PARIS, France (AP) — There will be a Grand Slam semi-final without Roger Federer for the first time in six years.

French Open upset specialist Robin Soderling struck again yesterday, rallying past defending champion Federer in a rainy quarter-final, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4. That ended Federer’s record streak of reaching the semi-finals in 23 consecutive major events.

The shocker was the second pulled off by Soderling in as many years at Roland Garros. He ended the reign of four-time champion Rafael Nadal in the fourth round a year ago, clearing the path for Federer to win his first French Open title and complete a career Grand Slam.

Federer beat Soderling in last year’s final. Before yesterday, Federer was 12-0 against the big-swinging Swede, winning 28 of their 30 sets.

But Soderling’s recent improvement was evident as he controlled rallies from the baseline with his thunderous strokes. Federer found himself on the defensive and unable to move forward.

Seeded fifth, Soderling saved a set point in the third when he won a frantic rally, then won the set to take the lead for good shortly after a rain delay of 75 minutes.

Soderling’s the only player other than Nadal to beat Federer at Roland Garros since 2004. The Swede’s opponent Friday will be No 15 seed Tomas Berdych, who beat No 11 Mikhail Youzhny, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2. Berdych has yet to drop a set in five rounds.

The semi-final round Friday without Federer will be the first at a Grand Slam tournament since he lost in the third round of the 2004 French Open.

Because of Federer’s defeat, Nadal will reclaim the No 1 ranking next week if he wins the title. The upset raises the possibility of a Nadal-Soderling rematch in the final.

It was a cold, damp afternoon, with occasional rain that had some spectators watching from under umbrellas, but the conditions didn’t seem to rob Soderling’s shots of any sting. He hit winners past Federer even standing two strides behind the baseline.

The upset was all the more surprising because Federer was in control early. He won 22 of his first 24 service points and led 30-love in his first service game of the second set when he suddenly faltered, losing four points in a row.

Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian woman to reach the French Open semi-finals since 1954, then collapsed face-down on center court and kissed the clay.

Schiavone upset No 3 seed Caroline Wozniacki, 6-2, 6-3. Seeded 17th, Schiavone is the first Italian woman to reach the semifinals at any Grand Slam tournament in the Open era, which began in 1968.

Schiavone’s opponent tomorrow will be No 5-seeded Elena Dementieva, who rallied past fellow Russian Nadia Petrova, 2-6, 6-2, 6-0. The showing is Dementieva’s best at Roland Garros since 2004, when she was runner-up.

The 29-year-old Schiavone had been 0-3 in major quarterfinals and hadn’t reached the final eight at Roland Garros since 2001. This time she made the most of her chance.

After Schiavone slammed an overhead winner on her final shot, she leaped, raised her arms with a scream and lifted her racket over her head in jubilation. Then she kissed the clay.