David Nalbandian ended Gustavo Kuerten's dreams of a fourth French Open title with a 6-2 3-6 6-4 7-6 (8/6) win in the quarter-finals. Nalbandian got off to a flying start, racing through the first set as Kuerten struggled to find his rhythm.
The Brazilian crowd favourite hit back to take the second, before Nalbandian again stepped up a gear in the third.
Kuerten should have taken the match into a decider but squandered four set points and Nalbandian edged through.
Nalbandian will face Gaston Gaudio in all-Argentine semi-final, with another Argentine, Guillermo Coria, taking on Tim Henman in the other semi.  | MEN'S SEMI-FINALS Nalbandian v Gaudio Coria v Henman |
"It's not easy to play Guga here, he's like a local," said Nalbandian.
"But the crowd was very respectful. I knew they would be with him so one of the keys was to stay calm and just shut out everything."
Former world number one Kuerten had never lost to a fellow South American in a Grand Slam tournament but he was troubled by a long-term hip injury as well as Nalbandian's solid baseline play.
"If I did not have the problems with the hip then I would be able to play at the same level as the others," said Kuerten.
"I felt like I had more chances today but I am struggling a lot in one part of my body.
"Today was tough but still a great pleasure to be out on the main court playing the quarter-finals."
MMIX
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