Djokovic beats 9-time French Open champ Nadal in quarters

PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic ended Rafael Nadal's 39-match French Open winning streak by beating the nine-time champion today in a surprisingly lopsided quarterfinal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1.

It is only the second defeat for Nadal in 72 career matches at Roland Garros – and second in 95 best-of-five-set matches anywhere on red clay.

The other came in the fourth round in 2009 against Robin Soderling. Before that, Nadal had won four championships in a row at the French Open. And since? Nadal had collected a record five consecutive French Open trophies.

The No. 1-ranked Djokovic lost all six previous matches he'd played against Nadal in Paris, including the 2012 and 2014 finals.

But Djokovic was dominant for stretches this time, allowing Nadal only three winners off his heavy topspin lefty forehand, perhaps the most-feared shot in all of tennis.