Rafael Nadal outlasts Novak Djokovic to inch closer to 14th French Open title

Rafael Nadal battled to a late-night victory over old foe Novak Djokovic to reach the semi-final of the French Open.

The Spaniard, looking for a 14th Roland Garros title, hustled his way to a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) win over the defending champion and world number one, in an enthralling showdown lasting four hours and 12 minutes.

Epic and entertaining as it was, the match finished at 1.15am local time in temperatures of 12°C, again calling into question the wisdom of tournament chiefs starting their night sessions at 8.45pm.

Nevertheless, it was Nadal’s night, despite there being so much seemingly in Djokovic’s favour.

After all, Nadal has been injured, the match was late in the day as Djokovic preferred, the Serbian had beaten Nadal in the semi-final last year and was determined to draw level on 21 grand-slam titles, having thrown away the chance to break the record in Australia.

But Nadal came hurtling out of the blocks and simply bullied Djokovic for the first 11 games, charging into the lead by a set and 3-0 with a double break.

Djokovic, who saved six break points before succumbing to a seventh in a marathon first game of the second set, looked shell-shocked, his eyes wider than the Arc de Triomphe.

But Nadal’s intensity dropped and Djokovic stopped the bleeding, hauling himself level before nudging 4-3 ahead with a hold in a seventh game that lasted longer than some sets have this fortnight.

Djokovic levelled the match but, while the momentum was all his at the end of the second set, Nadal had recalibrated and raced away with the third.

The cracks were showing as Djokovic angrily swatted the net with his racket, but he broke early in the fourth courtesy of an overturned line call which left Nadal remonstrating with