Federer sets up semi-final clash with Djokovic

PARIS (AP):

Roger Federer made his way back into the French Open semi-finals yesterday and he'll now get a chance to end Novak Djokovic's perfect season.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion advanced by beating Gael Monfils of France 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (3), making it five straight-set wins in a row at Roland Garros.

Against Djokovic, Federer will be up against the player who eliminated him from the semi-finals at the last two major tournaments.

"Playing a semi-final here at Roland Garros is something great and to play it against a great player ... that's why we train so hard," Federer said. "I'm in really great shape and I'm looking forward to playing this big match."

Earlier, Andy Murray completed his darkness-suspended fourth-round match, reaching the quarter-finals with a 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 win over Viktor Troicki.

On the women's side, defending champion Francesca Schiavone reached the semi-finals by beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 and No. 11 Marion Bartoli defeated 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 (4), 6-4.

Things are expected to be a bit trickier for Federer on Friday in the next round against Djokovic.

Murray, lethargic at times and brooding at others, worked his way into the quarter-finals by coming back to beat Troicki in a match that started a day earlier.

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When the match resumed yesterday, the pair held serve until Troicki broke for a 4-2 lead shortly after a ball boy interfered with play on a point won by the 15th-seeded Serb. Troicki complained, but the point was replayed and Murray eventually took a 15-0 lead.

"I won that game, but still, I never saw - haven't seen it on TV or ever," Troicki said. "I mean, since I watched tennis and I played tennis, I have never seen such a situation. Kid just jumped in and messed up my point."

Two games later, Troicki was serving for the match. He took a 30-0 lead, meaning he was two points from victory, when Murray rallied again and broke back.

"I was a bit nervous and didn't go for my shots at those points and he took advantage of it," Troicki said. "Definitely one of the toughest losses in my career.

"Not a good moment."