Djokovic rolls over Raonic on way to French Open semis

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic rolled over Canada’s Milos Raonic 75, 76 (75), 64 on Tuesday in the French Open quarterfinals.

Djokovic’s win sets up a meeting in the semis with Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, who upended Czech Tomas Berdych 63, 62, 64.

“Even though it was a straight set win, few points here and there kind of decided the winner,” Djokovic said.

The 27yearold world No. 2 will have his work cut out with Gulbis, a streaky player who knocked off Switzerland’s Roger Federer on Sunday.

“It’s very special,” the 25yearold Gulbis said after his win against Berdych. “Today was the best match of the tournament. I did everything well.”

Gulbis has a 14 career record against the red hot Djokovic, who is looking to win his first title at the French Open.

Spanish world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, meanwhile, celebrated his 28th birthday on Tuesday at Roland Garros in what has become an annual tradition for the defending champion.

“Before, I could blow them out with one breath,” Nadal, a 13time Grand Slam champion who has won a record eight French Open titles, joked after blowing out the candles on his cake in the players’ lounge.

Nadal will play countryman David Ferrer in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The only time Nadal could not celebrate his birthday at the Grand Slam event was in 2009, when Sweden’s Robin Soderling defeated him.

Nadal has an astounding career mark of 621 at tennis’ premiere claycourt event, with his only loss coming at the hands of Soderling in the round of 16 five years ago.

On the women’s side, Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza and Carla Suarez Navarro both came up short in their bids to make the semifinals.

Russia’s Maria Sharapova, the 2012 champion, rallied to beat Muguruza 16, 75, 61, while Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard beat Suarez Navarro 76 (74), 26, 75.

“Little by little I started playing a bit better, getting in the court a little bit more, playing a little bit more aggressive, serving better than I did in the first set, returning as well, giving myself more looks at break points. I was a game away from losing it. I was very happy with the way I came through,” Sharapova said.

The 20yearold Venezuelanborn Muguruza, who pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament by taking out American world No. 1 Serena Williams 62, 62 in the second round, was one game away from winning the match but let the 27yearold Sharapova, who has won all four Grand Slam titles, back in the match.

Suarez Navarro also had a chance to win her match against the 20yearold Bouchard, going up 52 on serve in the first set and ending up losing it in a tiebreaker.

“For me, it was such a physical and emotional battle. I was down. I was always coming back and fighting and trying, and really kind of a grind on clay,” Bouchard, who made the semifinals at the Australian Open in January, said.

The 25yearold Suarez Navarro managed to win the second set easily and then jumped to a 41 lead in the third.

Bouchard, whose game is better suited to hard courts, fought back and powered her way to the semis.