( CNN ) -- Roger Federer ended Novak Djokovic 's 43-match unbeaten run on Friday to set up another French Open final showdown with longtime tennis rival Rafael Nadal . Second seed Djokovic had been seeking to equal John McEnroe 's 1984 record of 42 successive wins at the start of a season , but was denied his first final appearance at Roland Garros by the 16-time grand slam champion . Federer , the 2009 winner in Paris , triumphed 7-6 ( 7-5 ) 6-3 3-6 7-6 ( 7-5 ) in three hours and 39 minutes in one of the all-time classic matches to prevent Djokovic taking top spot in the world rankings from Nadal . The Spaniard , seeking to clinch a record sixth French Open title , booked his place in Sunday 's final with a 6-4 7-5 6-4 win over British fourth seed Andy Murray in the opening semi . Can Federer stop Nadal equaling Borg 's record ? `` I had nerves and this was n't even the final , '' Federer , who has never lost a grand slam match after leading by two sets , told reporters . `` I have worked a lot in my life and it 's for these types of matches . It was certainly one of my greatest matches in an extraordinary atmosphere . `` It was probably the best match I have played this year . There were breaks , break backs . It 's always intense when we play and I wanted to make it as physical as I could . '' Djokovic had been unstoppable this year , winning seven titles as he beat Federer in his first three events of 2011 . But the Swiss third seed has battled through a disappointing year so far by his high standards to give himself a chance of extending his record tally of grand slams . The 29-year-old won the first set in 70 minutes and the second in just 45 before his Serbian opponent dug deep to reduce the deficit . The fourth set continued the extraordinarily high level of tennis on show , as Djokovic broke to lead 5-4 before Federer immediately returned the favor to level . A cheeky drop shot gave him the opening point of the tie-break , and Djokovic saved two match-points -- the second with an ace -- to give himself hope at 6-5 . But , with darkness growing at the local time of 9.35 p.m. , Federer showed immaculate poise to blast one of his own down the middle to set up his 25th career meeting with Nadal . `` All credit to him . He went for his shots , but there are no regrets for me , '' Djokovic said after his first match since last Sunday , following the withdrawal of his quarterfinal opponent Fabio Fognini . `` He deserved to win . We were part of a very good match . But I had a great tournament . It 's been the best five months of my career and I knew it had to end some time . '' The 24-year-old subsequently revealed he would miss the start of the grass-court season as he pulled out of next week 's tournament at England 's Queen 's Club in London due to knee problems , having played with support strapping throughout his Paris campaign . Nadal leads Federer 16-8 and has won all three of their French Open final encounters plus a semi in 2005 . He earlier celebrated his 25th birthday as he extended his career record at Roland Garros to 44-1 after beating Murray in three hours and 17 minutes . The Spaniard , beaten by Djokovic in clay finals at Madrid and Barcelona , is now one match away from equaling Bjorn Borg 's record of six titles in Paris . On Sunday he will seek to become just the seventh player to win 10 grand slam titles . `` I have a lot of respect for the great Bjorn , but I am focused on trying to play well , '' the defending champion told the WTA Tour website . `` For me , is much more important [ to ] win Roland Garros than equal Bjorn . '' Murray , who lost to Djokovic in January 's Australian Open title match , failed in his bid to become the first British male to reach the final since Henry Austin in 1937 . `` I thought I did well . Everyone seems to think it 's easy against Rafa to just come into the net or come in or go for big shots , but you do have to be very patient , '' he said after dropping to 4-11 against Nadal . `` Sometimes I did n't quite get the ball I was looking for , and sometimes when I did I made a few mistakes . But I think it was a close match . I do n't think there was too much in it . He just played better than me today . `` Going into the grass ( season ) I have to take positives from that , but I also need to look at things that I need to work on , not only for the grass-court season but beyond that as well . So I look forward to getting back on the practice court . ''
Former world No . 1 Bjorn Borg 's beats Bjorn Borg 's in French Open semifinals . Swiss third seed ends the Swiss 's unbeaten start to Sunday in four -set epic . Federer won through to Sunday 's final , where he faces Rafael Nadal of Spain . Defending champion beat Andy Murray to move within a win of equaling Novak Djokovic record .