Novak Djokovic is rushing towards history here in Paris, and, unbelievably for many, Rafael Nadal is going home four days before the end of the French Open. When the Serb beat the Spaniard 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 in less than two and a half hours on a warm, still afternoon in front of an awe-struck audience on Court Philippe Chatrier, to advance to the semi-finals against Andy Murray on Friday, he not only tore up the record books, he left a considerable psychic bruise on the outgoing champion. It will take Nadal some time to get over it, whatever his brave words afterwards. This was, after all, only his second defeat here in 71 matches. He owns nine French titles. He is rightly regarded as the finest clay court player of all time. Djokovic had not beaten him here in six attempts. But Nadal lost, as he said, to an opponent who was “better than me”. That is some statement. Nobody has been better than Nadal on the Parisian clay, apart from Robin Soderling in 2009, and Djokovic – on the loser’s 29th birthday. Who can stop the world No1 now – here or on any surface? Every judge worth listening…