French Open 2021 Semi Finals Highlights: Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal to reach Roland Garros final

Thank you so much for joining us in this marathon clash. Considering Nadal's domination, one could never imagine that there will come a time when he will leave the court without giving an on-court interview. But it has arrived and rightfully so at the hands of world No.1 Novak Djokovic, who has shattered multiple records. He will meet Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC BEATS RAFAEL NADAL 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2 TO REACH THE FRENCH OPEN 2021 FINAL

15-0: Unforced error from Nadal as the ball rams into the net.

15-15: Nadal's vicious forehand down the line is too good for Djokovic this time.

30-15: Backhand cross court from Nadal is overcooked.

30-30: Double fault from Djokovic, third of this match so far.

40-30: Game point for Novak.

NOVAK WINS THE GAME, IS ONE GAME AWAY FROM THE FINALS

FOURTH STRAIGHT GAME AND THE FINISH LINE IS IN SIGHT FOR DJOKOVIC!

Djokovic looking to do what no one has ever done, that is beat Nadal for the second time on Roland Garros and becoming the first player to beat Nadal after conceding the first set on the red clay of Paris.

Djokovic wins three on the trot to take a 3-2 lead.

Nadal has his strapping taken off from his ankle and is changing his socks on one leg.

Djokovic breaks back. You just cannot predict what is going to happen in this game. Every game, every point is an event in itself. That's just how good this match is. All we can do is sit back and watch history unfold right in front of our very eyes. "One for ages", "one of the best ever"...say what you may but matches of this sort do not come often.

A quickfire love-hold for Djokovic to get on the board.

30-30: Nadal needs one shot to change the course of the point. No way he should have won that point but he did. And that toom with a sumptuous drop shot.

30-40: Djokovic nets his return

NADAL HOLDS! From 0-30 down, including a double fault, Nadal plays out a staggering hold

NADAL BREAKS FROM 0-30 down.

Count him out at your own peril

Take a breather, folks because I definitely need one. One of the best sets in the history of the game. An hour and 37 minutes of world-class tennis.

The crowd at Roland Garros has to leave at 11 pm local time every day but given the occasion, the authorities have decided the let the spectators stay. A great decision, undoubtedly.

(Nadal-Djokovic)

0-1 First point of the TB goes to Djokovic

1-1: Backhand down the line is overcooked from Djokovic.

1-2: Slider wide of Nadal and then charging to the net for the third ball. Novak's ploy works perfectly this time as he takes the lead once again.

2-2: Under immense pressure, Djokovic fails to pull off a backhand drop shot.

3-2: Nadal with the lead for the first time as Djokovic's backhand down the line drifts just wide of the sideline.

3-3: An shoulder-height volley from Djokovic

3-4: Djokovic back into the lead with a compact pass.

3-5: Nadal missed a sitter of a volley. Yes, you read that right! Does all th hard work, darting left to right and then misses a regulation volley by hitting it long of the baseline.

4-5: A second consecutive drop shot and this one is good enough to win him the point.

4-6: What a time to bring out the ace! A 197 kmph ace, down the T.

4-7: HE HAS DONE IT! NOVAK HAS FINALLY WON THE SET AFTER 92 MINUTES. An hour and 32 minutes for one set.

Adv to Nadal- Glorious ball striking from two of the best players in the world. Another exhausting, ferocious baseline exchange and this time, Nadal gets the better of Novak, who rams his return into the net. First set point for Nadal.

40-40: Nerves of steel. Down on set point and Novak has the courage to pull off a stunning backhand drop. Nadal's return on the slide falls wide.

Adv to Novak Djokovic: Novak with an opportunity to take the set into tie-break.

AND HE DOES! Nadal nets his return. We go on!

From 30-0 to 30-30, Novak's mini-comeback in game 11 lights up the contest once again. This game has now entered the fourth hour.

30-40: This is a bout that continues to see punches being thrown and players withstanding every punch. Incredible.

40-40: DEUCE!! Nadal's overhead smash, after sending Novak wide, helps him save another breakpoint.

ADV to Novak: Djokovic responds to the ball clipping the net with a delightful slice and Nadal does the same. Novak then makes the lob on the slide, loses his footing only to see Nadal miss his skyhook. WOW!

40-40: NADAL RESPONDS WITH A MASSIVE FOREHAND DOWN THE LINE WINNER

ADV to Nadal: Nadal inches ahead and closes the game with an ace. NADAL HOLDS

15-0: Excellent stuff from Nadal. A sumptuous forehand volley on the run followed by a simple bunt past Nadal down the centre.

30-0: Not this time. Nadal's forehand down the line flies off the face of the racket and does not catch the line this time.

