Julian Monaldson: "Nadal has shown a lot more stamina over the tournaments I think he will pull it off and win."

Both players make use of the ice towels at the changeover while the spectators raise the decibels by yelling their favourite player's name. They know we're reaching boiling point.

A double fault from Djokovic allows Nadal into the match at 15-15, and the Spaniard makes the most of his rival's kind invitation - stepping in with a crunching winner into the corner.

Lackadaisical from Djokovic, overcooking a backhand into the tramlines for two set points. And Nadal has his prey in sight... he moves Djokovic from side to side before approaching the net and sealing the deal with a menacing volley. The Spaniard punches the air. The gun show is back in town.

Image source, Getty Images

Djokovic conserving energy, perhaps wanting to ensure he has enough fuel in the tank for the tie-break. A blemish-free service game from Nadal as the defending champion holds to love.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"Djokovic has apparently won all 35 finals in which he has won the first set, and Nadal has only beaten him once after losing the first set. Having said that, both men are wrapping themselves in ice towels at the changeovers and it's errors rather than winners that are dominating. The theory is floating around that whoever wins this set might just win the match. Just putting it out there."

Risky from Djokovic as the Serb decides to gamble like a high roller in a Las Vegas casino. A flick of the wrists and his crosscourt volley kisses the line. Oof, that was close. Djokovic rewarded for his forays to the net, however, and despite the high-risk nature of his tactics, it's a relatively straightforward hold to 30 for the second seed.

Ari Samet: Even though Djokovic is in the lead I definitely think Nadal will come back and win it in five!

Image source, AFP

In some respects, the pressure is off Djokovic after the Serb immediately broke back and perhaps it's understandable his intensity has dropped a notch in this game. One of the most comfortable holds of the match so far for Nadal.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 live

"A very impressive service game to come through having been break points down but Nadal will be so disappointed in himself. He has not really raised the intensity when he's needed it today."

The iron-willed Nadal reins his opponent in to 30-30 and Djokovic self destructs. The Serb, under no real pressure, dragging a backhand into the tramlines to award Nadal a break point.

Danger averted by Djokovic, though, and he moves to within a point of holding as twice Nadal goes long. And it's a confident ending from Djokovic - a shoulder-high volley and Nadal is toast.

Your opinions on the greatest tennis rivalries continue to come in...

Liz Power:, external How about McEnroe/Borg, Edberg/Becker, Laver/Rosewall? Greatest ever rivalry possibly has to be Navratilova/Evert.

Mark Roberts, external: Has to be Nadal/Federer, culminating in THAT Wimbledon final.

Ray King:, external Why is it that people complain about Sharapova's shrieking but not Nadal's grunting? Both as bad as each other.

Greg:, external The standard of tennis is just increasing and increasing!!

Matthew Clark:, external This match is just incredible already, is there a better rivalry in sport?

What I'm about to type may sound like make-believe but it did actually happen. Honest. A double fault from Nadal and that's two break points for Djokovic with a cherry on top, lashings of chocolate sauce and a sprinkling of hundreds and thousands.

Nadal saves one but the Serb has one more chance and he doesn't have to do much, just simply watch Nadal send a wild forehand long.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 live

"Sometimes people rise to the challenge, they get a bee in their bonnet and we saw it there. Nadal really raised it."

Image source, AP

Djokovic, not wanting Nadal to get the better of his opponent in any of the match's statistics, double faults. But the next point sets pulses racing. Nadal, somehow, scoops to his shoelaces to retrieve a Djokovic volley, but the Serb is prowling at the net and simply taps the fluffy yellow ball into an empty court.

At 30-30 Djokovic is not home and dry yet despite moments of magic at the net and the Serb goes long to present Nadal with a break point. "Merci," says the umpire repeatedly as he attempts to quieten the excitable crowd.

And Nadal breaks, or does he? The crowd hiss as umpire Pascal Maria deems his forehand was out by a whisker. Djokovic makes the most of the reprieve with an overhead.

But it's a temporary reprieve. Forehand into the postage stamp of a corner from Nadal and we're back at deuce. Another brutal forehand earns Nadal a second break point and the Chatrier crowd are in full song. Djokovic on the ropes and it's another forehand which does the damage.

A double fault from Nadal - the first of the match - gifts an easy point to Djokovic, but the Spaniard makes amend for his blip with three quick-fire points: An overhead, a booming forehand down the line, followed up by another clean winner. A hold to love and the snarling Nadal returns to his seat.

Nadal sweating like a racehorse, while a lady in the front row can be seen furiously fanning her face in a bid to ease the blood pressure. Both players holding without much fuss in the early stages of this second set.

Image source, Getty Images

Nadal's face morphs into a walnut as he winces after watching Djokovic get the better of him courtesy of a backhand winner. The Spaniard lets a 30-0 lead slip and at 30-30 the crowd sense another opportunity for the Serb.

The world number one grunting as if he's auditioning for Planet of the Apes and unleashes a roar as he ends a lengthy rally with a down-the-line-backhand winner. Nadal then takes aim at Djokovic's ribcage and the Serb, sensibly, scuttles away from danger.

Djokovic rattles off two points quickly, but is punished for an improvised dropshot-volley as a scooting Nadal passes him with an irretrievable crosscourt volley. There's enough daylight between the Serb and the world number one, though, and Djokovic concludes the game with a crunching forehand winner down the line, holding to 15.

Default Girl:, external Nadal not showing the brilliance he displayed when demolishing Murray in the SF.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 live

"It is going to be a very physical battle in the hottest of circumstances, and it will become more than a tennis match, it will become a mental battle as well."