Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the second of the men's semi finals at the 2017 French Open. Nine-time champion, Rafael Nadal continues his pursuit of La Decima when he takes on a potential pretender to his throne, up-and-coming sixth-seed Dominic Thiem. The players are due on Philippe-Chatrier Court shortly.

NADAL 2-1 THIEM. An error-strewn start from Nadal. He's been imperious so far in this tournament, but he's far from in the zone at this juncture. Thiem goes for broke on the second of two BPs but overcooks to Rafa's left flank. The Spaniard gratefully takes the reprieve and claims the hold from deuce with a blistering serve down the middle T.

BREAK! - NADAL 1-1 THIEM. Fist pumps from Nadal as he breaks straight back in what is already shaping into a tough and lengthy battle in each game.

Early errors costly for Nadal, but he'll be more irritated than concerned at this point.

BREAK! - NADAL 0-1 THIEM. No sign of nerves from the Dominator as he unleashes the trademark backhand to take a bruising 18-shot rally and roar back from 30-0 down to snare a surprise early break.

And here we go. Nadal will serve first....

The players are out on court and running through the warm up. Spectators being hurried into Chatrier as the organisers look to get this up and running...

The Austrian world number seven dumped the reigning champion Novak Djokovic out in the quarter finals, and will be buoyed by the fact he is the only man to defeat Nadal on it this season.

Trademark Thiem.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Nadal has won four of the six previous meetings. The players have faced off three times this year with Nadal winning the titles in Barcelona and Madrid at Thiem's expense. However, the matches got progressively closer with the 23-year-old Austrian coming out on top in the most recent clash in the Rome Masters quarter final.

Just the four hours and 35 minutes for Stanimal v Muzza. Will this one be as tight?

The winner of this contest will meet Stan Wawrinka in the final after the Swiss edged out world number one, Andy Murray in an epic five-set battle.