30-15: A rare unforced error from Novak in this set. The ball sits up nicely at the centre and Novak swats the crosscourt off his forehand but only manages to find the net.

30-30: Passed up the line by Nadal. A piercing, pin-point backhand down the line from the corner of the court.

30-40: HE'S MADE IT! Nadal, in his living room (as they say) isn't letting Novak run away with the set. From 0-30 to 40-30., he has chance to break Novak.

NADAL BREAKS! As long as Rafa is on the court, anything is possible. Still very much in the balance, this match.

Djokovic serving for the set. Will he get the job done?

30-15: 11th backhand winner from Novak. Legs spread apart, made to fetch on the slide and yet, he beats Nadal on the return. Outstanding.

40-15: JUST IN! Nadal's forehand drive clips the baseline.

Nadal holds!

30-40: And now, Nadal has an opportunity to break back.

Djokovic gets a time violation warning. First of the day.

40-40: What a forehand from Novak. He gives the ball a massive whip. Even Rafa could barely get any racket on it.

ADV to Novak: And now, it's an advantage to Novak. He inches ahead with a forehand down the line winner.

Novak holds! Nadal's inside-out forehands misses the line. After 52 minutes, Novak has a chance to go 2-1 up in the semifinal.

Novak breaks again to lead 4-3. This is incredible. Neither play is ready to give the other an inch.

15-30: YOU KNOW A RETURN IS MAGNIFICENT WHEN YOUR OPPONENT APPLAUDS YOU. Novak tries a serve and volley routine but Nadal passes him with an immaculate backhand cross court

15-40: Follows it up with some luck. Once again, Nadal drawn forward, courtesy of a backhand drop shot from Novak. He is then sent back to return a lob. He turns around and smacks the ball towards the Novak, but the ball clips the top of the net, setting off Novak, hits the frame of his racquet and falls wide.

30-40: Novak saves on break point.

40-40: RALLY OF THE MATCH! FOR SURE! TWO GREATS GOIN TOE TO TOE. A SPECTACULAR INSIDE-OUT FOREHAND WINNER FROM NOVAK.

NADAL BREAKS WITH A FOREHAND DOWN THE LINE WINNER

15-0: Starts with an ace, does Nadal.

15-40: Two break points for Novak. Is fatigue getting the better of Nadal?

30-40: After forcing Novak deep on his backhand, Nadal drops it short and Djokovic nets his slice.

40-40: Fatigue? Who said anything about that? Nadal hits an ace down the T.

ADV To Novak: Misses it by a whisker. Djokovic's forehand is met by Nadal's backhand, who nearly pulled off a miraculous around-the-net winner. The ball shoots long.

NOVAK BREAKS! Nadal's backhand drop finds the net.

Easy hold to 15 for Novak.

15-15: Wow, that is sublime control. A heavy backhand cross-court return from Nadal is met by a feather-like forehand slice from Djokovic. There was no way Nadal was going to return that ball.

15-30: How much will this hurt Nadal? Sends down another unforced error.

30-30: Don't count him out yet. Works Djokovic side-to-side before going inside-out off his forehand to win the point.

30-40: Nadal forces an error from Nadal and he has a chance to break!

40-40: Nadal saves the breakpoint with a 1-2 punch. A slider out wide and then a forehand for the winner.

ADV to Novak: Nadal's backhand return finds the net.

40-40: Nadal saves another breakpoint and he is beginning to show some emotions now. Knows how important this game is.

ADV to Nadal: Now, he has the advantage. Forced Novak deep and then finishes off the point with a simple overhead smash.

NADAL HOLDS AND THAT WAS GORGEOUS! Djokovic plays a drop shot and Nadal is equal to it as he catches Novak mid-court and flick the ball past him.

Djokovic holds! A straightforward hold for Novak this time around

A comfortable hold to 15 for Nadal. Sets himself up easily, rotates his body and nails a monstrous forehand down the line.

15-0: Novak sends down a thunderous forehand down the centre and past Nadal.

15-15: Follows it up with an unforced error.

15-30: THAT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD! Nadal turning up the heat at Chatrier. Djokovic rules the rally from the net only to be beaten by a low, accurate backhand, cross court pass from Nadal.

30-40: Double fault from Djokovic and Nadal sniffs a chance.

40-40: JUST WIDE! A rather ordinary miss from Nadal. Backhand return falls wide.

ADV to Nadal: Djokovic, on the run, nets his low, backhand return.

40-40: Djokovic isn't going to let this go. Nadal's loosing his footing during a return, but allows Novak to size the forehand up and draw level once again.

ADV to Djokovic: Easy point for Novak and Nadal nets his return.

GAME AND SET TO NOVAK! Nadal skies his return