Henin, 25, gave US star Serena Williams a lesson in clay court tennis which had the Australian Open champion once again smashing her racket in frustration at the Philippe Chatrier centre court as she fell 6-4, 6-3 to the top seed.

The Belgian was joined in the final four by three first time French Open semifinalists including Sharapova who defeated Russian compatriot Anna Chakvetadze 6-3, 6-4.

"I pretty much stood back and let her take advantage of me. I feel violated," said eighth-seeded Williams. "All she had to do was show up."

Henin next meets Jelena Jankovic, with reigning US Open champion Sharapova facing off against Ana Ivanovic, the first time that two women from Serbia have reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam event.

Jankovic, 22, brushed aside Czech sixth seed Nicole Vaidisova 6-3, 7-5 as Ivanovic, 19, battled past last year's runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-0, 3-6, 6-1.

However, the eagerly awaited match between Henin and Williams, considered by many the final before the final of this year's tournament, never lived up to expectations.

The centre court clash also marked the first time Henin and Williams have played at Roland Garros since their controversial semifinal in 2003 when Henin defeated the defending champion in three sets.

The American left the court in tears after being jeered by the partisan Paris public who had swung behind the underdog after a series of controversial incidents.

She had the same jeers ringing in her ears this time as she again smashed her racket in frustration after losing her opening service game in the second set.

"I think they were definitely for Justine, but it doesn't bother me," said Williams.

"Nothing worked today. I don't think I've ever played so bad in a quarterfinal of a Grand Slam."

Henin, who missed the Australian Open as she was dealing with the breakup of her marriage, refused to put her victory down to her opponent's poor form.

"I thought I just did a good job," said Henin. "I did everything I could to control the match. I didn't let her come back.

"It's my first Grand Slam of the year so I didn't know what to expect," added Henin, who has won the title here in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

But despite being the favourite the five-time Grand Slam winner said she was expecting a tough challenge from Jankovic whom she has beaten in all five of their previous meetings.

"It's going to be another difficult match. I'm one of the oldest on the circuit now. Tennis is evolving and new players are coming through," she added of a player who is just three years her junior. Sharapova, meanwhile, has now reached at least the semifinals of all the four Grand Slams and she did it in style on Tuesday pulling off her fourth career win over Chakvetadze.

The reigning US Open champion and former Wimbledon winner, has always been dismissed as a French Open contender with the demanding clay surface exposing her problems with movement around the court.

But at the fifth time of asking, the 20-year-old finally managed to break through into the Roland Garros last four where she will face Serbian teenager Ana Ivanovic for a place in the final.

"I wouldn't be surprised if I won the tournament," said Sharapova.

"Others might be surprised because I didn't play a lot on clay when I was younger.

"It also doesn't surprise me that I'm in the semi-finals. I am proud to have made it. In every tournament I play, I always believe in myself whether it's clay or mud. I know what I'm capable of."

The Russian second seed subdued ninth seed Chakvetdaze in a far more convincing manner than she did to defeat Switzerland's Patty Schnyder in the previous round where she had to save three match points.