Roger Federer ended Novak Djokovic's 43-match winning run to set up a fourth French Open final against Rafael Nadal in Paris.
Former world number one back to sensational best in Paris
Roger Federer ended Novak Djokovic's 41-match winning run in 2011 to set up a fourth French Open final against Rafael Nadal.
Federer, whose only title at Roland Garros came in 2009, was at his sparkling best to deny the hitherto unstoppable Djokovic in a match of the highest calibre.
The world number three has not reached a grand slam final since the Australian Open in 2010 but on Sunday will bid for a record 17th major title after beating the Serbian 7-6 6-3 3-6 7-6.
Federer defied the gathering gloom to complete the win at 9.35pm local time - if Djokovic had taken the fourth set tie-break the players would have had to return on Saturday to complete the match.
Djokovic, absent since Monday after quarter-final opponent Fabio Fognini pulled out through injury, was below his best in the first two sets but gradually got into the match and it was only Federer's own brand of magic that denied him a fifth-set decider.
The first set saw numerous breaks of serve with Federer forced to save two set points at 4-5, and in the tie-break it was the Swiss who earned an early mini-break and took it 7-5 on his first set point.
Federer saved a break point at the start of the second and, when he broke Djokovic to move 3-1 in front, the prospect of another Federer-Nadal final was a very real one.
Djokovic has been supreme this year but at some point it was inevitable he would not be able to keep up to his own lofty standards, and he had to battle very hard to stop Federer moving 5-1 ahead.
Opening
The 24-year-old was under siege but he continued to dig deep, saving five set points in his next service game, and there was a brief opening when Federer then conceded a break point of his own.
But that disappeared in the blink of an ace and on his sixth chance the 16-time grand slam champion moved two sets ahead.
Federer has played 174 previous matches at grand slams without ever losing from two sets up but he found himself a break down at the start of the third as Djokovic fought back again.
Cutting down on his unforced errors, the Serb then broke his opponent for the second time in the ninth game to secure the set and the comeback was on.
In a high-quality fourth set in which both players fired countless winners, it was Djokovic who appeared to have control as he broke in the ninth game for a 5-4 lead.
With the atmosphere at fever pitch and the gloom descending, Federer incredibly broke back with a screaming backhand winner and the Swiss then saved another two break points in the next before forcing a second tie-break of the match.
The crucial error in the breaker came from Djokovic, though, allowing Federer a mini-break for 4-3 which he consolidated with two big serves.
A net cord saved one match point and an ace the second, but an 18th ace gave Federer victory to set up yet another final meeting with his old foe on Sunday.
