Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic in epic to reach French Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev

Rafael Nadal emerged victorious from another titanic French Open clash with Novak Djokovic to move a step closer to a record-extending 22 Grand Slam title. Nadal, a 13-time champion in Paris, showed all his fighting spirit and quality to win a gripping quarter-final 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6(3), the match lasting four hours and 12 minutes and finishing at 1.15am local time.

Ad/> The scoreline barely does justice to a remarkable contest – the 59th in the rivalry — that featured several mammoth games, jaw-dropping hitting, fluctuating shifts in momentum, Nadal leading by a double break in all of the first three sets, an 84-minute second set, and Djokovic failing to serve out the fourth set — all played out in a pulsating atmosphere on Court Philippe Chatrier even as the temperature dropped late in the night. Roland-Garros'Cut the guy some slack!' — Crowd boo Djokovic as he whacks net, McEnroe reactsAN HOUR AGO In the end it was Nadal who prevailed, lifting his arms in celebration as he booked his place in the last four against Alexander Zverev, who earlier beat Carlos Alcaraz in four sets.

«Novak is one of the best players in history without doubt; so always playing against him is an amazing challenge with all the history we have together,» said Nadal afterwards. “Today was another one, and to win against him there is only one way: to play your best from the first point to the last.

Tonight has been one of these magic nights for me; an unexpected level but super happy.” Zverev beats Alcaraz to reach semis Nadal gets warning as McEnroe slams shot clock Watch: Crowd boo Djokovic as he whacks net Nadal is now just two wins away from a 22nd Grand Slam title which would move him two ahead of Djokovic and Roger Federer. Tim Henman had