PARIS (Reuters) - Australian sixth seed Samantha Stosur and Italian Sara Errani began their French Open semi-final on Thursday following a one-hour-20-minute rain delay.

Play had been due to start at 08:00 a.m. EDT but the players were kept off court as a heavy downpour sent fans running for cover at Roland Garros.

Weather permitting, the second semi-final will feature title favorite Maria Sharapova and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

(Reporting by Pritha Sarkar, editing by Clare Fallon)