Federer through to last four in France

Second seed Roger Federer made his 20th consecutive grand-slam semi-final with a convincing straight-sets victory over France's Gael Monfils at the French Open this evening.

The Swiss, bidding to claim his first Roland Garros title and complete his haul of all four Majors, was in solid form as he swept to a 7-6 (8/6) 6-2 6-4 win on Philippe Chatrier court.

The victory not only moves Federer, the runner-up here the past three years, a step closer to greatness but it will also give him new-found belief after a topsy-turvy campaign at this year's Roland Garros.