Image source, AP

No blinking is this second-set staredown. Djokovic extremely comfortable on serve, rushing through as if having the balls on his racquet is something of annoyance. My word it looks hot out there, worth sitting at the top of the steep stands if the flutter of the flags is anything to go by.

How loud is that line judge? His yell tells all of Paris, Marseille and even a bit of Nice that Gulbis has gone wide with a backhand. But that is Gulbis's only indiscretion in a hold to 15, ended with an ace that reveals tummy and the band of his boxer shorts.

Matt Miller:, external Can someone slow Djokovic down I don't finish work until 3! I want to get home to watch Andy Murray!

Daniel Drave:, external Had hopes for Gulbis but Djokovic is just too good. Nadal better watch out Murray is coming for him!

Oliver Lloyd:, external This match reminds of Murray -Janowicz at Wimbledon last year. The man with the huge serve winning far fewer points on the serve

The digital clock ticks over to tell us we've been at it for an hour. Once more, Gulbis begins a battle to hold...

Ooohs and aaahs from the crowd as our combatants are pulled as far apart from each other as possible, opposite corners trading forehands. Djokovic long, then fooled by a Gulbis drop for 0-30. A chance? Not on your nelly. Gulbis long, then a big Serbian serve, 30-30.

As some gentlemen of Paris snooze under white panamas, further Gulbis errors ensure that particular opening is snuffed out like a candle in a hurricane.

Ben from Westminster, via text: I was in Paris earlier this week and whilst exploring the city I poked my head into a few bars to see the scores, didn't find a single screen showing the tennis in four days. The locals just don't have the interest. It seems like half the fans that attend are tourists.

Jamie in Cheltenham, via text: Maybe the empty seats is an indication of how many French fans have travelled to Rio for the World Cup........ I highly doubt it

Ari Samet, via text: By the looks of things Gulbis could be in with a shout in this fascinating game, but never under-estimate Djokovic!

Image source, Getty Images

Gulbis, black shirt and white shorts, looks to cling on to Djokovic's coattails in the Parisian heat. Breathing hard, he has the respite of a floaty Djokovic backhand for 30-15, then knifes a backhand of his own down the line for two game points. Even Novak appreciated that one, thumbs up. An ace completes the hold.

Freddie Clamp:, external Djokovic is barely out of 2nd gear and is cruising, in 5th gear he is the most complete player of all time

Charles Hardy:, external I was at Roland Garros yesterday evening - despite lots leaving during 2nd women's semi they wouldn't let new people in

Andrew Neill:, external Djokovic powering through. Murray could be practising on a London grass court by the time I get out of work at 5.....

What can Gulbis do to pressure the Djokovic serve? The world number two, a blur of sky blue motoring around the far end of the court as we look on, is a constant pest to Gulbis, pecking away to force the error. A long backhand is the final nail in a hold to love.

Al in Cambridge, via text: Couldn't agree more with Max in Kent. The French don't deserve a Slam because for years they've had empty seats in the main stadia. It may be sold out but if they can't be bothered to actually use the seats why not give someone else the clay court Slam. Rome or Madrid perhaps? Embarrassing.

Image source, Getty Images

Gulbis, with his designer stubble, theatrically tosses the ball as he serves, moving 30-0 up. Djokovic arrows in on the line to get one back, but an unreturnable serve puts Ernests on the brink. Throwing his left hand out as he caresses each forehand, Gulbis eventually persuades Djokovic to go long to level it up.

Dom Welman in Salisbury, via text: Gulbis doesn't have the right attitude to deserve a slam final appearance. Lacks that extra 10% Djokovic, Murray et al give. Hoping for a Djokovic - Murray final to make a nice change at Roland Garros!

Stuart in London, via text: Has there ever been a tougher match in tennis than facing Nadal at Roland Garros? Itching to clear these two off the court and watch Muzzer become a legend!

No drama. Gulbis long to put the Serb 40-15 up. The Latvian looks to attack a second serve but batters wide. Comfortable Djokovic hold to begin the second stanza.

Thanks, Mike. Paris a contrast of colours - cloudless blue sky above burning red clay. Djokovic serving first in the second, already a third of the way to the final.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"It's an interesting afternoon for Boris Becker, head coach of Djokovic, as in the opposite corner with Gulbis is his own former mentor, Gunter Bresnik. So far, the three-time Wimbledon champion is winning the coaching battle, although that has a lot to do with Djokovic's innate ability to hunt down tennis balls. Becker's duties with Djokovic, I've heard, are very specific and based around the serve, which makes sense."

Novak Djokovic rolls his forehand over a lovely looping shot down the line for 15-30 and has set point at 30-40. Ernests Gulbis sees it off. And another from deuce.

Djokovic bolsters the impression he gives as a thoroughly decent sort as he corrects a line judges call that went his way to hand back a third set point. A very chivalrous act.

But it is perhaps a little easier to do when you are in control of a match and the Serb clinches the set at the third time of asking, coming out on top in an exchange with both players almost hitting along the length of the net rather than across it.

He will serve first in the second set and Stephan Shemilt will talk you through it.

Scott Johnson:, external Gulbis' forehand is crazy, coach needs to get hold of that make the motion far more compact. Serve and is very nice though.

Iain Black:, external Keen on That Latvian Guy's forehand. Looks like a giant hairy hug of anger

Owen Harlow:, external Gulbis is a real 'dark horse', he's unpredictable and I think that'll at least get him a set of Djokovic,

Novak Djokovic's serve looks locked up tight as Fort Knox. It streaks by Ernests Gulbis in a flash and the Serb is a game away.

Image source, AFP

Ernests Gulbis rides his luck, excused from playing another point at 40-30 up by an almost inexplicable Novak Djokovic missed forehand. It was the sort the Serb makes in his sleep.

The sort that earns you 100 points in your I-Spy books of tennis errors.

A Petra Kvitova forehand wide or long is only getting you five points in that hypothetical volume by the way.

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Russell Fuller on Twitter:, external Ernie Gulbis will make his top 10 debut next week & consolidate his position as Latvia's number one in a blow to world no 665 Andis Juska.