Loit recovered from 4-2 down in the first set to force a tie break which Mauresmo won 7-3. The former world number one managed the telling break in the ninth game of a tight second set before advancing to the last four in sluggish fashion.

Mauresmo, who slumped to a second round defeat in Rome last week, entered the tournament in order to get more competition before Roland Garros [ Images ] which starts on Sunday.

The Wimbledon [ Images ] champion, who has never made it past the quarter-finals of the French, has looked below par since returning to action earlier this month after two months out because of appendicitis.

Mauresmo will play either compatriot Marion Bartoli [ Images ] or Russia's [ Images ] Elena Vesnina for a place in Saturday's final.

Serbia's Jelena Jankovic [ Images ], the second seed, will play Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues in the other semi-final.

(Writing by Patrick Vignal in Paris)