"Everybody has been looking forward a little bit to this one," Federer said. "It's going to be really interesting to see."
Federer beat unseeded Victor Hanescu 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-3. Nadal overcame three set points in the opening set and defeated fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2, 6-0.
Federer and Nadal both reached the Roland Garros semifinals for the first time, and they'll meet on Nadal's 19th birthday. Count the young Spaniard among those who consider Federer the favorite.
"He has been playing very well," Nadal said. "Obviously it's an important match, and a wonderful match to play. I hope I'll enjoy it."
Putting Ilie Nastase, John McEnroe, Yannick Noah and Jose-Luis Clerc on the court together guarantees some fun.
Noah and McEnroe, kindred free spirits, were teammates in the over-45 category Tuesday at the French Open.
For the first set, they took things seriously. Then came the clowning.
Clerc smacked a ball way off the court, while Noah sat in the umpire's chair and ordered the umpire to play with McEnroe. When Noah finally climbed down, he sprinted around the court, chasing ballboys and ballgirls.
Unhappy with a line call, Clerc grabbed the umpire playfully by the throat.
As McEnroe prepared to serve, Nastase coughed loudly while Clerc cleared his throat.
McEnroe complained, so Clerc slung his racket at him. McEnroe picked it up and tossed it to a spectator wearing a business suit.
McEnroe and Noah won, 6-3, 6-2.
"It's a lot of fun with Yannick. We're going all the way," McEnroe said.
Noah returned the compliment.
"It's a pleasure to have him as a partner. It would be a lot harder otherwise," the 1983 French Open champion said. "He's still got a great touch."
Noah kidded the 58-year-old Nastase, the winner at Roland Garros in 1973.
"Hey grandfather, you're still playing well," he said.
Nastase, who rolled back the years with a couple of superb lobs, felt Clerc let him down. Grabbing a courtside microphone, he denounced his teammate.
"It's not a pleasure to play with him. His eyesight's so bad," Nastase joked.
BEDTIME STORY
Maria Sharapova is rich and famous but still a child at heart.
The Wimbledon champion said she needs a comforting bedtime story before turning the lights off at night.
"I'm a huge fan of kids' books," Sharapova said, after losing to Justine Henin-Hardenne in the French Open quarterfinals. "They always make you smile and make you laugh. They always make you think there's no negative things in life."
SHIRTLESS PROTEST
With Pierce serving for a place in the semifinals at 5-0 in the second set against top-ranked Lindsay Davenport, a fan charged onto the court, and peeled off his T-shirt. Scribbled on his chest in big letters was a message to French president Jacques Chirac, who reshuffled his cabinet Tuesday after a humiliating referendum defeat on the European constitution he supported.
"Chirac-Villepin, Resign!" the fan's chest read.
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