French Open: Roger Federer ends Novak Djokovic run to reach final

Federer is through to his fifth French Open final in six years:
Federer came out with all guns blazing, breaking Djokovic in the first game, but the Serb hit back immediately to level.

At this stage, the standard of play from both men was breathtaking, with the pair of them going toe to toe from the back of the court and producing some rallies of remarkable power and intensity.
Federer was also trying to find some variety in his play, however, deliberately bringing Djokovic into the net and and it was a strategy that brought him some success.

Djokovic applauded one pin-point Federer volley as the pair exchanged further breaks to remain level but it was the second seed who forced the first set-points at 5-4, which the 2009 champion saved with some stunning forehands.
They were only separated in a tie-break which, to the delight of the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier, Federer took when Djokovic flopped a forehand into the net.

Federer piled on the pressure in the second set, continuing to attack with his returns while serving solidly to move 4-1 up.

Still Djokovic battled on, saving five set points on his own serve at 5-2 and forcing a break-back point of his own in the next game before finally conceding it with another backhand into the net.

Federer had never lost any of the 174 Grand Slam matches where he had taken the first two sets but he did not have things all his own way on this occasion.

Djokovic broke at the start of the third set and continued to improve, looking more like the invincible player he has been for the last six months.

The fourth set remained in the balance until the ninth game, when a shanked Federer forehand saw Djokovic break and serve to level the match, but Federer steadied himself to reply immediately.

Both players survived some tense moments to take it to another tie-break, where Federer secured a crucial mini-break to move 4-3 up and consolidated it with two thumping serves.

With darkness falling at 9.37pm local time in Paris, Djokovic saved both match points on his own serve but an ace by Federer, his 18th of the match, saw him triumph.