Live Commentary: French Open: Novak Djokovic vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber - as it happened

Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the fourth round match between Novak Djokovic and Philipp Kohlschreiber from Roland Garros.

Djokovic will be the favourite for this intriguing encounter, but Kohlschreiber has already defeated the Serb in straight sets at Roland Garros, albeit in 2009.

When the draw came out, it soon became apparent that the world number one had been given a bit of a stinker. First-round opponent David Goffin has the game to trouble anyone on his day, and he troubled Djokovic in the first hour and a half of their tussle. The second round was straightforward, but Grigor Dimitrov had the potential to stun Djokovic in the last-32, but he was subsequently overpowered.

Kohlschreiber comes into the match in some good form himself, only dropping the one set, which came in his first round match. He has only competed in two matches, however, after being handed a walkover in the second round.

Djokovic stated at the start of the year that this tournament was his priority as he looks to complete the career Grand Slam, while Kohlschreiber is equaling his best display in this tournament after reaching the fourth round in 2009.

The players are nearly through their warm-up on the Philippe Chatrier court and we are seconds away from the start of the match. Djokovic will serve first.

Kohlschreiber takes the opening point of the match when Djokovic goes wide with a forehand down the line, but he soon asserts himself in the game with three straight points. The Serb makes the same mistake a point later, but a strong first serve seals the first game of the match.

That's a super first point on serve from Kohlschreiber, wrong-footing Djokovic with a drop shot, but the world number one replies with a backhand winner. The German has one of the best single-hand backhands in the game, and he shows his ability with a stunner down the line that helps him get on the board.

The two players trade forehands from the baseline to share the opening two points, before Djokovic's superiority shines through for the remainder of the game, sealing it with a smash.

Kohlschreiber moves Djokovic around the court before converting a smash for the opening point. A forehand winner then moves him to game point, before he records a love service game after a neat exchange concludes with the German tapping the ball cross-court out of the reach of Djokovic.

BREAK! Without speaking too soon, Kohlschreiber is playing in such a fashion that it is difficult to establish which player is the world number one. He has had the measure of Djokovic so far, and he sends a thundering forehand past the Serb for 15-30. However, two strong serves from Djokovic hand him game point, but Kohlschreiber replies in kind with a backhand return that forces deuce. The number 16 seed forces the first break point when Djokovic nets, and he breaks when Djokovic goes long when attempting to return a smash.

The backhand of the German has been right on the money so far, and another leaves Djokovic flat-footed. Kohlschreiber moves 40-15 up when Djokovic goes long with a forehand, but the 29-year-old double-faults. However, he shows superb composure to win the game, bringing Djokovic forward with a drop shot before hitting a backhand pass.

That's much better from Djokovic, who needs to establish himself in the match. He quickly moves 40-0 up and he reduces the deficit to one when Kohlschreiber nets a return.

Two lengthy rallies are shared, before Kohlschreiber commits an unforced error. Djokovic hits the ball into the net twice in succession to hand his opponent game point, and the Serb repeats the act to hand Kohlschreiber the game, which draws a frustrated response from the world number one.

A double fault from Djokovic hands Kohlschreiber a sniff that he might be able to seal the set, but the Serbian player goes on the attack to move to 40-15, and he forces Kohlschreiber to serve for the opener with a forehand winner.

SET! Kohlschreiber nets on the opening point, but he keeps his composure to hit a strong forehand down the line for 15-15. He then finds the line with a terrific winner, before Djokovic replies in the same fashion for 30-30. The German has an opening for set point, but he goes agonisingly wide with a lob, but he remains undeterred with another winner off his forehand side. He concedes another break point under fierce pressure from Djokovic, but a couple of line-balls see him force deuce for the second time. The number 16 sets up his first set point when Djokovic sends a return long, and he goes one-up in outrageous style, when a sliced backhand hits the top of the net and creeps over. We have a game on...

Djokovic made too many unforced errors in that set, but Kohlschreiber played like a man who believes that he can oust the world number one. The Serb begins the second set with a love service-hold.

