Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"The Nadal forehand has been the bedrock of 10 years' (nearly) unbeaten success at Roland Garros, but it has been misfiring on the clay this year.

"The Spaniard could not find any rhythm on that side when he lost to Murray in Madrid last month and it's looking similarly out of kilter so far today. It might have something to do with the fact that his strength goes straight into Djokvoic's backhand, probably the best shot in tennis."

Image source, Reuters

When Djokovic was asleep last night, he would have only dreamt of breaking so early against his old foe Nadal. But this is no dream.

It is surely only a matter of time before Nadal wakes up from this early nightmare - however it isn't in game three. The Spaniard cannot pick holes in Djokovic's serve and goes three behind in three....

Tom Wilkinson: What about the quarter-final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup? Rob Andrew's drop-goal....

Peter Franklin: O'Sullivan v Ebdon in the 2005 World Snooker Championship... five-minute break of 12 from Ebbo, towel on head from Ronnie...

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

While Djokovic is the fancied favourite, few would have predicted such a comfortable start to the first set for the Serb. Using the 'Live Coverage' tab on this page, tune in to 5 live sports extra to hear if an out-of-sorts Nadal can hit back quickly. But don't you dare stop reading these words. Please.

Wow - that Djokovic start has got even better!

Rafael Nadal wipes his brow with a sky blue wristband as he prepares to face two break points to the Serb. But his meek forehand return drops inside the service line and Djokovic gobbles up the chance with a forehand winner - and nabs the break.

Rafa - and the Parisian crowd - look shocked.

Image source, AP

Positive start from Djokovic, who holds his opening serve within two minutes.

The Serb world number one spanks a crunching forehand past Rafa for 15-0, before two pieces of outrageous skill put him in command.

A rally ends with a cute drop-shot, which spins off the dusty Paris surface away from the reach of Nadal who can only club into the tape. And then Djokovic pulls another out of the bag to leave Nadal floundering again at 40-0.

Chuck in a thumping ace and it is as good a start as Djokovic could have hoped for.

Image source, AP

Djokovic has the honour of serving first. Here we go....

Birthday boy Nadal, decked out in a light blue outfit, looks relaxed as he knocks up with his great rival. And that shade of ice-cool blue is obviously team colours - Uncle Toni is wearing the same in the Chatrier players' box.

While most of us nip down to the pub or go for a romantic meal to mark our 29th birthday, Nadal faces a knockout match against his old foe Djokovic.

Will he be celebrating later or drowning his sorrows? We're about two minutes away from beginning to find out...

Image source, Getty Images

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent

"Rafa Nadal against Novak Djokovic must be the most eagerly anticipated Grand Slam quarter-final in history. Nadal has 70 French Open wins to fall back on, and Djokovic an unbeaten run at Grand Slam or Masters level which stretches all the way back to October."

Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal are stood in the full glare of Court Philippe Chatrier as they contest the toss ahead of this mahoosive match. What's all the fuss about? This....

Image source, Getty Images

The world number one up against the nine-time champion.

A man unbeaten in 26 matches anywhere against another with one defeat in 10 years on Parisian clay.

One man trying to complete the career Grand Slam and the other going for a record 10th title - La Decima - at Roland Garros.

And that weather report from our t-shirt and short-wearing man in Paris could spell bad news for Novak Djokovic.

"The hotter it is, the better it is for me." Nadal was not playing any mind games when asked about the importance of conditions for Wednesday's match. A hot, sunny day gives the Spaniard's famous forehand even more zip, spin and bounce.

Djokovic, on the other hand, has endured some of his rare vulnerable moments in stifling conditions, most recently when he lost to Kei Nishikori in last year's US Open semi-finals.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"The forecast suggested it would be warm, dry and overcast, and the first two at least are correct. However, the sun is shining and that could play a big part this afternoon, as everyone - including Nadal - says that the Spaniard's huge forehand has even more zip on a cloudless day.

"Djokovic has suffered at the hands of Nadal six times here, usually toiling away in the hot sun, covered in brick-red dust. He is hoping to leave a very different lasting image today, possibly one of the defining moments of his career."

If you can think of any great quarter-finals - in any sport - then let us know. The best one gets a job at the BBC Sport website* because you've out-thought us in the office.

And the stage is also ready and waiting for you to tell the world how you feel today's action will pan out. Whatever you want to get off your chest - tennis related of course - then this is the place to do it. Tweet using #bbctennis or text 81111. Go, go, go!

* This is not true

Since the Roland Garros draw was made last month, the whole tennis world has been eagerly anticipating the potential meeting between Nadal and Djokovic on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Now the day has arrived - but it is sharing the limelight. Our time will be divided between Chatrier and Court Suzanne Lenglen where, of course, Britain's Andy Murray slugs it out with clay-court nemesis David Ferrer.

Murray will reach his third French Open semi-final by beating the Spaniard. And the prize? A last-four match against either Nadal or Djokovic on Friday.

Image source, Getty Images

Standout. Special. The greatest ever.

These are just three of the terms used to describe today's mouthwatering French Open quarter-final between Rafa 'King of Clay' Nadal and Novak 'Undisputed World Number One' Djokovic at Roland Garros.

Sport is well accustomed to liberal use of the hyperbole, but this is one of those days where expectations might be matched.

Many 'great' quarter-finals have taken place over the years across a variety of sports. There was the, erm, West Germany v England thriller at the 1970 football World Cup.

Image source, Getty Images

And that, ah...let me think.... Oh, that classic between the Williams sisters at the 2008 US Open. That was a quarter-final, wasn't it?

Image source, Getty Images

Any more? As one of my colleagues rightly pointed out earlier - no one remembers great quarter-final matches. Finals - yes. Semi-finals - yes. Quarter-finals - no.

But that might well change today....