Roger Federer sets up semi-final clash with Djokovic at Roland Garros

PARIS — Roger Federer set up a mouth-watering French Open semi-final showdown with high-flying Novak Djokovic after an untidy straight sets victory over Gael Monfils on Tuesday.

Federer, the 2009 champion, is still to drop a set at this year's tournament, but in Djokovic he faces an opponent who is just one win short of John McEnroe's 1984 record of 42 matches unbeaten at the start of a season.

Second-seeded Djokovic will also take over from defending champion Rafael Nadal as world number one if he prevails against Federer on Friday, having beaten the great Swiss in their last three encounters.

"I'm very happy to be in the semi-finals," said Federer, after beating ninth seed Monfils 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) in a scrappy, wind-affected match that featured an astonishing 95 unforced errors from both players.

"Playing a semi-final here at Roland Garros is a great moment and playing such a great player is what we train for."

Federer, the third seed, made an uncertain start amid windy, overcast conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier and was broken to love in his second service game.

The Swiss broke back immediately, however, thanks to a perfectly judged backhand drop shot that bit and died in the dust, before obliging Monfils to fight off three break points in the eighth game.

Seeded outside the top two at a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon in 2003, Federer brought up two set points on Monfils' serve shortly afterwards and then clinched the first set when the world number nine put a forehand wide.

Following an exchange of breaks in the second set, Federer broke for a 4-2 lead when Monfils double-faulted, prompting the Frenchman to fling his racquet to the ground in disgust.

Both men were culpable of some dismal shot-making, but it did not prevent Federer from closing out the set when a stretching Monfils sent a backhand long.

Monfils saved three break points at 4-4 in the third set and two at 5-5, but swiftly fell 6-1 down in the ensuing tie-break and was finally beaten when Federer thrashed a forehand winner down the line.

AFP

Decent win, not perfect (but I'll chuck it up to the windy conditions).  He got the job done.  Now comes the hard part.

It's nail biting time!.