Fittingly, the greatest player in tennis history and then most likely the greatest claycourter the game has seen stand in the way of Novak Djokovic and sporting immortality.
As if that wasn’t daunting enough for Djokovic, all-time grand slam title leader Roger Federer warned the Serb he faced a hell of a fight over the next three days in his bold quest to become the first man in 43 years to hold all four major trophies.
Federer and Djokovic will clash for the 25th time in Friday’s French Open semi-finals – and for the 10th time at a grand slam – with the Swiss master holding a 14-11 head-to-head edge and still smarting over his US Open semi-final heartbreak last September.
A year after he snapped Djokovic’s astonishing 43-match winning streak in the 2011 Roland Garros semis, Federer would love nothing more than to avenge that Flushing Meadows defeat and end the world No.1’s grand slam dream in Paris.
Federer led Djokovic two sets to love and then blew two match points serving at 5-3 and 40-15 in New York.
Nine months and seven titles later and the loss still pains the 16-times major winner.
“It was so close against Novak. Afterwards, it’s normal to have regrets,” he said.
Federer also squandered two match points against Djokovic in the 2010 US Open semi-finals and lost from two sets up against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in last year’s Wimbledon quarters.
But the 30-year-old harbours no doubts about his ability to go the distance.
“I know I can win a match in five sets. I should have, I could have, against Jo or Novak,” Federer said after recovering from two sets down to beat Juan Martin del Potro in Paris on Tuesday.
“No, I’m not asking myself that kind of question. I’m fit. I have no physical problems.”
Federer is actually relishing the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with the reigning Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open champion.
“Seven to 10 years ago, when all of the finals or many of the tournaments like in Basel, for instance, Gstaad, Vienna, you name it, they were all best-of-five-set finals,” he said.
“Now all of a sudden, you can go six months and not play almost any five-setters, and even three years, let’s say.
“So it’s a different approach and I think we’re both aware of that. We’re looking forward to it.
“Give us more time to find our range and, once we find our range, it’s going to be tough for the opponent.”
Federer will be contesting his record-equalling 31st grand slam semi-final, an amazing mark he shares with Jimmy Connors.
“I find inspiration from great matches, from other players. I find inspiration in records,” he said.
“I need many different things: fans, tournaments, travelling. I need many things to push me to accomplish even more.
“So when I break a record like this one, it’s phenomenal and I like it.”
Federer is clearly up for this one and Djokovic needed no reminding.
“We all know his quality and can always expect him to perform his best at this stage of the tournament,” the top seed said.
“It’s crucial to be very focused and aggressive from the first moment because that’s something that you can always expect Roger to have, that control over the opponent from the start.
“I will try to be out there believing I can win. Now there is no real favourite.”
Should Djokovic emerge triumphant for the fourth time in his past five slam stoushes with Federer, he will almost certainly confront Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s high-stakes championship decider.
Nadal is favoured to dispose of fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in Friday’s second semi-final after trumping countryman Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-3 to reach the last four with his 50th win from 51 matches at Roland Garros.
Sixth seed Ferrer outgunned Scottish fourth seed Andy Murray 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-2 in their quarter-final.
