Tennis:  French Open- Novak Djokovic fights off Matteo Berrettini to set up Rafael Nadal semi-final

French Open- Afired-up Novak Djokovic repelled a stirring fightback by Italian Matteo Berrettini to claim a 6-3 6-2 6-7(5) 7-5 victory on Wednesday to set up a mouth-watering semi-final showdown with defending champion Rafa Nadal.

The 34-year-old bellowed a series of frightening roars after completing a victory that at one stage looked like a formality but became increasingly fraught as Berrettini threw the kitchen sink at the Serb who becomes only the second man to reach 40 Grand Slam semi-finals after Roger Federer.

It was a spectacular conclusion to a match that was watched by 5,000 fans until midway through the fourth set when Paris’s COVID-19 curfew meant the crowd were obliged to leave.

Djokovic led 3-2 at the time and when battle resumed he suffered a nasty fall, grazing his hand, but sensed his chance when Berrettini served at 5-6.