Two-time defending champion Rafael Nadal will face Serb Novak Djokovic in the semifinal at the Roland Garros after both pulled off straight-set wins over their respective rivals on Wednesday.

Nadal and Djokovic met for the first time in their careers in the quarterfinals here last year when Djokovic retired with a back injury while trailing 6-4, 6-4.

The two youngsters have met three more times, all at ATP Masters Series events this season. Nadal dominated in the Indian Wells final and the Rome quarterfinals, while Djokovic won in the Miami quarterfinals.

In the day's first match, Igor Andreev from Russia made his Grand Slam quarterfinal debut by breaking the sixth-seeded Djokovic in the opening game, but could not force the Serb to drop serve again for the remainder of the match.

"It was not easy to play Andreev. I knew it before the match that he is a specialist for his surface. And he is a kind of player who makes you work for the points, and he produced a lot of spin. And he has a lot of effect on this surface," said Djokovic, who converted on five of his 10 break opportunities and took the victory with 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

"It's going to be difficult (to play Nadal), I won against him one time, so it can help me in the next match. He's a big favorite, whoever he plays against on this surface, but I hope it's going to be a good match."

Djokovic opened with a nervy start to drop the first serve making three unforced errors, but the Serb broke back immediately on top of an Andreev backhand error and visibly added stronger momentum into his game.

The set went with serve until the eighth game, when the Russian lost concentration and sent a forehand long to drop serve for the second time and allow Djokovic the chance to serve out the set.

Djokovic grew in confidence as he continued to challenge Andreev 's serve while comfortably holding his own and snatched the second set by the same score as the first. After that, the Serb was never troubled before heading for his semifinal spot.

Djokovic, who celebrated his 20th birthday two weeks ago, will be the 12th youngest Roland Garros semifinalist in the Open Era. He is also the first player from his country to reach the Roland Garros men's semifinals in the Open Era, adding to Serbia's success at this year's championship.

Nadal had a much easier time, closing out the win in just over two hours with his seventh successful break of serve. Moya double-faulted to give the 21-year-old his second match point and Nadal forcefully delivered a forehand winner to move into the semifinals 6-4, 6-3, 6-0.

Nadal, the only semifinalist who has yet to drop a set, improved his Roland Garros record to a perfect 19-0. He is attempting to become the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to collect three consecutive Roland Garros titles.

The bull-like youngster won the tournament in his event debut in 2005 and made it double the following year.

(Xinhuan News Agency June 7, 2007)