Tennis: Nadal beats Djokovic in French Open semifinals
Associated Press
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PARIS — By Rafael Nadal's standards, his semifinal match at the French Open was close: He lost 12 games and nearly lost a set.
The king of clay rose to the challenge today at Roland Garros, beating No. 3-seeded Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (3).
Nadal had lost only three games in each of his previous two matches. He's one win from becoming the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1981 to win four consecutive French Open titles.
Borg watched from the first row behind the baseline and rose with the rest of the crowd to applaud when Nadal completed the victory.
The Spaniard's opponent Sunday will be top-ranked Roger Federer, who's bidding for the only Grand Slam title he has yet to win.
Federer beat Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.
