Hello and welcome to our live text coverage of the second French Open men's semi-final with 13-time champion Rafael Nadal defending his title yet again and world number one Novak Djokovic the latest star to attempt to usurp him at Roland Garros. We will be bringing you live game-by-game updates from this huge match very shortly.

NADAL 6-3 3-6 4-5 DJOKOVIC. That’s an extreme level. Nadal slams down a fifth ace but can’t rest easy as Djoker makes a shot up the line on the stretch you simply dream about. Rafa follows up with a one-two punch that clips the baseline before a big serve lures an error long. He needs more of those types of games if he’s going to somehow turn this around. Djokovic will now serve for a 2-1 lead.

NADAL 6-3 3-6 3-5 DJOKOVIC. That’s a strange game but Djokovic won’t care as he comes through unscathed to back up the break. Nadal defends like crazy and benefits from a few Djoker errors to force a break back opportunity. Nole gets a time violation but channels his anger into a thunderous crosscourt forehand to make deuce. Rafa makes some horrible errors off the backhand and then drills a forehand an inch wide to let Djokovic off the hook.

BREAK! - NADAL 6-3 3-6 3-4 DJOKOVIC. After all of that hard work, Nadal completely falls apart with three quick-fire unforced errors that cough up a break to love.

BREAK! - NADAL 6-3 3-6 3-3 DJOKOVIC. That’s a huge chance for Nadal – and somehow he makes it count! He conjures up a wonderous crosscourt backhand return winner and then has two bites at the break back when his own retrieval of a lob clips the net, touches his racket and bounces away. Rafa wastes the first but only incredible defence from Djokovic saves a second. The Serbinator plays to the crowd but then has to face a third. This time Nadal reads him and pushes a winner down his left flank to somehow pull level.

BREAK! - NADAL 6-3 3-6 2-3 DJOKOVIC. Nadal is in trouble here. He shanks a simple overhead at 15-15 and you sense straight away that it’s going to be key. The Spaniard drills long under more intense pressure and has two more break points to contend with. He saves one as Nole can’t quite dig out a drop shot and then a second with an ace. The Serb somehow stays alive in the next rally and Rafa can’t quite make a backhand pass from out of court. Nadal then undoes his hard work battling back with a poor drop shot into the net. Djoker is on course to take a 2-1 lead here. Nadal just isn't getting enough depth on his attacking shots to cause problems at the moment.

NADAL 6-3 3-6 2-2 DJOKOVIC. The Nadal backhand has creaked a lot since the opening set. He needs that to fire if he’s going to come out on top. He leaks them too easily by his own high standards and Nole cruises to a love hold.

NADAL 6-3 3-6 2-1 DJOKOVIC. What a hold! The Mallorcan has to hit a corker of a forehand just to make 30-30 but then comes under intense pressure. Nole earns a break point that’s fended off by a clutch one-two punch but a low backhand into the net offers him another opportunity. Nadal saves it with a big forehand before a wonderful overhead and some delicious hand skills to flick away a drop shot get him out of dodge.

NADAL 6-3 3-6 1-1 DJOKOVIC. Nadal will be disappointed. He’s in the game at 30-15 but runs around a return and dumps the forehand low into the net. Djoker slams down an ace and it’s an easy hold. The 13-time champion will be keen to try and make an early statement after being on the back foot for much of that second set.

NADAL 6-3 3-6 1-0 DJOKOVIC. Nadal takes an age taking a comfort break but comes out refreshed. He finds some hefty serves and belts that forehand deep to assume control from the start. A scorcher of a forehand right to the far corner is the perfect way to conclude a hold to 15 to kick off Set 3.

Of course, the winner of this tussle will meet Greek starlet, Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.

SET! - NADAL 6-3 3-6 DJOKOVIC. Match … ON! Djoker can’t believe it when Nadal claws a crosscourt backhand pass beyond him after failing to finish off an overhead. The Serb double faults to cough up break point but Nadal inexplicably guides a backhand wide to allow him to make deuce. A wonderful low slice conjures up another but Djokovic swats it away with a clinical winner before Nadal ballons the return. One apiece and anyone's match.

NADAL 6-3 3-5 DJOKOVIC. Rafa poses the serve-out question with a very routine hold to 15. It’s completely out of context in the match but most welcome from the No.3 seed’s point of view. Djokovic will now serve for the set.

NADAL 6-3 2-5 DJOKOVIC. It’s a classic game that has both men gasping for air. Nadal goes on the attack but has to show elasticity akin to Djoker to switch between his offence and defence. He conjures up two break points but thunders wide on a backhand when he seemed set to convert the second. Djoker then hooks a backhand volley into the net after an incredible rally and Rafa has a third. A lung-bursting exchange inevitably ensues with neither wanting to budge an inch, but it’s Nadal who caves first with a backhand into the net. Djokovic eventually finds a crisp backhand to edge ahead and the No.3 seed blazes a forehand wide to let him wriggle clear. Nadal will now serve to stay in the set.