In the first part of this game, I thought Ferrer may have received some subliminal message that he needed to win for his newly-deposed mate Rafa Nadal. The Spaniard led 40-15 - but then Murray found another gear. The British number one piles the pressure on his opponent, who buckles with four successive forehand errors to draw first blood in the third set...

Pat Cash
1987 Wimbledon champion

"Djokovic is just attacking and attacking. He's so full of confidence this year and he's not missing much. Everyone has their phone camera out, they want to capture this moment."

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"For those of us lucky enough to have been present for most of Nadal's 10 French Open wins, it's quite something to see the great Spaniard given sympathetic applause in the closing stages as he manages to avoid losing a set to love.

"The smart money was always on Djokovic winning, and fairly comfortably, but 45 winners to 16 and winning 62% of the points on Nadal's second serve tells a story of real domination. The truth is, at the moment, the likes of Murray or Wawrinka might pose a tougher challenge than Nadal."

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Here we go then - Andy Murray is one set away from his first clay-court win against David Ferrer. Of course, most importantly, that means he is one set away from his third Roland Garros semi-final.

Murray moves into a 40-15 lead before Ferrer hits back at the same time that a loud roar can be heard from Court Philippe Chatrier. I wonder what's happening there....

Ferrer won't have a clue that his great friend Rafa Nadal is going home - unless he's had a quick peek of the scoreboard. The Spaniard battles back to deuce before third seed Murray shows that extra bit of quality with a pair of forehand winners to hold.

Alistair Bruce-Ball
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

"All of the spectators sat in the sunshine realised they were watching something quite historic and dramatic. Nothing went right for Rafa - he just shook his head. Even the bounce was against him."

The king of clay has lost his crown. Astonishing from Novak Djokovic who sweeps aside Nadal, unbeaten at Roland Garros since 2009, with some breathtaking action. The crowd on Philippe-Chatrier have witnessed something truly spectacular.

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Brilliant by Djokovic. He is making Nadal look an amateur as he moves to within one game of a memorable victory. This is incredible.

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Pat Cash
1987 Wimbledon champion

"It's a rare thing to see Nadal lose here on centre court. Nadal hasn't been injured this year, he's just had a poor run of form. The basic reason his ground strokes aren't working is because there's so much movement through the racquet on his shots, and that has some risk to it because it's tough to do if your timing isn't right or your confidence isn't right.

"He's not scared of getting on that practice court though. I've never seen anyone work so hard, and I'm sure he'll find a technical solution to fix things."

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Great start for Murray, who steps and leaps into the Ferrer serve to power a backhand into the corner. A carbon copy return is hammered back by Ferrer in the next point, only to leave Murray with a simple volley for 30-0.

The Spaniard, who was struggling in a rally, allows himself a wry smile as he bounces back off the ropes to claim the next point. But then Ferrer can only stand and admire as Murray pulls an exquisite dropshot out of the top drawer, the ball delicately dusting the chalk, to set up two set points.

Ferrer builds the first point patiently, drawing Murray into a rally, before moving into the net and closing off the point with a neat volley. However, that is not enough. Murray wraps up the second set with a clinical forehand past his hapless opponent.

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Huge roar from the crowd as Nadal shows there is still some fight left in him. But surely the Spaniard is only delaying the inevitable.

As easy as a service hold that you are likely to see on Court Suzanne Lenglen today. Ferrer has no response to the Murray serve as the Briton rattles through four winning points to move within a break of the second set.

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Pat Cash
1987 Wimbledon champion

"Nadal has been in a slump for a long time. He's been fighting and fighting but it's been six months and he can't get the right consistency with his forehand. I think he will win his 10th French Open but I don't think it will be this year now."

Nadal is like a wounded animal waiting to be put out of its misery. His only chance now is if Djokovic gets tired. No chance of that.

It is no longer a matter of if Nadal will lose. It's a more a question of when. And at this rate it is going to be over very soon.

Djokovic is in no mood to let this slip. 4-0.

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David Ferrer has a reputation for being one of the most resilient characters on tour - perfectly shown in the early part of this game. The 33-year-old Spaniard forgets all about his serving woes of the previous game, racing into a 40-0 lead before Murray makes him sweat by clawing his way back to 40-30. But Ferrer regains composure again to force Murray into an error and hold.

What's happened to Rafa?

A double fault, mis-timed shots...mistakes are peppering Nadal's game.

Belief has seeped from the Spaniard and Djokovic can smell victory. We have not seen Nadal play this bad for a long time. Djokovic cruises into a commanding 3-0 lead after another error-ridden service game by his opponent.

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Murray's coach Amelie Mauresmo and trainer Matt Little look pretty calm in the players' box on Court Suzanne Lenglen - but they must be chuckling inside at how easy that last game was for their man.

Time for Murray to focus though. Hold serve here and the second set is within sight. The Briton does exactly that! And he does it in fine style with a sublime backhand winner which he slashes and back spins away from Ferrer's grasp.

A multi-millionaire like Andy Murray certainly does not need charity. But he is receiving some generous donations from David Ferrer. The Spaniard begins the fourth game of the second set with a double fault, then does the same again in the next-but one point to gift three break points to Murray.

Ferrer composes himself to save two of those chances, but can't replicate Murray's escape act in the last game. The seventh seed smacks a forehand into the net after another energy-sapping rally as Murray takes control.

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Are we witnessing the end of the king of clay?

Nadal is shell-shocked. Djokovic looks fitter and his adrenalin is pumping like never before.

He is on the verge of a stunning victory.

Oh no - Murray is in the danger zone. Three break points for Ferrer.

One goes begging when Murray slows down his serve before pinging back Ferrer's return with a pinpoint forehand. Two disappear down the drain in the next point as Murray crunches another forehand deep into the left corner. And three are wiped out when Ferrer cannot avoid the net with a backhand return.

That means it is deuce - and Murray uses his get-out-of-jail-free card. A backhand winner follows a unstoppable forehand as Murray sensationally holds.

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This is unknown territory for Nadal - two sets down in a five-set match on clay. The 14-time Grand Slam winner is rattled and Djokovic is going for the kill. The Serb quickly establishes two break points and Nadal is broken after an error. Djokovic has one foot in the semi-final.

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