Summary

  • Andy Murray beats David Ferrer 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 5-7 6-1

  • Novak Djokovic thrashes Rafael Nadal 7-5 6-3 6-1

  • Murray and Djokovic meet in semis on Friday

  • Serena Williams through to women's last four

Live Reporting

Jonathan Jurejko

  1. Right Murray has the ball in his hand. The Briton digs out a gorgeous backhand from the baseline to leave Ferrer eating red Parisian dust, then goes 30-0 ahead as a Ferrer backhand lacks the same quality and flies out at the back of the court. That was a good size 11 shoe length out.

    A long rally ends when a Murray return lacks pace and placement, allowing Ferrer to pounce with a clinical backhand which dusts the whitewash. Murray earns game point at 40-30 when Ferrer offers him a loose forehand into the net, but Murray hands that present straight back in the next point. Deuce....

    Andy MurrayReuters

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  3. Murray breaks

    Any danger of someone holding serve? Murray can scarcely believe his luck as he returns to his seat with another break in his hand. David Ferrer winces as a double fault at 40-30 hands the third game to Murray. A gift with bows on it.

    Andy MurrayAP

  4. What a response from Djokovic. He roars back by claiming the ninth game, with Nadal failing to register a point. It's like two heavyweight boxers slugging it out. Both are showing bruises but both are still standing.

    Novak DjokovicGetty Images

  5. Piers Newbery
    BBC Sport at Roland Garros

    "It's been a gripping 38 minutes on Chatrier, although not in the way anyone could have predicted. Djokovic looked like the unplayable line-scraping machine who has dominated the tennis world this year for 21 minutes, not allowing Nadal a game.

    "But the Serb began to falter, with seven errors in three games, and Nadal, urging himself to "Vamos!", is back on level terms. The temperature is now nudging 21C and a lot of hard work lies ahead for both men."

  6. Ferrer breaks back

    Can Murray build on that wonderful start by holding his first service game? Nope. Think our man Kheredine Idessane has put the mockers on him....

    Ferrer spanks back two tasty returns which Murray cannot salvage, before the Briton goes long past the baseline as the Spaniard instantly hits back.

    David FerrerAFP/GETTY

  7. Kheredine Idessane
    BBC Scotland at Roland Garros

    "Wow. Not sure I've ever seen Andy Murray start a match better. Aggressive first few points to break Ferrer straight away."

  8. Got plans this afternoon? Cancel them. This is going to be a marathon. Nadal is bossing this game now. Two delicious aces and he brings it level having trailed 4-1. Djokovic is staring at the floor.

    Rafael NadalAFP/GETTY

  9. Murray breaks

    Murray makes an assertive start, winning the first three points off Ferrer's serve, the third with a blistering cross-court forehand that leaves the Spaniard looking on in admiration, or was it despair?

    Murray goes long on the first break point and then Ferrer smacks the ball into the net and Murray has the break. What a confident start.

    Andy Murray celebratesAFP/GETTY

  10. Nadal breaks back - again

    Oooh, what do we have here? Another break opportunity, that's what.

    Djokovic loses his way as three unforced errors gift two break points to Nadal. But the Spaniard is unable to take either as the world number one battles back to deuce. Another break point goes begging, before Djokovic - to the disbelief of the Chatrier crowd - plants a volley flush into the net from close range.

    Wow. Chance for Nadal to level on his serve....

  11. Pat Cash
    1987 Wimbledon champion

    "You know against David Ferrer you're going to be in for a long day, even if it's a straight-sets win. He gets to so many balls. The way to beat Ferrer is to manoeuvre him and overpower him. He doesn't win a lot of points from his serve or his backhand, although he's improved that. He runs a lot, hits a lot of forehands and tries to frustrate you.

    "That is the difference with Murray now - he's happy on the clay and understands that it can be a grind, and if that's the case, so be it. Ferrer is not going to hit a lot of winners. Murray knows that if he gets to the Ferrer backhand then he can stay in the rally. It's nice to know that somewhere along the line you can hit the ball into that slightly weaker spot and get back into the point."

  12. Eyes on which court?

    Andy MurrayTwitter

    Don't worry Andy - we're watching you....

  13. May I have your attention please? Will the real Rafael Nadal please stand up?!

    We might not have a problem here after all - Nadal is back in town. The Spaniard finally rediscovers his service game to hold for the first time this afternoon, moving within two games of his opponent with a stinging forehand winner.

    Rafael NadalAFP/GETTY

  14. Murray 'understands clay better'

    Andy MurrayReuters

    Andy Murray says he is "very, very proud" to have reached a 17th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final, but knows he faces a considerable task to reach his third semi-final at Roland Garros.

    The Scot leads Ferrer 9-6 in previous matches and has won four of the last five, but the Spaniard has prevailed in all four meetings on clay, the last of which came in the French Open quarter-finals three years ago.

    "I'm sure both of us will have changed and probably improved since that time," says Murray.

    "I feel like I have a better understanding of how I need to play on this surface than I did back then."

  15. Meanwhile, down the road on Court Suzanne Lenglen, Andy Murray and David Ferrer are told it is time to stroll out of the locker room....

  16. Nadal breaks back

    Exactly what the Nadal family doctor prescribed - a break for young Rafael. The Spaniard finally gets his side of the scoreboard moving by forcing Djokovic into a trio of unforced errors, with a beautiful backhand winner and couple of errors of his own sandwiched inbetween, to claw a game back.

    Rafael NadalAP

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  18. Semi-final draw

    1 Williams (US) v Bacsinszky (SUI) 23

    7 Ivanovic (SER) v Safarova (CZE) 13

  19. Serena Williams into last four

    Serena WilliamsAP

    Is anyone going to stop Serena's Williams' seemingly-inevitable march to the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen? Not Sara Errani.

    Williams, bidding for a third Roland Garros women's singles title, powers past the Italian 17th seed in 66 minutes to win 6-1 6-3.

    And in today's other quarter-final, Timea Bacsinszky has just won 6-4 7-5 against Alison Van Uytvanck.

    And that means Andy Murray v David Ferrer is almost upon us....

  20. Double break for Djokovic

    Nightmare. Nadal is sweating like a pale British tourist on Magaluf beach - and it is nothing to do with the Paris sunshine. It is solely down to the pressure being piled on by Djokovic.

    The Serb cruises to three more break points and, after one goes begging, steals another break following an epic point. Djokovic goes for the lob, Nadal scampers backs, returns with interest, then meekly slams into the tape as the Serb roars with sheer delight.

    This is a mis-match at the moment...