The sun is bouncing off David Ferrer's similarly-coloured bright yellow tee, creating beads of sweat on the Spaniard's brow. Murray is feeling the heat too - not least because he has lost his way a little in these past couple of games.

Ferrer finds his groove as a flat-footed Murray lacks the necessary rhythm and responds with error after error. An ace from the seventh seed completes the job. Murray serving to stay in the set....

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"Djokovic is still raging at the lack of court watering on Chatrier. There must be some kind of consideration for the players," he bellows. "They have to respect how the players feel on the court!"

"There is a procedure," replies the umpire.

We've all been there.

Oh dear, oh dear. Ferrer reappears the more invigorated after that brief rest, responding with gusto to every Murray serve. The Briton seems almost surprised with the Spaniard's aggression and, after a flurry of unwanted unforced errors gives three break points to Ferrer, slaps another return into the net.

Djokovic is not hanging about. He claims the third game of the second set in double quick time, a disappointing return by Nadal giving him the advantage once again.

The wind is no more and the sun is blazing down on Philippe-Chatrier. Djokovic asks for a towel but the Serb is far from flustered as he produces an outstanding drop shot to heap the pressure on his opponent. Nadal, however, holds serve.

Murray does not claim another break to take the first set as Ferrer cleans up his act, wipes out the serving yips, to hold. Another hold in the next game and Murray draws first blood. Quick swig of French spring water, a change of ends and then back to business...

George Hall: The most enthralling set ever to be played at Roland Garros. Precision and power walking hand in hand, from both players' racquets.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"'Every single year I ask after the set, if it's a problem during the set - why don't you water the court? We've played one hour and it's dry!'" Djokovic might have won the set but he's fuming at the umpire.

"He got there in the end, although he might have need counselling at the changeover had he lost the set from 4-0 up. The Serb put so much pressure on the Nadal serve, and the Spaniard's missed smash in that final game might just be karma for the infamous missed overhead from Djokovic in the semi-final two years ago, when victory was within his grasp.

Djokovic starts set two and way he ended the first. The crowd is trying to raise Nadal's spirits. He is on the back foot.

Time for Andy Murray to take control? Yes it is! Another long rally at 30-30 ends in the Briton's favour when Ferrer overcooks a forehand. Murray grasps that opportunity with both hands, spanking an ace down the T to move within a break of the first set. And it is not like a break is a tough task in this game....

Pat Cash
1987 Wimbledon champion

"That was a very interesting first set. Djokovic came out red hot at the start then he made some pretty simple errors to let Nadal back in. Djokovic was the best player, but Nadal typically works his way into matches, and it'll be interesting to see how he comes out now. Can Djokovic keep taking advantage of those short balls from Nadal?""

This is remarkable - another break point comes out to play in this match. That's five of the opening seven games going to the man who does not have the ball in hand.

Ferrer is the architect of his own downfall, serving up double faults as Murray leads 30-0. The Spaniard briefly recovers with a smash winner, only to double fault again. Murray cannot believe his luck - especially when an unforced error hands him a slender advantage.

Grunts from the players, groans from the crowd. Nadal has a great chance to take it to 40-15 but Djokovic holds his nerve.

A crunching forehand by Nadal, a sublime backhand volley from his Serb opponent. Nadal is hanging on as another Djokovic smash puts him in sight of the first set. An error by Nadal, who hammers a volley wide, gives Djokovic first blood.

What has Nadal got up his sleeve? Remember, the Spaniard has not lost at Roland Garros since 2009.

Image source, EPA

The Ferrer growl is out! That can be a good sign or a bad sign for the Spaniard - at the moment it is the former.

Murray coasts into a 30-0 advantage after a blink-and-you'll-miss-it ace, but then inexplicably allows Ferrer back into the game. A cute dropshot - when Murray was expecting a full-blooded backhand - tilts the game in his favour before a stretching Murray cannot scoop another cute Ferrer backhand over the net on break point.

Image source, Getty Images

Pat Cash
1987 Wimbledon champion

"This is an amazing match-up. Most people are expecting Djokovic to win but what a mental battle to have to overcome to beat Nadal on this court. He's only lost once, and to be honest, he was injured that day. Nadal almost has a magic wand on this court."

David Ferrer is nicknamed the Roadrunner - and it is easy to see why. The man sticks his strings on virtually everything. Murray jabs away with his backhand, then switches focus to Ferrer's famed forehand, as the Spaniard fends off a Murray break point to take the game into deuce.

Then Ferrer, the number seven seed, forces Murray into an error and pulls out a backhand winner out of the top drawer to hold his first service game.

Image source, Getty Images

Anyone like to predict how this is going to finish? Me neither. This is every bit as enthralling as the experts predicted. Djokovic wins the 11th game with ease. Here comes Nadal. How will the king of clay respond?

Epic nip and tuck stuff from both Djokovic and Nadal. A stunning backhand volley by Djokovic leaves Nadal battling to save his serve. The Spaniard regains his composure with a brilliant drop shot but a marathon games sees Nadal receive a time warning which is greeted with jeers from the Philippe-Chatrier crowd. The Spaniard, however, responds by taking the game. This is everything and more the pundits thought it would be.

Image source, AFP/GETTY

Lydia: Nadal v Djokovic, Murray v Ferrer ... and here's me at work like an absolute mug. At least I have #bbctennis to keep me up to speed.

Ras Whey: Why are we even in this dilemma? Surely these two quarter-finals shouldn't be at the same time - it's a shame for tennis.

Finally we have a hold! And it goes to Andy Murray.

Advantage to the Briton as Ferrer finds the tape with a slack backhand, but we're all square again when Murray does the same following another lengthy rally.

Murray fist-pumps after a confidence-boosting backhand winner, then watches Ferrer go long to give him the game.

Image source, AFP/GETTY