Rafael Nadal beats defending champion Novak Djokovic in marathon quarter-final
Spanish star wins 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6 (7-4) after thrilling match lasting over four hours
13-time French Open champion clinches victory at 1:16am local time
Earlier Alexander Zverev overcame Carlos Alcaraz to reach semi-finals
American Coco Gauff and Italian Martina Trevisan through to women's last four
Djokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
Three break points for Novak Djokovic in this game... all have disappeared.
He's taken one out of six on the night so far. Rafa's taken four from 12.
The Spaniard hits a poor backhand (yes, I actually typed the word poor for once) and hits the net.
Break point number four....
Djokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live
That was such a clever shot from Nadal, drawing Djokovic in to pass him. It's such an effective tactic. It's something he's added to his game. It's so thoughtful.
Djokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live
Djokovic has had enough of this. He's irritated now.
Image source, ReutersDjokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
I may have to hand this live over to some higher being. Genuinely not worthy of some of this stuff. Djokovic is at the net and Nadal gets so much movement on a winner across court. The wrist work there to get so much action. Absurd.
This game has lasted about three weeks. Deuce. Again.
Djokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
Nadal has the chance to hold. You feel this is a key game, he can't give away those two breaks in this set.
Djokovic hits a forehand so hard it's like the ball has stolen his dinner money. Winner. Deuce.
Djokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live
Djokovic turned around and absolutely bellowed at someone in the crowd there, so I don't know if he was put off.
This has returned to normalcy. It's not like the early stages when Nadal was dominating everything.
Djokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
A 23-shot rally - more angles in it than in your Pythagoras text book - ends with the ball in the net on the Djokovic side.
Advantage Nadal. Another joyful rally.
The umpire tells people to keep quiet during points as Djokovic isn't happy. I'm not sure if it's even possible. I'm making sound effects on an involuntary basis. They just flow out.
We're back at deuce by the way. Big, big game.
Image source, Getty ImagesDjokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
Rafa Nadal saves break point one and then bludgeons a serve at 121mph up the paint to save the other one.
Animal.
Djokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
Two break points for the boy Novak.
This could be two breaks in a row. He hasn't blinked four about 25 minutes. Seriously.
Djokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
The temperature might be cooling, but Djokovic is warming up.
Djokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live
It feels like the tide might be turning in Djokovic's favour.
Image source, ReutersDjokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
Laura Robson
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live
It's almost like Djokovic is trying to get the crowd on him to get himself a bit pumped up.
One thing I've noticed, Nadal looks to be frustrated when Djokovic throws the ball up and catches it on serve.
It's getting a bit edgy out there.
Djokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
Novak Djokovic sends a forehand down the line with more fizz than you used to get from that old Soda Stream device in the kitchen.
And he builds on it, wrapping his body around a ball to guide it across court. That's 0-30 on the Nadal serve...
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Djokovic 2-6 2-3 Nadal*
A few flicks of his racquet in celebration. Djokovic holds to make that last break count. He's still up against it in this set but suddenly some stuff is going his way.
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
In the Chatrier gods there are two rows completely filled with musicians, each wearing all-white and belting out jaunty brass tunes.
They look like Masters caddies armed with horns and drums.
The last one on the playlist was the tune which football fans sing to tell opposition players given a red card that it is 'time to go.'
Don't think it was aimed at Djokovic.
*Djokovic 2-6 1-3 Nadal
Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live
Djokovic was fortunate that Nadal missed that drop shot because he'd slipped on the baseline.
*Djokovic 2-6 1-3 Nadal
Well I never.
Novak Djokovic wrestles himself to break point. This has looked unlikely for pretty much the entirety of what we have seen so far.
He's stranded though, out the back of the court in the cheap seats, only for Rafa to float his drop shot into the net.
Djokovic lives. On such moments sport can turn.
Will it?
Image source, Getty ImagesTweet #bbctennis
Charlene: How can you explain this?
I can't Charlene. But I'm trying.
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
The Nadal playbook is clear: go hard early or go home.
Nadal blew Djokovic away in fast starts in both 2020 and 2021 - but to differing conclusions.
In the 2020 final which he won, Nadal bagelled Djokovic on his way to a straight-set victory.
Last year's semi-final, which Djokovic won, saw the Serb threatened with the same outcome and lose the first set, but then break early in the second set.
So far tonight it's looking like a repeat of 2020.