Andy Murray has reached the French Open semi-finals with a four-set triumph over David Ferrer.
The third seed is attempting to reach his first final at Roland Garros, and he made the perfect start as he opened up an advantage over the experienced Spaniard.
Ferrer saved a match point on the way to halving the deficit at 2-1, but Murray produced a brilliant fourth set to run out a convincing 7-6 6-2 5-7 6-1 winner.
Read below to see how the action unfolded in Paris.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the French Open quarter-final between Andy Murray and David Ferrer.
Today's action is mainly centred around the colossal quarter-final showdown between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on Philippe Chatrier but that shouldn't take anything away from the match involving Murray and Ferrer. Third seed Murray is unbeaten in 14 matches on clay in 2015 while Ferrer is a former finalist at Roland Garros and possesses the game to beat anyone on the dirt.
Murray has encountered a couple of problems on his way to the last eight after dropping sets against both Joao Sousa and Jeremy Chardy but his victory over Nick Kyrgios in the third round suggested that he will be difficult to beat providing that he keeps his approach simple and efficient. As for Ferrer, he was taken the distance by Simone Bolelli at the same stage but aside from that, he has been superb, with his demolition of Marin Cilic in the last 16 indicating that he will fancy his chances against the Brit this afternoon.
In fact, Ferrer is probably a marginal favourite heading into this contest. He has won all four of their previous meetings on clay with Murray winning just the one set. It's not exactly encouraging if you are a Murray fan but on the positive side, Murray appears to be a different animal on clay in 2015.
BREAK! Murray gets off to an absolute flyer in taking the opening three points to set up break-point chances, the last of which was created with a stunning forehand into the corner. Murray goes long on the first point, but a baseline error from Ferrer gifts him the early advantage.
BREAK! Murray looks confident after taking the first point with a forehand put-away but Ferrer responds with a series of returns that take him to two break points. He strikes on the first as Murray blazes a forehand drive volley long of the baseline and we are back on serve.
BREAK! Maybe it is an advantage to return in this game? Murray breaks for a second successive game thanks to some flat hitting from the baseline and a big double fault from his opponent.
Murray drops the opening point but a sweet backhand winner down the line and a glaring error from Ferrer help him reach 30-15. The Spaniard finds the line with a baseline winner to get to 30-30 before the two trade mistakes to reach deuce. Murray's aggression pulls him through though, and we finally have a hold of serve 20 minutes into this match.
Ferrer eases into a 30-0 advantage but Murray replies with two excellent winners that fly past his opponent. He then connects with a backhand return to bring up a chance for the double break but Ferrer registers a one-two off his first serve to remain in the game. Ferrer eventually secures the hold with another big winner and that was impressive from the 33-year-old.
BREAK! Murray begins brilliantly with a one-two and an ace, but Ferrer won't let him ease to a service hold and the Spaniard pegs him back for deuce. That develops into break point for Ferrer who executes a stunning backhand drop shot and we are back on level terms after the Spaniard constructs a beautiful point to move Murray around the court.
BREAK! Wow - this doesn't happen every often. Ferrer concedes THREE double faults on the opening four points to give Murray the chance to break back, and he obliges when Ferrer can only send a backhand into the net.
Like his previous service game, Murray breezes to 30-0 before getting hauled back by the Spaniard. However, Ferrer goes long to give him game point before the Scot drills down an ace to move to within touching distance of the set.
It's taken him 12 attempts but Ferrer finally wins a point behind his second serve to reach 30-0 but Murray halves the deficit with a magical backhand slice that traps Ferrer in the middle of the court. The Spaniards come through with a hold to 15 though and Murray must serve for the first set.
BREAK! It's such a tentative start from Murray and he's made to pay as Ferrer races into a 0-30 advantage. That becomes 0-40 when Murray nets a backhand and the love break is complete when Murray can't handle a return after a weak second serve.
Ferrer is relishing the chance to play aggressively with Murray having seemingly retreated into his shell and after getting to 40-15, he seals the game when a serve kicks off the line and deceives Murray.
