Keys.

The 10th seed produced a clinical performance to down Kasatkina, the conqueror of world number two Caroline Wozniacki, 6-3, 6-1 on Court Philippe Chatrier.

"I'm excited to play my good friend in the semifinals, we've already played in the US Open final and it's really good for American tennis," said Stephens.

The 25-year-old, who was ranked 957 just six weeks before her maiden Grand Slam triumph last year after a series of injury problems, is now into the semifinals of a major for the third time.

Stephens produced some ferocious hitting at the end of a marathon eighth game to give herself the chance to serve for the opening set.

In the second set Stephens broke in the third game with a venomous cross-court forehand and eased to victory after just an hour and 10 minutes of play.

In the other half of the draw, two-time champion Maria Sharapova will meet 2016 winner Garbine Muguruza on Wednesday, while world number one Simona Halep takes on double Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber.