Gael Monfils became the first Frenchman, since Sebastien Grosjean in 2001, to reach the French Open semi-finals when he defeated Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-1 today, but the unseeded player now has to beat world number one Roger Federer to book his place in the final.
Monfils is bidding for a title that has eluded French men since Yannick Noah's triumph in 1983.
He broke twice in the opening set to take command of the contest but Ferrer, a claycourt specialist, comfortably levelled, only for the Frenchman to step up a gear and wrap up the win after two hours and 27 minutes.
"I prepared well for this tournament, I'm trying to take as much as pleasure as I can but also to keep focused," said Monfils after the match. "With the crowd and my family backing me, I feel very strong. I have raised my level progressively, I played beautiful tennis."
Ferrer added: "I lacked this little sparkle, and probably the previous matches in five sets are matches that I had to pay for today."
Earlier, Federer put an opening-set scare behind him to beat Fernando Gonzalez and book his place in the last four.
Gonzalez, who came into the clash unbeaten in 16 matches on clay this year, threatened a real shock wen he raced through the first set, but the top seed refused to panic and stormed back to win 2-6 6-2 6-3 6-4.
Gonzalez, a former junior champion at Roland Garros, broke Federer three times in that opening set and took it in just 25 minutes.
But the big-hitting Chilean has long been capable of hot streaks - his problem whas been sustaining it in the best-of-five format.
Federer knew that and he soon launched his fightback as he began to take control of the points, manoevring his opponent around the court.
He was understandably keeping away from Gonzalez's fearsome forehand as much as possible and the tactic worked, the 24th seed becoming more and more frustrated as the match wore on.
Federer soon levelled the match and then broke for 2-0 in the third to take control.
The Swiss served out the set at which point Gonzalez received some treatment on a shoulder problem.
Having lost to Federer in 10 of their 11 previous meetings, you wondered if Gonzalez really felt he could recover and that was certainly reflected by his on-court demeanour.
He was broken again in the third game of the fourth set and from that point there was no way back.
Federer is now just two wins away from securing the one Grand Slam title to elude him thus far, with a final showdown with clay nemesis Rafael Nadal looking ever more likely.