Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of Andy Murray's French Open semi final showdown with Rafael Nadal. The winner will face Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final after the Serbian ousted Ernests Gulbis in four sets.

Speaking just minutes after putting Murray to the sword, Nadal said: "Today I played my best tennis at Roland Garros this year. It's always a pleasure to play here. It's incredible to be back in the final, it's very emotional for me... Novak is an unbelievable opponent. He beat me the last few times so he will be confident, but I feel I am improving and if I play my game we will see what happens."

GAME, SET & MATCH! - NADAL 6-3 6-2 6-1 MURRAY. Nadal dismantles Murray in one hour and forty minutes to roar into Sunday's final where he will play world number two, Djokovic. It proved to be a day of despair for the Brit who was once again broken in the concluding game. Nadal finished it off with a blockbusting overhead smash and is now aiming for a fifth straight French crown (nine in total).

NADAL 6-3 6-2 5-1 MURRAY. Pride kicks in for Murray and he attacks the Nadal serve from the off. Two fine winners put him 15-30 ahead and he manages to take the Spanish Raging Bull to deuce. However, a fine first serve followed by rasping forehand down the line leave Rafa one game away from the final.

BREAK! - NADAL 6-3 6-2 4-1 MURRAY. The game kicks off with the point of the match which unsurprisingly goes the way of the Spaniard as Murray can only block into the net from close range. It helps get the crowd back on Muzza's side, but he is up against a force of nature here. Another trademark crosscourt forehand from Nadal leads to two more break points and when Murray miscues into the stands, the feeling is that this match is very much over.

NADAL 6-3 6-2 3-1 MURRAY. The crowd indulge in a Mexican wave ahead of yet another love service game for Nadal, who now boasts three in a row. There are some boos for Murray as spectators wonder why he is getting nowhere near the Spaniard. It's unfair, as Rafa has been irrepressible today and everything has gone for him too.

BREAK! - NADAL 6-3 6-2 2-1 MURRAY. It's all-but over here. The fat lady is warming up in the dressing room. Rafa's forehand has a radar for clipping the line, there's simply no other explanation. He continues to hit some inconceivable winners and all Murray can do is watch on helplessly. A double fault offers up yet another break point and the world number one converts with a stinging overhead.

NADAL 6-3 6-2 1-1 MURRAY. Still no sign of a break point for Murray as the Nadal express powers on towards its destination: title number nine here at Roland Garros. A fifth love service game shows just how easy it's been for the world number one and it's hard to see this match going beyond this set.

NADAL 6-3 6-2 0-1 MURRAY. An important hold for Murray. His confidence must be low at present and at 30-30 he was in danger of slipping out of contention with barely a whimper. But a fine wide serve set him up for a thumping forehand winner and he eventually saw out the game to get ahead in this third set.

SET! - NADAL 6-3 6-2 MURRAY. Superb once again from Nadal as he racks up a fourth love service game of the match. The world number one has been untouchable so far. Murray hasn't played badly, but he's up against a man enjoying the occasion, who loves these weather conditions and is showcasing his ability on his favoured service. We could be done inside two hours here unless Murray can find something special from somewhere.

BREAK! - NADAL 6-3 5-2 MURRAY. Rafa senses the opportunity to go in for the kill and turns the screw. The reigning champion chalks up two break points and watches Murray implode as he can only clip Nadal's slice into the net. The world number one will now serve for what has been a very one-sided set.

NADAL 6-3 4-2 MURRAY. It's all very business-like from Nadal. The 28-year-old is playing well but he isn't having to hit the heights he is capable of to pull clear here. Another routine service game to 15 keeps Murray at arms length and it's clear the British number one is getting more and more frustrated at his inability to truly harm his opponent.

NADAL 6-3 3-2 MURRAY. The Scot uses all that pent up frustration to good effect in the early points, dominating the rallies with some powerful strokes to lead 40-0. But Nadal somehow works his way back into it and makes it a nervy finish before firing just long to give Murray the game. 'C'mon!' screams the 27-year-old as he tries to kickstart his impact on this match.

NADAL 6-3 3-1 MURRAY. A disguised forehand sends Murray chasing fresh air and sums up the way this contest is going. Murray enjoys a brief moment of respite with a sizzling winner before an ace consolidates the break for Nadal.

BREAK! - NADAL 6-3 2-1 MURRAY. Rafa's crosscourt forehand completely destroys Murray and leaves the Scot facing a real uphill battle now. With two break points against him, Murray loses his concentration and flashes a shot into the right-hand alley he is facing to hand Nadal the game.

NADAL 6-3 1-1 MURRAY. Rafa notches up his second love service game of the contest with a stunning crosscourt forehand that Murray can only prod back towards the net. Hard to see how the seventh seed can make an impact on the Nadal serve at present while you always feel the Spaniard can cause trouble on the Scot's.

NADAL 6-3 0-1 MURRAY. A superb opener for Muzza sees him start off with a love game on his serve. Another sublime drop shot is the pick of the points while a probing forehand that clips the baseline concludes it.

SET! - NADAL 6-3 MURRAY. Rafa wraps up the first set with the minimum of fuss in 34 minutes. A powerful first serve down the middle has Murray on the back foot and the Spaniard angles a volley into the corner from the net to take it to 15. What can Murray do to turn this around against the King of Clay?

NADAL 5-3 MURRAY. The British number one produces some stout defensive work to stay in it and gets out of a sticky situation at 30-30 with a controlled overhead that Nadal can only block into the net. An ace seals the game leaving Rafa to serve for the set.

NADAL 5-2 MURRAY. The reigning champion here at Roland Garros edges closer to the first set with a typically sound service game to love that he confirms with a rare ace. Murray will now serve to stay in this set.

NADAL 4-2 MURRAY. Brilliant from Murray. A stunning drop shot from deep bamboozles Nadal and is the moment of a game which suggests he has now settled into this titanic challenge. Not even a miscue into the Earth's stratosphere can alter his stride as he thunders another forehand winner beyond the Spaniard to take it to 15.