French Open, men's quarter-final: Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic – As it happened...

Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal takes on World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in a much-awaited men's quarter-final at the French Open 2015.

New Delhi: In what was anticipated as 'The Match Of The Year', World No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated nine-time champion Rafael Nadal7-5, 6-3, 6-1 to advance into the semi-final of the French Open 2015.

THIRD SET: DJOKOVIC WON IT 6-1

Nadal to serve to stay in the match. Rafa's forehand went wide, 0-15 he trails in the decisive game. Nole won another point as Rafa hit one stroke extremely high and long, 0-30. Nadal is looking under pressure here, Novak isn't giving him an inch to breathe. Novak won another point, 0-40, which means Djokovic has three match points!! Guess what, Nadal committed a double-fault at the crucial moment and Djokovic has comprehensively won the match!

THIRD SET: Djokovic leads 5-1

Djokovic to serve. He started with a quick wide serve and Rafa hit it wide, 15-0. Djokovic won another point as he smashed a winner from the nets past Rafa, 30-0. The World No. 1 won another point to extend his lead to 40-0. Easy service hold for Djokovic!

THIRD SET: Djokovic leads 4-1

Nadal to serve. Djokovic won the first point with an excellent cross court backhand, which landed deep towards the baseline and Rafa's shot was short, 0-15. Rafa won the next point, 15-15. Djokovic played yet another cheeky drop shot for a winner, 15-30. Djokovic attempted an aggressive return of serve and paid the price as it went wide, 30-30. Rafa took the lead in the game with an ace, 40-30. Nadal won the game as Djokovic's return of serve went long. So the nine-time champion is finally on the board in the third set.

THIRD SET: Djokovic leads 4-0

Djokovic to serve. Djoker won the first two points, 30-0. Rafa won the next point as Djokovic's forehand went long, 30-15. Djokovic went for another two-handed backhand which went wide, 30-30. Djokovic sealed the next point with an ace, 40-30. Djokovic won the game as once again, he played a forehand which clipped the nets and landed for another winner!

THIRD SET: Djokovic leads 3-0

Nadal to serve. Djokovic won the first point, 0-15. Djokovic won the next point as well as his forehand whistled past Nadal who didn't go for it, 0-30. Brilliant return of serve from Djokovic gave him a 0-40 lead. Three break points for Djokovic! Nadal saved the first one with a good drop shot, 15-40. Djokovic's backhand once again looked weak and hit the nets, 30-40. Nadal has done a great job in terms of saving break points and set points so far! Djokovic sealed the game as his return of serve clipped the nets and landed for a winner. Another break of serve for Djokovic and it's his game unless Nadal pulls off a spectacular comeback from here onwards!

THIRD SET: Djokovic leads 2-0

Djokovic to serve. He won the first point as he advanced to the nets and Rafa hit one wide, 15-0. Rafa hit another shot long to give Djokovic 30-0 lead in the game. Rafa's two-handed backhand once again crashed into the nets, 40-0 lead for Djokovic! Nadal won the next point, 40-15. Djokovic hit a backhand long, 40-30. Another good point between the two, which was won by Djokovic off a forehand winner!

THIRD SET: Djokovic leads 1-0

Nadal to serve. Djokovic won the first point, 0-15. He followed it with another point in his favour, 0-30. Nadal won the next point, 30-15. Good return of serve from Djokovic, 15-40 and Nole once again has two break points! Nadal came to the nets after Djokovic played a drop shot, hit a winner, to reduce Nole's lead to 30-40. Djokovic's shot went wide, 40-40, deuce! Djokovic took the advantage once again with a powerful forehand winner! Another break point for Djokovic. Djokovic has once again broken Nadal's serve as the Spaniard missed out on yet another volley winner as it landed wide! Early and massive break of serve for Djokovic!

