Six-time Grand Slam title winner Novak Djokovic and big-hitting, free-thinking giantkiller Ernests Gulbis will clash for a French Open final place after both completed straight-sets quarterfinal triumphs.
World number two Djokovic, who needs a Roland Garros title to become only the eighth man to complete a career Grand Slam, tamed big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic 7-5, 7-6 (7), 6-4 on Tuesday to reach his sixth semifinal in Paris.
“It was very complicated against his serve, which is so precise and powerful, but I’m really happy,” said the Serb.
“It was difficult to return and important for me to keep concentration but I’m delighted to be in the semifinals.”
The 27-year-old made it three wins out of three against eighth-seeded Raonic, following Rome in May and a Davis Cup semi-final in 2013.
He will now tackle Gulbis, who put out Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to back up his shock defeat of Roger Federer in the fourth round.
Gulbis, the 25-year-old, 18th-seeded Latvian who is better known for his colourful behaviour and outspoken comments off the court than his achievements on it, stormed into his first semifinal at a major.
Tuesday’s win over Berdych made Gulbis the second most successful match winner of 2013. He now has 32 wins with just Rafael Nadal ahead of him on 38.
“It was my best match of the tournament so far. Everything worked,” Gulbis said.
“Tomas was getting angry because I was hitting the lines all the time but, sorry, that’s part of the sport.”
Gulbis has a 1-4 record against Djokovic, with whom he once trained when they were youngsters in Munch.
Their first meeting was in the French Open quarterfinals in 2008, when Djokovic won in straight sets in the pair’s only previous clash on clay.
Berdych admitted he had played probably his worst match of the two weeks in Paris on Tuesday.
“He was solid today, he didn’t have to bring anything special. I was not in the shape to cause him any damage,” said Berdych.
As he had done in his five-set triumph against Federer, Gulbis unleashed a big-serving barrage and after racing into a 4-0 lead in the first set, he never looked back.