French Open results 2015: Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic cruise to semifinals

The top-seeded players in the men’s and women’s singles both won their quarterfinals matches on Wednesday to cruise through to the semifinals of the French Open with straight-set victories.

For No. 1 Serena Williams, that meant dispatching No. 17 Sara Errani, 6-1, 6-3, after close matches with Victoria Azarenka and Sloane Stephens in the previous rounds. Errani has faced Williams nine times in her career, but has won just two sets and has never managed to defeat Williams in a match.

The career head-to-head between No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 6 Rafael Nadal is a different story, though. Wednesday was the 44th time the two have faced and the 21st time that Djokovic came out on top. It was the first time, however, that Djokovic managed to defeat Nadal at Roland Garros after six previous defeats at the hands of the King of Clay.

Nadal’s streak of 39 consecutive wins in Paris, as well as five straight French Open titles, and nine of the last 10, was snapped on Wednesday by Djokovic who started strong early with a stunningly close rally and then dominated in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, 6-1.

Djokovic will advance to the semifinals to face No. 3 Andy Murray, who bested No. 7 David Ferrer, 7-6(4), 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 on Wednesday. Neither man nor the competitors in the other semifinal, No. 14 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and No. 8 Stan Wawrinka, have ever won the French Open. If Tsonga were to win, he would be the first French winner of the men’s singles tournament at Roland Garros since Yannick Noah did so in 1983.

No. 1 Novak Djokovic def. No. 6 Rafael Nadal, 7-5, 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 Andy Murray def. No. 7 David Ferrer, 7-6(4), 6-2, 5-7, 6-1

No. 1 Serena Williams def. No. 17 Sara Errani, 6-1, 6-3
No. 23 Timea Bacsinszky def. Alison Van Uytvanck, 6-4, 7-5

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