Default girl:, external We all know the likely outcome of this match. Question is, has Nadal conquered his Djokovic demons enough for Sunday?

George Muscat:, external Murray playing well but Rafa is too good - hits good shots for winners and forces opponents to try things they wouldn't normally

Ryan Kenneth:, external Where's the aggressive return Murray has been using on the second serve all tournament, well inside the baseline but not today.

Mary Pierce
Former Australian and French Open champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Andy has got to try to do something different in this second set. He has made too many mistakes but he can't continue to do the same thing again. He's got to try to get his returns back deep, for starters."

You can listen to full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, Getty Images

Given his complexion and a childhood in Scotland, the sun is probably rarely an ally of Andy Murray.

It is finding new ways to inconvenience the world number eight though.

A double fault on the opening point is partly due to the dazzle from up above judging by the way Murray shoots daggers at the sky.

Murray corrects a line judge's error in his favour next and he may regret that as Nadal punishes his slow, central volley down the middle and then whips away a forehand pass to bring up 15-40 and two break points.

The Scot is still not happy serving up this end of the court and a forehand plonked between the tramlines mean it is advantage Rafa.

Anything you can do....

Rafael Nadal rattles through four successive points to hold his own serve to love.

A hold to love from Andy Murray.

There was plenty to like about the way he did it too. A drop-shot, with hands like dampeners, is perfectly-weighted and Nadal doesn't bother finishing his sprint forward.

The final point challenges Nadal's determination to stand and deliver from the the baseline as Murray hits perfect length and the world number one fails to get it back on the half-volley.

Image source, Getty Images

Brian Stormont:, external If Andy doesn't go through, still a great tournament for him. Nadal is king on clay but give him a game Andy.

Kritt Normsaskul, externalJust settled down to watch the Nadal vs. Murray semi-final. Nadal has bossed it so far

Mary Pierce
Former Australian and French Open champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"What can you say about that first set? It was just so impressive from Rafa Nadal. He is playing so aggressive today, he just knows that is required and he is giving Andy no chance to get into this game."

You can listen to full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, AP

Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up.

Short of suddenly developing Usain Bolt-levels of fast-twitch muscle or the elastic limbs of yoga guru, Andy Murray is always going to be beaten by a Rafael Nadal forehand that zeroes in on whitewash on the opening point.

Murray is eager to end the rallies before Nadal can land those sort of killer shots, but he is a little too keen on a couple of rallies, punting long and wide.

Nadal rushes the net to close out with a forehand volley. A hint of the frying pan splay about it, but there was very little to complain about in that first set from Nadal. Pretty much spotless.

Owen Harlow:, external There's no doubt that Murray is in sensational form on clay, but Rafa is just too fierce on the surface. Nadal in 4!

Sarah Alonze:, external Not a strong start from Murray. He'll need to kick his first serve into gear and be a whole lot more aggressive to beat Rafa

Helles Mammut:, external Murray beating Nadal at RG would be the equivalent of England winning the WC with three consecutive penalty-shootout wins

Andy Murray braces himself for the worse and flirts with the Rafael Nadal forehand. This can end in tears, but it has the advantage of getting the Spaniard moving and mixing it up.

It pays off as Nadal nets on his backhand, scampering back across the baseline.

Nadal whittles his way back to 30-30 and to within two points of the set. Nadal will have to do it with the balls up his end though. A Murray smash and an ace ensures he lives to fight another game in the set.

Image source, Getty Images

Jamie Russell, via text: Not a great start Andy, but come on fella, bring it home- we have faith. Watching from Djibouti on holiday

Andy in Dunfermline, via text: I don't think Rafa is talked about enough in relation to the 'greatest ever' discussion. His utter domination of the clay far surpasses anything his compatriots have managed on their preferred surfaces.

Kieran, via text: The brilliant Rafa to win but make it a little interesting and take it to a 4 maybe 5 setter? Let's go Rafa!

"No legs!" shouts Andy Murray and he buries a forehand into the the net. Is he talking about the shot or the man who made it?

He doesn't get much of a peek at the rest of the game or a chance to sort the problem as Nadal holds with an arcing ace on the final point.

Andy Murray dusts off the drop-shot. It is a shot that he gets grief for resorting to, but in these baking conditions, with Rafael Nadal's shaky knee-caps and the Spaniard lamping everything from the baseline, it is a decent ploy.

It drops dead as a door nail just over the net to take Murray to 40-0. A horrible framed forehand, high to the gods, and splashing down just wide gives Nadal a point, but Murray whips away a winner to close out.

Better.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"The Nadal forehand began to click into gear halfway through his last match against David Ferrer, and it's looking absolutely ferocious right now. You can have all the game plans in the world, but if he is making 75% of first serves and lining up that forehand behind it every time, it's hard to see a way round him."

Image source, AP

Liam Jon Ledward:, external Murray has been so amazing in this year's #RolandGarros however I think he is about to suffer a major slaughter against Nadal

Charlotte Grant:, external Need @andy_murray to beat Nadal to save me from the boredom of uni revision. There's a first time for everything. COME ON ANDY!

Dennis Ethan:, external Rafa's forehand on song and I can't see Murray having any sort of answers to it. Vamos Nadal! Ominous

The big lassooing forehand finish almost screams "Vamos!" as Nadal moves 40-15 up. The reaction from Judy Murray is more restrained, but she sportingly applauds a point well won by the Spaniard.

Her son nibbles back a point with a sharp return, but his attempt to repeat the trick is snared by the net.

Nadal, as ever, is demanding his opponent lift his own game to a new level. So far Andy Murray is rummaging around in search of top gear.

Mary Pierce
Former Australian and French Open champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"It's a good feeling for Andy to get on the scoreboard. He looks up to his box and he will need to have support today. It is important have the support of your family and friends when you are playing a tough game like this."

You can listen to full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Andy Murray trains some fire onto the Rafael Nadal backhand at 30-30 and he has enough pace on his groundstrokes to take it out of the Spaniard's reach.

Nadal is scuttling around his forehand and why wouldn't you? It's worth the effort. On this occasion though he over-cooks, straying over the back to allow Murray to get on the board.

Paul in Bristol, via text: EVEN if Andy can attack the way he did in Rome and EVEN if Rafa shows some vulnerability again, just can't see Andy maintaining it long enough in this heat...

Neer, via text: If Murray does not improve his first serve from what it's been in the last week, this could over oh so quickly.

Janet from Rainford, via text: Bored at work. .wish we had a tv! Come on Andy!

Rafael Nadal is so at home at Philippe Chatrier, he could be playing with slippers on his feet and a pipe in his mouth out there.

The Spaniard is cruising around the red clay, swatting away winners almost absent-mindedly.

A forehand flopped into open court closes out the game with Murray giving it up as a lost cause as soon as it leaves the world number one's racquet.

Ten minutes gone and three games adrift. Grim times for Murray. Time to grind and graft.

Image source, Reuters