Novak Djokovic beats 9-time French Open champ Rafael Nadal in quarters

PARIS – There was no trophy, and no title, on offer for Novak Djokovic at Court Philippe Chatrier.

Perhaps there should have been, considering what he accomplished.

Thoroughly outplaying the best there’s been on red clay, Djokovic ended Rafael Nadal’s 39-match French Open winning streak Wednesday by beating the nine-time champion in a surprisingly lopsided quarterfinal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1.

“A match,” Djokovic said, “that I will remember for a long time.”

It’s only Nadal’s second defeat in 72 career matches at Roland Garros – and second in 95 best-of-five-set matches anywhere on the surface. The other came in the fourth round in Paris in 2009 against Robin Soderling.

Before that, Nadal won four championships in a row. Since, Nadal collected a record five consecutive French Open titles.

“I lost in 2009, and (it) was not the end,” Nadal said. “I lost in 2015, and (it) is not the end.”

The No. 1-ranked Djokovic lost all six previous matches they’d played in Paris, including the 2012 and 2014 finals.

But Djokovic’s defense allowed Nadal only three winners off his heavy topspin lefty forehand, perhaps the most feared shot in all of tennis. With his coach, Boris Becker, jumping out of his seat to applaud, Djokovic conjured up 45 winners to only 16 for Nadal, whose 29th birthday sure was a downer.

“He was better than me,” Nadal said. “That’s it.”

In Friday’s semifinals, the 28-year-old Serb will meet No. 3 Andy Murray, who eliminated 2013 runner-up David Ferrer 7-6 (4), 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. The other semifinal is Stan Wawrinka vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

“I feel like I understand how I have to play on the surface better than I did in the past,” said Murray, who is 15-0 on clay in 2015.

Williams eases on

Serena Williams overpowered Sara Errani to reach the semifinals with a 6-1, 6-3.

Williams had 10 aces and 11 return-winners helping her compile a 39-9 edge in total winners over the 2012 runner-up.

In semifinal action today, the top-seeded Williams plays No. 23 Timea Bacsinszky, a 6-4, 7-5 winner over Alison Van Uytvanck. Also, No. 7 Ana Ivanovic meets No. 13 Lucie Safarova.

Williams is two wins away from her 20th Grand Slam title and third at Roland Garros.