Roger Federer said victory over Rafael Nadal in the final of the French Open on Sunday would be the crowning moment of his career.

Spaniard Rafael Nadal withstood a late fightback by Novak Djokovic to beat the world number three 6-4 6-2 7-6 at the French Open on Friday.

Dinara Safina spared herself yet another drama to book her first grand slam final place when she saw off fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 6-2 in the semifinal on Thursday.

For once, Dinara Safina chose not to use up one of her "many lives" on Thursday and swept into a French Open final against the new queen of women's tennis.

Gael Monfils, riding a wave of passionate French support, and Novak Djokovic, the world's best player in 2008, plan to derail Roger Federer's and Rafael Nadal's French Open semifinal ambitions.

Top seed Roger Federer powered into the French Open semifinals on Thursday, but he was given a scare early on by Chile's Fernando Gonzalez.

Russia's Dinara Safina pulled off a second successive miracle French Open comeback to reach her first career Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros on Wednesday.

Russian fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova ended the dream run of Estonian Kaia Kanepi at the French Open on Wednesday with a 7-5 6-2 victory.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will square up in a French Open heavyweight clash on Friday determined to ignore the history-tinged implications of their mouth-watering contest.

It's Serb against Serb in the women's semifinals at the French Open on Thursday, the first time that has happened, for either of the sexes, in Grand Slam history.