As the summer shadows lengthened on Monday evening, the French Open delivered the quarter-final the draw had promised: the world No1, Novak Djokovic, against the slightly vulnerable nine-times champion, Rafael Nadal – and it is still difficult to be sure who will win the match on Wednesday.
The Serb, most likely, will start a slight and sacrilegious favourite, and looked sharp again beating Richard Gasquet, who tried so hard on Court Philippe Chatrier to deliver for the home fans but it is increasingly obvious that his days in the sun, after much early promise, have dwindled.