Paris (AFP)

As in the good old days: Roger Federer, back on clay Paris for the first time since 2015, and Rafael Nadal offer Roland Garros a semi-final dream between the most decorated player in Grand Slam and the master of places.

In its previous three editions, the 2nd Grand Slam of the calendar had been deprived of its presence. For his return, he is spoiled: after having reached the quarterfinals without leaving any set, Federer has come to the end of his compatriot Stan Wawrinka, ex-N.3 world today 28th, in just over three hours and a half (7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4) on Tuesday.

A few minutes earlier, Nadal (N.2) had made a bite of the Japanese Kei Nishikori (N.7) in less than two hours (6-1, 6-1, 6-3).

So the two legends will face for a place in the final on Friday.

"What a pleasure to have chosen to come back to Roland," said Federer, "if I came back to earth, maybe it's also to play" Rafa ", I have the match, it's nice."

- A month after his return on ocher -

When Federer set foot on the ground for the first time in three years in early May in Madrid, he was far from certain to find him in the last four of Roland Garros a month later.

But the Swiss champion has once again demonstrated his extraordinary ability to adapt and his desire still intact, even at 37 years.

"I'm here to fight," he said after qualifying for the quarter-finals on Sunday.

That's what he did for over three and a half hours on the Suzanne-Lenglen court on Tuesday. For a long time, the former world No.1 today N.3 failed to seize the service of Wawrinka despite the many opportunities he has procured. But the only two break points - out of 18 obtained - he converted were valuable. The first, after 2:10 min of play, allowed him to return to height in the third set (4-4), he ended up winning in the decisive game to take the advantage two runs to one. The second, at 4-4 in the fourth set, after the interruption of a little over an hour due to the storm at 3-3, allowed him to serve for the win of the game. With success, despite its only two double faults of the game.

Earlier, Wawrinka had snatched his first set of the fortnight.

Fighting is what Federer will have to do, probably even stronger, against Nadal on Friday.

- 5-0 -

Cut off in his run to two games of the victory (6-1, 6-1, 4-2) against Nishikori, the Spaniard, who celebrated his 33 years on Monday, returned to the Central that the space of ten minutes after the storm.

The challenge that awaits Federer is monumental. On clay, Nadal leads thirteen wins to two in their confrontations. At Roland-Garros, it's even worse: in five duels, including four finals (2006-2008, 2011), it is still the Majorcan who has won.

But the two players have not crossed over on ocher since 2013 (final in Rome). And Federer has not lost to his Spanish rival since 2014 (semifinal of the Australian Open). He is the one who won their last six face-to-face, all on hard or in the gym.

"We shared the best moments of our careers on the court, it will be a special moment," anticipates Rafa.

With two months to celebrate his 38th birthday, Federer has become the oldest semi-finalist at Roland Garros for more than half a century (exactly 51 years old, Gonzales in 1968). He also becomes the oldest semifinalist in Grand Slam for 28 years (Connors at the US Open 1991).

In the women's draw, Johanna Konta has become the first Briton to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros since 1983 (Durie). His career was all the more unexpected as during his first four participations in the Paris tournament, Konta had never won a single match.

? 2019 AFP