Paris: Novak Djokovic crushed nine-time champion Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 to move into the French Open semifinals on Wednesday, 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 the completion of a career Grand Slam.
He will play his 26th career Grand Slam semifinal on Friday against British third seed Andy Murray, who beat Spain’s 2013 runner-up David Ferrer 7-5 (4), 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. “I have great respect for Rafa, he’s a true champion and it’s always a pleasure to play him,” said 28-year-old Djokovic.
“I knew I had to be aggressive and stay concentrated on every point. That’s not easy to do against a man who had only lost once here in his career.
“It’s an incredible day, I am very happy and I want to continue like this.”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.
The defeat, just his second in Paris in a decade after a fourth-round exit to Robin Soderling in 2009, will probably also see him slip out of the world top 10 for the first time since 2005.
In the women’s event, top seed Serena Williams set up a semifinal clash with Timea Bacsinszky after defeating Italian 17th seed Sara Errani 6-1, 6-3 on Wednesday.
