Claycourt machine Rafa Nadal held off another challenge from great rival Novak Djokovic to claim a record extending ninth French Open title with a 3-6 7-5 6-2 6-4 victory on Sunday.
KEEPING SPONSORS HAPPY: Novak Djokovic knows it is important to keep those sponsors happy.
Canada's Eugenie Bouchard will bid for a first appearance in a Grand Slam final when she takes on her childhood idol Maria Sharapova in the French Open semifinals on Thursday.
The thinking before this French Open was that maybe, just maybe, Rafael Nadal was a tad vulnerable.
REGAL ONLOOKER: "King of Clay" Rafael Nadal's record 32nd consecutive French Open victory was fit for a prince. Well, actually, Prince.
Roger Federer surveyed the wreckage of his worst French Open in 10 years, and despite his stubborn optimism that a record eighth Wimbledon title is within his grasp, history and time are against him.
Rafa Nadal and the other members of the "big four" know a new band of brash youngsters are on the horizon, but the Spaniard showed on Thursday they will not be handing over the keys to the trophy cabinet just yet.
Briefly, and only briefly, Rafael Nadal was in a difficult spot in the French Open quarterfinals. For the first time in this year's tournament, the eight-time champion dropped a set.
Swiss legend Roger Federer failed to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open for the first time since 2004 after he lost to Latvia's Ernests Gulbis in a five-set clash on Sunday.
Second seed Li Na crashed out of the French Open in a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 defeat against world no. 103 Kristina Mladenovic of France.
Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Lukas Lacko of Slovakia during their men's singles match at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, May 25, 2014.