Novak Djokovic and the winning streak of 43 unbeaten games ended Roger Federer in the semifinals at Roland Garros. 16-time Grand Slam champion beat second-seeded Serbia by 7-6 (5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) on Friday and will face Rafael Nadal in the final for the fourth time six years.
"I trained hard my entire life for this type of game," said Federer. "There was a huge amount of pressure on Novak and he really played well."
five-times champion Nadal, who is one win of equaling Bjorn Borg's record of six French Open titles, beat Andy Murray 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 before Roland Garros to improve his record at Roland Open 44 -1.
On Sunday, Nadal will attempt to beat Federer for the sixth time in eight Grand Slam finals.
"Winning today was Novak perhaps a good birthday gift for him, because he lost his four previous games Novak," Federer said Nadal, who turned 25 on Friday. "I'm going to play against Nadal, my main rival in the second Grand Slam finals. We are living in these moments."
Djokovic came into the French Open as the best man on the tour. He has won every tournament he played in 2011, including winning his second Grand Slam title at the Australia Open after beating Federer in the second major semifinal in a row.
But for Federer, three times in a row was too much.
Third-seeded Swiss was in response to almost everything Djokovic can gather, post back shot after shot and wait for the opponent to make mistakes - even if Federer ended 46 unforced errors, five more than Djokovic.
"A loss can not feel good, sure," Djokovic said. "But, look, I know what to do. Handles I am better off the field on the track. I will accept it as another loss."
Bilateral trade in a couple of breaks in the first set, Djokovic and then led 5-4 in the tiebreaker when three unforced errors - a backhand straight shots and two - Federer took the set.
"The first set was outrageous," said Federer, "and in the second set we were both tired, because the pace was incredible."
In the second, Federer, Djokovic had to serve ahead 4-1 and held to win, despite losing nine break opportunities more.
"He went to the shots when needed. It was great when I needed to serve," Djokovic said. "What happened, really happened. You can not allocate more. At times I was lucky at times, was lucky."
Djokovic got the break in the third and raced to a 3-0 lead, eventually taking the first set from Federer in the tournament this year. He also led in the fourth and serving for the game at 5-4. But Federer won his fourth cut soon return to a tiebreak.
Once there, Federer was the Federer of old.
He took the lead 6-3 in winning three consecutive points, the last two with an ace and a service winner. He then won the game with your ace of 18 match in fading light on Centre Court.
Federer is 8-16 against his main rival and 2-6 in Grand Slam. He has already lost twice this year and Nadal in the semifinals at Key Biscayne, Florida, and Madrid.
Djokovic had not been since Sunday, when he defeated Richard Gasquet in three sets in the fourth round. His opponent in the quarterfinals Fabio Fognini, retired days later, when the free-running in Serbian semifinal.
"What I would say, and I told the network is that your drive, even if not the best, because other players have done better - now that's so physical and professional - he has done is incredible," Federer said.
Nadal reached his sixth final in seven years at Roland Garros by beating fourth-seeded Murray.
It was not perfect, struggling sometimes with his service and breaking three times, but his game was consistent enough to take care of his opponent's defensive tactics.
"The conditions today were not easy," said Nadal, who saved six break points he faced in the third set. "Very, very difficult with the wind changes a lot."
Nadal celebrates birthday with another victory on Court Philippe Chatrier. And against Murray, he certainly looked the best player in the world.
Nadal has Murray at the beginning of each of the three series. And despite losing his serve once in the first and twice in the second, Nadal always looked in charge - even to help the court by the mud cleaning equipment often dragged out of his walk up white paint.
When major points were made, it was Nadal, who is often in the head.
He saved 15 of 18 break points and converted six of 13 he won. After recording the second of two break points in the second game in the second set, Nadal let out a primal "Vamos!" or "Come!"
"I had a lot of break point opportunities. Rafa has been very much about them," Murray said. "He served well and was able to dictate a lot of points with his forehand."
The swirling wind on the court again at some point Murray forced to turn to avoid the red dust that floats in the eyes. A play later, when Murray was serving in the second set, a bystander in the Panama hat blew through the courtyard.
A child's fastball found the offending entry, and Nadal then asked his second break point of the game, when Murray sent a backhand wide.
Three points later, Nadal broke for a 6-5 lead with a right-winner, his second winner of five straight games.
Since the opening of the tournament behind two sets to one against John Isner, Nadal won 17 consecutive games.
Only the defeat of Spanish in the French Open came two years ago when he was beaten by Robin Soderling in the fourth round. But he returned in 2010 and won his fifth title by defeating Soderling in the final.
This year, Nadal beat Soderling in the quarterfinals.