All of a sudden, this has turned into a big game for Murray. He's only won two points in the last three games. He takes the first two points of the 12th game with some pin-point serving but he lets his opponent back in with a double fault. Two more mistakes gift Ferrer a break point but he nails his biggest serve of the match to get to deuce. Murray reaches game point but more mistakes allow Ferrer a second chance, only for the Spaniard to fire a backhand long of the baseline. There's a "brick-wall" look to Ferrer right now but Murray batters it down with a lengthy baseline exchange to reach the tie-break.
Murray steals the first mini-break when Ferrer goes marginally long with a forehand and the Spaniard is unfortunate to miss out again when a drop shot clips the tape. Ferrer only has himself to blame when directing the easiest of volleys wide of the tramlines to fall 3-0 behind but he finally registers with a forehand winner that wrong-foots Murray. Murray takes the next point - his fourth of the tie-break - when Ferrer goes long again, before a fifth point is secured when Ferrer sends a return over the baseline.
SET! It's five set points to Murray after he fires down a big first serve but Ferrer saves the first when Murray nets. The second also goes begging as Ferrer gets aggressive from the back of the court, and so does the third after he goes for too much with a backhand down the line. These are worrying times for the Scot, but he finally gets the job done with a backhand volley into the open court. That was a 68-minute set and I think we are in for more of the same.
Over on Philippe Chatrier, Novak Djokovic is serving for a two-set lead against Rafael Nadal. That could prove decisive. On Suzanne Lenglen, Murray comes out firing on serve but he is made to work hard to hold to 30.
Murray plays two decent points but finds himself 30-0 behind after missing by small margins. However, the Ferrer double-fault count is on the rise once again as the Spaniards concedes two in a row but he replies with a stunning point that ends with a backhand flick at the net that wrong-foots the Scot. More strong hitting helps him seal the game and that was an important hold.
Aside from the two double faults, Ferrer is playing some excellent tennis and he continues that by racing into a 0-40 advantage. What a response from Murray though, who middles who baseline winners before a third rally ends with Ferrer finding the net. The game - and Murray's fifth successive point - concludes with a masterful drop shot and that's a massive hold.
Over on Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic has taken the second set 6-3 and he is one away from inflicting just the second Roland Garros defeat on Rafael Nadal. Never write off the nine-time winner though...
BREAK! Ferrer opens the game with his seventh double fault of the contest, and after he makes an unforced error, an eighth double fault follows. It's Murray's turn to have 0-40 but Ferrer comes up with two terrific points to get back to 30-40. He can't save a third though after Murray forces the forehand error.
The opening two points are shared but Murray powers through the remainder of the game, which is completed with an heavily-sliced approach shot that catches the line and turns into a winner.
Ferrer races into a 40-0 lead with some faultless tennis, and although Murray gets back to within a point, he sends a return long to see Ferrer remain competitive in this second set.
Ferrer has a chance to steal the opening point with a backhand volley but it goes miles long and Murray proceeds to hold to love.
BREAK! Murray produces a remarkable array of shots to reach two set points but Ferrer is equally impressive with the drop volley that sees him save the first. However, Murray has upped it over the past 10 minutes and he secures the set with a cross-court forehand winner.
Ferrer needs a fast start to this third but despite fighting back to deuce, he loses the next two points to allow Murray to edge closer to the match. Over on Philippe Chatrier, Novak Djokovic has completed a 7-5 6-3 6-1 demolition of Rafael Nadal. He will play the winner of this contest in the semis.
BREAK! Ferrer looks to be coasting at 40-15 but he can't shake off Murray who is scrapping for every point. The third seed has break point after Ferrer goes long and when a shot into the net follows, Murray moves four games away from an impressive win. There's still a long way to go though.
You get the feeling that Murray is keen to reach the finish line at the earliest opportunity as he blasts his way to a love hold.
Ferrer's level has completely dropped off and a backhand mistake allows Murray an opening. The Scot crushes a forehand winner to get to 30-30 but Ferrer responds with a forehand conversion and an ace to get back to 3-1.
BREAK! Maybe this match isn't over after all. A couple of Murray errors allow Ferrer to bring up three break points and although he misses the first, a Murray drop-shot mistake sees the set back on serve.