SECOND SET: DJOKOVIC WON IT 6-3

Djokovic to serve. Both the players won a point each, 15-15. Djokovic won the next two points two get two set points at 40-15. Nadal managed to save the first one as Djokovic hit one wide. Nadal saved another set point as Djoker came to the nets after hitting a forehand, but Rafa replied with a crashing forehand which hit Djoker's racquet and fell on his side. Novak took advantage off the next point but Rafa fought back to bring the game at 40-40! Novak served, went to the nets, Rafa returned well, Nole got some racquet on it and it landed for a winner, advantage Novak! Djokovic finally won the set when he made Rafa stretch to his left and the ball fell short of the nets.

SECOND SET: Djokovic leads 5-3

Nadal to serve. Nadal won the first point, 15-0. Djokovic won the second as Rafa's backhand hit the nets, 15-15. Another superb point won by Nadal, Djokovic played a drop shot, Rafa returned it cheekily too short, Nole returned it high and Rafa smashed a volley winner, 30-15. Rafa is delighted and he has every right to be. Djokovic won the next point as Rafa slipped, 30-30. Rafa's forehand went wide and Djokovic has a huge break point here, 30-40. Good wide serve from Nadal and Djokovic's return went wide, 40-40, deuce! Djokovic's cross court backhand went wide, advantage Nadal. Djokovic won the next point, 40-40, deuce again. Djokovic took another advantage and converted it as Rafa's down the line forehand landed wide! BIG BREAK FOR DJOKER!

SECOND SET: Djokovic leads 4-3

Djokovic to serve. Nole won the first point with some aggression at the nets, 15-0. Djokovic won the next point as Nadal slipped while chasing the ball towards his right, 30-0. Djoker won the next two points to seal the game.

SECOND SET: Scores level 3-3

Nadal to serve. He won the first point as Djokovic's forehand hit the nets, 15-0. Djokovic won the next point as he came at the nets after hitting a backhand, Nadal returned it and Nole fired a volley winner, 15-15. Nadal's two-handed backhand hit the nets, 15-30. Nadal won the next point with a volley winner to level scores at 30-30. Nadal followed it with another volley winner and went on to hold!

SECOND SET: Djokovic leads 3-2

Djokovic to serve. Brilliant first point won by Djoker who anticipated Rafa's strokes from the nets and finally hit one for a winner, 15-0. Good wide serve from Djokovic, another point for him, 30-0. Rafa's forehand goes long, 40-0. Good serve from Djokovic, followed by another excellent drop shot and Nadal didn't bother to chase that one. Easy service game for Djokovic too!

SECOND SET: Scores level 2-2

Nadal to serve. Lot of top spin used by Nadal in the first point which eventually paid off, 15-0. Nadal won the next point after what looked like an exhausting rally, 30-0. Another point won by Nadal 40-0. Easy service game for Nadal.

SECOND SET: Djokovic leads 2-1

Djokovic to serve. He won the first point, 15-0. Djokovic followed it with a forehand winner to win another point, 30-0. Djokovic hit another superb forehand down the line and Nadal was a mere spectator there, 40-0. Djokovic holds convincingly!

SECOND SET: Scores level 1-1

Nadal to serve. Djokovic won the first point as Nadal's backhand went way wide, 0-15. Nadal won the next point as Djokovic's return of serve hit the nets. Rafa followed it with a wide serve, Nole hit it way long, 30-15. Nadal won another point as Djokovic's forehand found the nets, 40-15. Nadal played another drop shot, Djokovic replied with an incredible winner, 40-30. Nadal won the game as Djokovic slipped and couldn't reach the ball.

SECOND SET: Djokovic leads 1-0

Djokovic to serve. Both the players won a point each to start the second set, 15-15. Djokovic won the third point as Nadal's return of serve hit the nets, 30-15. Djokovic won the next point as well, 40-15. Nadal won the next point as Djokovic's backhand went wide, 40-30. Djokovic sealed the game with a cross court backhand winner.

