Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning a point against Nicolas Almagro. Nadal won the French Open quarterfinal match, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1, on Tuesday in Paris.

Paris ? Rafael Nadal’s French Open quarterfinal began more than 11â2 hours after Novak Djokovic’s did Tuesday. Which is why, after wrapping up a three-set victory, Djokovic figured his coach could head over and check out some of Nadal’s match.

So much for a fresh scouting report ahead of Friday’s semifinals.

Turns out Nadal was only moments away from winning, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1, against Nicolas Almagro, the most lopsided men’s quarterfinal at Roland Garros in the 40-year history of the Open era. Almagro’s no slouch, by the way: He was seeded 19th and has won more matches on clay than anyone else this season.

“I told my coach – I think it was 6-1, 6-1, 5-1 – I told him, ‘Look! Go! Go fast! See one game! Try to catch at least a game and see how it goes,”‘ Djokovic said. “‘Maybe he’ll play some bad shots.”‘

Not a chance. Hard as it is to believe, Nadal is playing more relentlessly than ever, treating each point – no, each and every stroke – as though the outcome hangs in the balance.

He’s now 26-0 at the French Open for his career, two victories away from becoming the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1978-81 to win the clay-court major championship four consecutive times.

Nadal has dropped a total of 25 games, the fewest ever lost through five full matches by a Grand Slam semifinalist in the Open era.

Djokovic beat 80th-ranked Ernests Gulbis, 7-5, 7-6 (3), 7-5, to become only the fourth man since 1968 to reach five consecutive Grand Slam semifinals. He also earned the right to face Nadal, who is 113-2 on clay since April 2005.