All she wrote? A forehand battle ends with Gulbis pushed long. Novak Djokovic will serve for a place in the French Open final.

Backhand dumped into the net by Gulbis. Break point. Effective match point?

Gulbis is eager to get to the net, going to 30-0 before a double fault gets Djokovic a foothold. Smelling a chance, a huge forehand leaves Gulbis prone. 30-30.

Foxy from Durham, via text: There's only so much some players will take. Gulbis standing up to The Djok like a kid in the yard being bullied......interesting!

Mike Gow in Aberdeen, via text: Finally Gulbis is showing what he is capable of in a slam. One of the best personalities on the tour and glad to see him doing well.

Gulbis opens his latest opportunity to break with a searing pass, but Djokovic, perhaps with renewed energy, plays the fireman. Spark snuffed out, Djokovic quickly to his seat for a towel down. Pressure back on Ernie.

Image source, Getty Images

Former British tennis player Anne Keothavog:, external Djokovic first to break a racket in this match before Gulbis. Never thought I'd see that! I'll give him a 6/10 for it

Djokovic dons a white cap in a further hint that the burning sphere in the sky is causing him some trouble. That white peak seems to offer no further protection to the Gulbis slam dunks, which give the Latvian a 40-0 lead. A horrible Djokovic dink into the net gives Gulbis a simple hold. Both men are on the floor, unable to muster the hint of a challenge to the other's serve.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"It's hard to figure out what's going on in front of us right now, as Gublis looks at times to have a lower back issue while Djokovic shows signs of fatigue. They've only been playing a little over two hours and while it's warm, it's not Australian Open warm, although after the last 12 days in Paris it might feel more like Melbourne on court."

Gulbis is shooting from the hip, a sore back perhaps giving him the need to bail out of point quickly. Errors are never far away, though and Djokovic is given a free hold. Just what the number two seed needed after an uncomfortable 10 minutes.

Image source, Getty Images

Is the force with Ernests Gulbis? Booming ace from that mercurial serve, then a foray to the net for 40-0. Rapid hold, full of bombs, and Djokovic is the man being asked for answers.

Robin Armstrong:, external I may be in a minority but I want the 1st semi over as I have a 6.30 dinner reservation so need Andy to win before then.

Luce Fenner:, external YEEESSS! Gulbis is dragging it out, now he's gotta not drag it so far that he drags Djokovic out the tournament. Nole to win in 5

Sarah McDonald:, external Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's Gulbis preparing for a forehand

Image source, Reuters

The twisted metal of the ex-racquet of Djokovic tells us Novak was right to be concerned. Too much welly behind the forehand and Gulbis has broken straight back. Boos as Djokovic assaults the red dirt with his strings, with the world number two holding his hands up in apology. We're back on serve in the fourth.

He might have one foot in the final, but our Novak isn't all cherry and ice cream. He screams into the blue sky as his first service point is lost and then admonishes himself further as good Gulbis chasing takes it to 15-30. Novak is right to be annoyed, two break points...

Gulbis, the last of the playboys, loads the bullets once more. But are they merely peas in a pea-shooter? Djokovic defending, forcing errors. Two break points, Gulbis holding his back. Djokovic, despite finishing the game with his hands on his knees, breaks to 15. Start the car?

Djokovic asks his serve to get him started in the fourth. Was there a bit of needle at the end of the third? Gulbis is chuntering again. 40-15 before a Djokovic forehand is dumped into the fish-catcher. Gulbis scampering, Djokovic on the stretch, a deft drop beating the Latvian sprint and wrapping up the game.

You what? A fourth set? You wouldn't have backed it, but Gulbis has had a golden half-hour or so. It's as if he's been wandering around the net and placing the ball exactly where he wants it to go. Djokovic a little rattled, gulping fluids on a blistering day. Gulbis leans back on his chair as if he's sitting in the park with his squeeze.

Ernests Gulbis closes out the set with a firecracker of an ace. It hammers into the back boards as he holds to 30 and the shot earns a knowing nod from coach Gunther Bresnik.

Where is this one heading? It is heading into the hands of Stephan Shemilt for the fourth set. Beyond that...

Jimmy P, Chairman of the Bored, via text: I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants the next semi to start. I'm at work for a while yet and need some proper entertainment.

The Ernests Gulbis backhand is not that much of a poor relation. The Latvian cracks a clean winner off his unfavoured wing to bring up 15-30 and then gets a return right up onto Novak Djokovic's toes to set up two break points.

Gulbis's string snaps under the strain of Djokovic's first serve. He replaces the bat, but the quality off that backhand is undiminished. Another pearler, with the curves of a supermodel, lands to put the underdog ahead in the third.

Ernests Gulbis's serve is coming crashing down like claps of thunder and bolts of lightening. A hold to love, but he shows there are no hard feelings by politely allowing Novak Djokovic to make his way through the narrow gap between umpire chair and net post first at the changeover.

It is like Sir Walter Raleigh against John Debrett out there. Impeccable manners.