The crowd on Suzanne Lenglen has been neutral for much of the match but it's definitely pro Ferrer now. There's loud applause as the Spaniard takes the first point but there are more worried murmurs as Murray hits back to 15-30. The third seed can't take advantage though as Ferrer plays some inspired tennis to get back on level terms.
Murray needs to find a way to steady the ship and he goes a small way to doing so with a drive volley down the line. Murray proceeds to hit his way into a 40-0 lead before a love hold is sealed with a big first serve. He needed that!
Deary me. Ferrer commits his ninth double fault before missing with an overhead smash. On the flip side, Murray incredibly shouts out "no" to a ball that lands in and it's enough for the umpire to hand the point to Ferrer. Correct decision. Ferrer then executes a drop shot for 30-30 before putting away a simple one-two off a first serve. Murray gets into the next rally but he sends a baseline shot long and Ferrer holds.
Murray looked rattled at the end of that previous game but he replies with a hold to love. It's an excellent response and Ferrer must serve to remain in the tournament.
Ferrer produces two perfect points to start the game but Murray responds with a forehand winner to end an 18-shot rally. Murray gets a huge bit of luck when a backhand hits the net and drops over for 30-30 but Ferrer is in no mood to let Murray have this and strikes with a backhand volley behind his opponent. Murray gets back to deuce with a cross-court backhand before he earns match point when Ferrer nets. Can he convert? No he can't. Ferrer plays a bold point and it pays off as he hangs on to take the game.
BREAK! This match is by no means over, and despite trailing by two sets, Ferrer looks the more confident of the two. Murray makes two errors to gift the Spaniard 0-30 but after Ferrer misses a huge change for 0-40, Murray drills down an ace for 30-30. Ferrer gets a break point though after Murray double faults before he nets with a backhand. Ferrer breaks and he will now serve for the third set.
SET! Ferrer is pumped for this and he lets out a huge roar after putting away a testing smash from the baseline. Murray then goes wide to slip further away before he blasts a backhand return long of the baseline. Ferrer has three set points but he only needs one as another forehand winner is recorded. Game on.
It was important that Murray got a game on the board at the start of this fourth set and he does in confident style. After missing out on a match point in that third set, he's got to find a way of forgetting about it and focus on the job in hand.
BREAK! Well Murray seems to have forgotten about the match point. After reaching 15-40, he spends the point on the defensive before unleashing a ridiculous backhand passing shot from the back of the court. The reaction says it all.
Remarkably, Murray repeats the exact same shot off his backhand wing for 15-0 but Ferrer is back level after the Scot goes long. The game advances to 30-30 but Murray toughs it out to extend his lead to 3-0. We were at this score in the third set so let's not get carried away just yet.
BREAK! This is turning into a war of attrition. Some of the points are brutal and on this occasion, it's Ferrer who stays strong to reach 30-15. It's a stunning reply from Murray though, who fires two huge winners to get to break point, but he can't get over the line as he hooks a backhand into the tramlines. He gets a second chance to break, and this time, he takes it with a smash into the open court.
Murray quickly establishes a 40-0 lead and Ferrer is beginning to look despondent. The Spaniard finds some inspiration with a winner down the line but Murray stamps his authority all over the next point to move one game away from the last four.
The pair trade errors at the start of the game before a sharp return from Murray draws the mistake out of his opponent. Ferrer gets back to 30-30 but he concedes a 10th double fault to give the Scot a second match point. Can he convert on this occasion? No! He blasts a forehand long and we continue. The Spaniard holds on with a couple of forehand winners to avoid a bagel set. That's surely as good as it gets though...surely...?
MATCH! Murray steps into court to swat away a backhand winner for 30-0 and the writing looks on the wall for Ferrer. The veteran then finds the net with a backhand and Murray has three match points. This has to be the moment. It is! A big first serve out wide forces Ferrer to net tamely.
First of all, let's get to the good news. Andy Murray reaches the semi-finals of the French Open for the third time in his career with a superb victory over David Ferrer, the first time he has done so on clay in five attempts. The bad news? He goes on to face Novak Djokovic, who saw off Rafael Nadal for the loss of nine games earlier this afternoon.
That will be all for Sports Mole's coverage this afternoon. It's been a captivating few hours at Roland Garros and the end result sees arguably the world's two best players face off on Friday afternoon. Goodbye for now.