FIRST SET: Djokovic wins it 7-5

Nadal to serve. Djokovic won the first point off a powerful forehand winner, 0-15. Probably the best rally of the match, Djokovic finally hit a weak backhand which fell short, 15-15. Nadal won another point as Djokovic's went short, 30-15. Nadal was at the nets in a good position for a volley winner, but like Nole did on previous occasions, he too hit it long! 30-30. Djokovic made Nadal stretch to his right as a result of which the Spaniard hit it high and long, fourth set point for Djokovic! Nadal saved another set point off a volley winner which clipped the nets and landed for a winner, 40-40, deuce! Nole once again played a drop shot, Rafa returned it and Djokovic hit it for a volley winner, advantage Djokovic and a set point number five for him! Djokovic's return of serve was weak and it fell short, 40-40, another deuce! Djoker hit another volley winner to give himself a sixth set point! Djoker finally sealed the set as Nadal's shot went wide! Not to forget, Nadal has saved five set points!

FIRST SET: Djokovic leads 6-5

Djokovic to serve. He won the first two points to take 30-0 lead. Nadal came to the nets for the next point and Djokovic hit it cleanly over his head for a winner, 40-0. Djokovic's slice fell short in the next point, 40-15. Djokovic sealed the game with a formidable cross court forehand winner.

FIRST SET: Scores level 5-5

Nadal to serve to stay in the set. Djokovic won the first point as he caught Nadal on the wrong foot with a down the line backhand winner, 0-15. Nadal won the next point as Djokovic's cross court backhand went wide, 15-15. Another good rally between the two, Nole played yet another drop shot, but it wasn't hit cleanly and Nadal won the point, 30-15. Djokovic made Rafa run on both sides of the court as a result of which he hit a backhand into the nets, 30-30. Djokovic once again played some good strokes, came to the nets and finally managed to get a volley winner right, 30-40, massive set point for Djokovic! Nadal saved the set point as Djokovic's shot went high and long, 40-40, deuce! Nadal took the advantage as Djokovic's return of serve went long. Djokovic's good return of serve game him his second deuce of the game! Superb point once again between the two greats and Djokovic finally won it after forcing Nadal to run backwards from the nets as his shot went long, second set point for Djokovic! Nadal showed great guts with a drop shot which Djokovic failed to return, 40-40, deuce again! Another exchange of powerful strokes between the two, point won by Djokovic who got a third set point. Nadal played yet another drop shot, Djokovic reached there on time but couldn't clear the nets, deuce again! Nadal has saved three set points so far! Djokovic's forehand hit the nets to give Nadal an advantage! Brilliant serve from Nadal and he has finally won the game! Brilliant fightback from Nadal!

FIRST SET: Scores level 4-4

Nadal to serve. He easily won the first two points, 30-0. Nadal won the third point as well with ease, 40-0. Nadal sealed the game with an ease and he is back in the game! Game Nadal!

FIRST SET: Djokovic leads 4-3

Djokovic to serve. Nole missed out on a very easy volley winner as he sent Rafa to the right corner of his court from where he hit one towards the nets, Djokovic was in good position but he hit it into the nets, 0-15. Djokovic won the next point with an impressive winner, 15-15. Another exchange of powerful strokes between the two, Rafa won it when Djokovic hit one wide, 15-30. Djokovic tried playing another two-handed backhand down the line but once again hit it wide, 15-40, two big break points for Nadal! Djokovic saved the first break point with a volley winner, 30-40. Nole saved another break point with a good serve, 40-40, first deuce of the match. Rafa once again took the advantage as Djokovic once again hit one wide, advantage Nadal. Aggressive play from both the players and Nadal's shot found the nets, deuce again! Rafa once again showed his class, made Nole run on the court and won the point by advancing to the nets as Djokovic's shot hit the nets, advantage Nadal, third break point for him. Djokovic once again set the game for a good winner, was at the nets and the ball came to him with a good bounce, but as he began this game, he once again hit one into the nets! That's not the Djokovic we know him to be!

FIRST SET: Djokovic leads 4-2

Nadal to serve. Nadal won the first point, 15-0. There was a good rally once again, Rafa attempted a drop shot, but didn't hit it cleanly as it fell short, 15-15. Rafa took another point, 30-15. Djokovic tried an aggressive two-handed backhand which went wide, 40-15. Rafa served wide for the next point and followed it with a forehand winner to seal the game.

