Djokovic crushes Nadal to book semi-final spot
PARIS, France (AFP) — Novak Djokovic crushed nine-time champion Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 to move into the French Open semi-finals yesterday, condemning the great Spaniard to just his second defeat in 72 matches at Roland Garros.
It was world number one and top seed Djokovic’s first win over defending champion Nadal in seven meetings in Paris, avenging his defeats in the 2012 and 2014 finals.
It also eased Djokovic, who fired 45 winners to Nadal’s 16, closer to a first French Open title and a career Grand Slam.
He will play his 26th major semi-final tomorrow against British third seed Andy Murray who saw off Spain’s 2013 runner-up David Ferrer 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 to make the last four for the third time.
For Nadal, it was a sobering way to mark his 29th birthday with the comprehensive loss, placing a serious question mark over whether he will be able to achieve his dream of a 10th French Open crown.
Meanwhile, top seed Serena Williams set up a semi-final clash with Timea Bacsinszky at the French Open after defeating Italian 17th seed Sara Errani 6-1, 6-3.
Williams, who is looking for her third title at Roland Garros and 20th career Grand Slam crown, will face Bacsinszky after the Swiss 23rd seed beat unseeded Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck 6-4, 7-5 in the day’s other quarter-final tie.
The American had lost the first set in each of her last three matches in Paris but on this occasion she meant business right from the off, breaking immediately to lead 2-0 on the central Court Philippe Chatrier.
The diminutive Errani, who was the runner-up at Roland Garros in 2012 and lost to Williams in the semi-finals a year later, broke back straight away but once more she could not hold her own serve and fell 3-1 behind.
Williams is the heavy favourite to win the title, with the other semi-final pairing seventh seed Ana Ivanovic, the Serbian who was the French Open champion in 2008, with Czech 13th seed Lucie Safarova.