Max in Royal Tunbridge Wells, via text: Seeing this many vacant seats has my blood boiling. I decided against a trip to Paris for today due to "Sold Out" signs across the Roland Garros ticket page. Je suis furieux!

Rick in Hampton, via text: Feel Djokovic's consistency will see him through fairly straightforwardly in 3 or 4 sets here. The real show is later! Nadal is of course strong favourite but Andy could do a job. Anything could happen!

Paul at work, via text: Novak will be a bit wary early on of the buffon haired Gulbis, but will win through comfortably. Then the main event of Murray v Nadal will hopefully bring in the crowds

Matt Diggett in Kingston, via text: Gulbis needs first set IMO to give me any chance of catching the start of the Murray Nadal epic. Come on Ernest, string it out till 4pm and home time.

Ernests Gulbis waves Novak Djokovic through his next service game like a bored border guard directing a school bus.

He started well, but Djokovic might be squirming out of his grasp in this first set.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"It's a surprise to see the first racquet chuck of the match come from Djokovic, albeit a fairly gentle one. It's less of a surprise that he still breaks first. He does so in front of a now half-full stadium as people drift in to have a look. Might as well."

Image source, AP

Ernests Gulbis advances behind a nothing sort of forehand and gets his fingers burnt. Novak Djokovic is more than good enough to work him out, clipping away down the line with his opponent stranded to set up his first break point of the match at 30-40.

It is difficult to find a patch of court that Djokovic cannot run around a winner on and Gulbis gets lucky when the Serb reaches a telegraphed drop-shot with ease, but flicks into the top of the net.

A desperate rearguard action from Gulbis as he sees off another two break points from deuce. That big forehand is key. It is like some great canter-levered Roman catapult with his lead arm pointing across the net and his racquet stretched out behind, before they swap positions at top speed.

But there is only so much it can do and Djokovic, ultra consistent, slickly effecient, makes a fourth break point stick.

Matt in Surrey, via text: Watching this match and all I'm thinking about it is why is the stadium only half full for a men's Grand Slam semi .. wouldn't get that at any of the other 3.

A crafty, cunning drop-shot from Ernest Gulbis draws Novak Djokovic forward, exposing acres of the clay behind the Serb which he exploits with a patted winner.

That gives Gulbis 15-40 and two break points to mull over.

Djokovic summons up the mental steel and the bullet-proof serve though as he hacks his way out of trouble.

Gulbis cannot fish a couple of deep kickers out of his ribs and we are still on serve.

Image source, AFP

Anonymous via text: How can @rolandgarros have men's semi final with so many empty seats? Never @wimbledon

Don't forget to put your name on your texts to ensure we use them, but you are right. It is sparse out there in the Parisian sun.

Ernests Gulbis takes a look at 0-30 scorelines and stares it back down into its hole.

The Latvian is backing himself on serve, bashing down a second-serve ace at 15-30 down. He is getting plenty of grip and spit on the forehand as well.

Ernests Gulbis takes the first two points of the game and a shadow of doubt passes across Novak Djokovic's faces as he goes to collect fresh fuzz at the back of the court.

The Serb looks like he has solved the equation and he works Gulbis from side to side with crisp forehands and then advances to crack away a ruthless forehand drive volley.

More angles and guile from Djokovic sweep up the game, but this is competitive.

Image source, AFP

"No chance," said coach Gunther Bresnik.

In public anyway. Ernests Gulbis looks like he has received a different appraisal of his chances behind the scenes.

The Latvian wallops down an ace on the second point and gives Novak Djokovic a healthy dose of top-spinning forehands as he holds to love.

Novak Djokovic has been the class of the French Open field so far though. He has dropped just one set in his five matches so far.

Gulbis to serve...

Image source, Andy Murray

Andy Murray on his Facebook page:, external Warming up ahead of the Rafa match on Chatrier, the sun is out, can't wait!

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"Andy Murray finished his morning practice on Court Philippe Chatrier earlier today ahead of this afternoon's French Open semi-final against Rafael Nadal.

"The Spaniard had the previous practice slot and their teams passed each other, respective coaches sharing a quiet word but the two protagonists keeping their distance. Nadal hit with former champion Carlos Moya, while Murray chose Dani Vallverdu from his coaching team."

It is his tennis that has got tongues wagging this week though. After disposing of Roger Federer in the fourth round and making short work of Tomas Berdych in the last eight, Gulbis is up against Novak Djokovic in the first of the day's French Open semi-finals on Philippe Chatrier.

They are on court knocking up at the moment.

Meanwhile the second set of semi-finalists have been doing their thing on the practice courts.

Image source, Getty Images

He accused the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray of being "boring" in their press conferences - it is never an accusation you could level at Gulbis himself.

He spent a night in a police cell in Stockholm after a misunderstanding on a night out a few years ago, reportedly travelled to tournaments on his father's private jet and, earlier this week, courted controversy by suggesting that tennis was not a career for women.

Bresnik has overseen Thomas Muster, Henri Leconte and Boris Becker previously in his career, but he has got his hands full with Ernests.

The 25-year-old Latvian used to spent almost as much time in nightclubs as tennis clubs. Now he is finally fulfilling his talent, climbing from 139th in the world to current ranking of 17th on the back of knuckled-down hard work.

He has missed just one practice session in his two years with Bresnik, albeit ringing his coach on that occasion at 07:00 to tell him he was still up from the night before.

Image source, Reuters

"Ernests hasn't got a hope against Novak. Djokovic is the favourite here and this time he'll be the one to lift the trophy at Roland Garros, I'm sure of it. I guarantee you."

Nothing like a supportive word from your coach.

And that is nothing like a supportive word for Ernests Gulbis from his coach Gunther Bresnik.