Nadal looking for touch of deja vu against Almagro

Rafael Nadal will be hoping for a touch of deja vu, when he takes on fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro for a place in the semi-finals of the French Open.

Rafael Nadal will be hoping for a touch of deja vu today, when he takes on fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro for a place in the semi-finals of the French Open.

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Two years ago, Nadal dropped just three games in thrashing Almagro at the same stage of the event, going on to win the title for the fourth time and without dropping a set.

Almagro has taken a set off Nadal in their two most recent meetings, though, and the world number two is taking nothing for granted when they meet for the right to play third seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia or Austrian 22nd seed Jurgen Melzer.

"It's going to be very difficult because the way he plays is really excellent," Nadal said. "He's managed to maintain the same level here in the tournament. It's going to be complicated; he's going to be very aggressive. He knows how to do this," he added.

"I'll try to play my way and do my best. I'll do my best so that he feels a bit uncomfortable."

In the women's event, top seed Serena Williams takes on Australian seventh seed Sam Stosur, conqueror of four-time champion Justine Henin in the previous round.

Serbian fourth seed Jelena Jankovic plays unseeded Yaroslav Shvedova of Kazakhstan in the remaining quarter-final.