PARIS — Rafael Nadal has advanced to a record-extending 12th semifinal at the French Open with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 win over Kei Nishikori on Tuesday.
Waiting for him there will be longtime rival Roger Federer.
“I’m very satisfied,” Nadal said during his on-court interview after the match. “It’s incredible. Lots of emotions. To be back in the semifinals is something very, very important.”
The only trouble that Nadal, the defending champion who has a career record of 91-2 at Roland Garros, ran into against the seventh-seeded Nishikori on Court Philippe Chatrier was a rain delay of just more than an hour during the third set.
Next up for Nadal will be Federer, the No. 3 seed who defeated Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
It will be the 39th career matchup — and 13th in a Grand Slam event — between the two superstars in the Open era; Nadal leads 9-3 in majors, 23-15 overall and has a 13-2 edge on clay, on which they last played against each other in 2013 in Rome.
Nadal has won all five of his career matchups against Federer at the French Open.
“It’s a huge pleasure to come back to Roland Garros,” Federer said after his victory against Wawrinka. “If I came back to play on clay, it was to play Rafa.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.