FIRST SET: Djokovic leads 4-1

Djokovic to serve. Rafa won the first point as Djokovic's two-handed backhand landed wide, 0-15. Rafa once again showed some aggression as a result of which Nole was under pressure and he lost another point, 0-30. Nole fought back to win the next two points, 30-30. Rafa played an incredible two-handed backhand from the left corner of his court, 30-40. Rafa has a break point. And he converted it as Nole's shot went long.

FIRST SET: Djokovic leads 4-0

Nadal to serve. Djokovic hit one deep on the baseline and Rafa's forehand went wide, 0-15. We haven't seen the best of Rafa so far. Djoker once again played a drop shot, Nadal came to the nets and his return clipped the nets and fell in Djoker's side which he smashed for another forehand winner, 0-30. Djokovic once again dominated the point, Rafa hit one high and Djoker waited for it to bounce and smashed it for another winner, 0-40, three break points for the World No. 1! Rafa used a lot of top spin on his shots and Djoker hit one long, 15-40, two break points remaining for the Serb! Amazing point between the two greats, both displayed some fantastic tennis and Djoker has once again broken the serve as Rafa's shot once again crashed into the nets! Double break for Djokovic!

FIRST SET: Djokovic leads 3-0

Djokovic to serve. Nadal won the first point with a volley winner from the nets after Nole hit a drop shot, 0-15. Djokovic created pressure by advancing to the nets and Nadal's ended up hitting one into the nets, 15-15. Another good point between the two greats, it ended when Nadal hit one long, 30-15. Nole missed out on a forehand and found the nets, 30-30. Once again Rafa's forehand went long, way long in fact, 40-30. Once again Djoker forced Rafa to stretch and come to the nets and the Spaniard couldn't reach there on time. Game Djokovic!

FIRST SET: Djokovic leads 2-0

Nadal to serve. Nadal gets on the board with a good forehand down the line, 15-0. Djokovic won the second point with a good forehand. Djokovic played a powerful forehand, and came to the nets, Nadal was under pressure and his shot went wide, 15-30. Good return of serve from Djokovic, Nadal's shot was short, 15-40, two break points for Djokovic!! Good rally between the two players and Djoker delivered a powerful forehand to break Rafa's serve early!!

FIRST SET: Djokovic leads 1-0

Djokovic to serve. Djokovic started with a good serve and registered the first point with a two-handed backhand past Rafa's left side of the court, 15-0. A good point between the two players and Nole finally won it with some good show at the nets, 30-0. Djoker once again came to the nets and Nadal failed to lift the drop shot, 40-0. Djokovic sealed the game with a perfect ace. Good show by the World No. 1  

The players have arrived on the court and The Match Of The Year is about to start in a few minutes!

He might have had a forgettable season on clay this year, but defeating Rafael Nadal on clay is no joke. The mighty Spaniard has won the title a record nine times and even though he is struggling with form and is up against Novak Djokovic, he would fight till the last breath, something which the Serb would be totally aware of.

It is also Rafa's birthday today and the history shows that he has never lost a match on his birthday.

Much to the delight of the tennis fans across the world, the two greats will locks horns for the 44th time and for the fourth year in succession at Roland Garros. In the last three years, Nadal has emerged triumphant -- in the 2012 and 2014 finals and 2013 semi-finals.

While Nadal has a 70-1 record at the tournament, Djokovic, who has lost all six times he has faced the Spaniard in Paris, looks to take another step closer to a first title in the French capital and a career Grand Slam.

Nole would be desperate to add that one missing Grand Slam trophy from his cabinet. Despite Nadal's phenomenal record in the last one decade, many believe it is Djokovic's best chance to beat Nadal as he is on a 26-match win streak and has lost just twice all year and has not been defeated since February.

This year, the 28-year-old has won a fifth Australian Open as well as Masters titles at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Rome.