Federer, Nadal to meet in French Open semis

AFP - Roger Federer set up a mouthwatering French Open semi-final clash with Rafael Nadal yesterday when he defeated Stan Wawrinka in four sets to become the oldest Men’s Grand Slam semi-finalist in 28 years.
The 37-year-old Swiss beat his compatriot 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to reach his 43rd major semi-final and eighth at Roland Garros.
Defending champion Nadal, bidding for a 12th title at the French Open, blitzed a weary Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-1, 6-3.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion is the oldest man to make the semis at one of the big four tournaments since Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open aged 39.
It will be Federer’s first Roland Garros semi-final since a defeat by Novak Djokovic in 2012.
Meanwhile, Johanna Konta became the first British Woman in 36 years to reach the semi-finals by sweeping past seventh-seeded Sloane Stephens of the United States, last year’s runner-up, 6-1, 6-4.
The 28-year-old Konta had not won a match at Roland Garros in any of her previous four visits.
But now she has emulated Jo Durie who was the last British Woman to make the French Open semi-finals in 1983.
She will play either Czech teenager Marketa Vondrousova or Croatian 31st Petra Martic for a place in Saturday’s final.