Djokovic into last four

Novak Djokovic is through to the French Open semi-finals for the first time in three years after Fabio Fognini pulled out of their last-eight clash because of a thigh injury.

The Italian picked up the problem in the fifth set of his remarkable win over Albert Montanes on Sunday and announced on Monday that he would not be fit for the match, which would have been played at Roland Garros on Tuesday.

Fognini's decision means second seed Djokovic will now have to win the tournament to beat John McEnroe's record start to a year of 42 consecutive wins, which could mean having to defeat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Defending champion Nadal battled through to the quarter-finals of with a 7-5 6-3 6-3 victory over Ivan Ljubicic.

It was far from a vintage performance from the top seed, who will face either Robin Soderling or Gilles Simon in the last eight, particularly for a set and a half, but he was still too good for veteran Ljubicic.

Juan Ignacio Chela will face either Andy Murray or Viktor Troicki in the last eight after taking almost four hours to see off qualifier Alejandro Falla 4-6 6-2 1-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-2.

Federer will play ninth seed Gael Monfils in the quarter-finals after the Frenchman took his fourth match point to claim a 6-4 2-6 7-5 1-6 8-6 victory over David Ferrer in another remarkable match on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

It looked like the home favourite had blown his chance when he tightened up serving for the match at 5-3 in the decider and squandered two match points.

Ferrer duly broke back and then saved another match point on his own serve, but when Monfils moved 0-40 ahead in the Spaniard's next service game, there was no way back and the 24-year-old brought the crowd to their feet with a forehand winner.