Rafael Nadal won a stunning heavyweight clash with world number one Novak Djokovic to reach his eighth French Open final.
The seven-time champion, 27, saw off Djokovic 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 9-7 in four hours and 37 minutes.
Nadal will play David Ferrer in Sunday's final after
his fellow Spaniard overcame France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets.
It will be Nadal's first Grand Slam final
since he beat Djokovic at Roland Garros last year, having missed seven
months with a serious knee injury.
Friday's first semi-final had been the focus of
attention ever since the draw paired the duo in the same half, and it
did not disappoint.
While not quite matching the five hours and 53 minutes
of their 2012 Australian Open final, there was drama every step of the
way.
Nadal failed to serve out the match in the fourth set
and Djokovic let a 4-2 lead slip in the fifth, before the Spaniard
proved the stronger as the decider headed past one hour and 20 minutes.
"It's very, very special for me," said Nadal. "I want
to congratulate Novak, he's a great champion and he will win here at
Roland Garros one day, I'm sure.
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