You get the impression that Kohlschreiber isn't thinking too much about this match so far. He is almost playing on auto-pilot because he is dealing with the pressure really well. He secures a love service-hold of his own to level up the set.

Kohlschreiber races into a 0-30 lead, but Djokovic replies with a forehand winner. You can feel the tension during the next rally, and it results in the German hooking a backhand wide. He plays a beautiful point to force Djokovic onto the back foot, but he misses with the attempted winner, and he hands the Serb the game with another error.

BREAK! A lob from Djokovic helps him win the first point, but he mis-cues a forehand that goes several yards long. Kohlschreiber dominates the next exchange, finishing off the rally with a volley, but he misses an opportunity to bring up two game points by missing a forehand. The game goes to deuce after an error by each player, but two perfectly-executed drop shots from Kohlschreiber are spoilt by two shots going long. It's the fourth deuce, and Kohlschreiber gets too confident with his drop shots, and Djokovic breaks when the German goes wide.

Djokovic senses weakness in his opponent after he effectively gave his serve away in the last game, and he is soon 30-0 up. However, the German fights back to 30-30 when Djokovic misses with an easy forehand. He then misses another, and out of nowhere, Kohlschreiber has break point, but he nets from the baseline. He shows great character to force a third deuce with a couple of dominant points. The duo then share winners and we have a fourth deuce for the second game in a row. That's sublime from Kohlschreiber, who flights a drop shot from the back of the court just over the net, but he goes long on the next return. The net cords are favouring Kohlschreiber at the moment, and he clips the net with a backhand down the line for a third break point, but again, Djokovic stands firm. Yet another break point for the German, but he can do nothing as Djokovic powers a forehand cross-court. A marathon game finally comes to a conclusion when Kohlschreiber nets twice in succession.

There is almost an inevitability about the result of this set now. Kohlschreiber should have broken serve in that last game, but Djokovic is looking stronger than he did half an hour ago. That said, the German plays a solid game to reduce the deficit.

The wind appears to be picking up on the Philippe Chatrier court and Kohlschreiber is the player who is dealing with it the better. He moves to 0-30, but he makes the wrong shot selection and allows Djokovic to reach 15-30. However, after being warned about the time taken between serves, Djokovic double faults, and Kohlschreiber has two break points. He fails to take advantage with either, going long on both occasions, and we have deuce. He does the same on the next points too, and Djokovic is one game away from the set.

This set has been much closer than the scoreline suggests, and Kohlschreiber justifies that by securing his second love-service game of the set with some heavy hitting and an ace.

SET! That's a very business-like game from Djokovic, nailing three first serves to bring up three set points, and a forehand winner down the line levels the match up.

Kohlschreiber wastes no time in moving to 40-0 up, but Djokovic remains in the game with a well-worked point. However, he can only go long on the next, and the German gets on the board in the third.

Djokovic goes 30-0 up, before Kohlschreiber goes for yet another drop shot, but the Serb is soon on it to hit the winner. Kohlschreiber has had a lot of success with the drop shot this afternoon, but it is getting too predictable at the minute.

BREAK! Djokovic eases into a 0-30 advantage, but he is disgusted with himself when he sends a return from a second serve long. However, Kohlschreiber proceeds to go long with a forehand and the world number one has two break points, which he seals when the German slices the ball into the net. Could that prove pivotal?

The match is threatening to get away from Kohlschreiber when he falls 30-0 behind, but three terrific points bring up a break point, despite the best efforts from his opponent. The German gets into the rally, but he sends a backhand wide, and he is now 1 out of 7 for break point opportunities. He achieves an eighth a point later, but a poor bounce contributes to him missing another, and he nets twice more to concede the game.

That's a much improved service game from the number 16 seed, who keeps Djokovic at the back of the court in moving to 40-0. He goes long from the baseline on the next, but a smash seals the game, and he remains competitive in the set.

The wind is certainly having an effect on play now, and it has resulted in the quality dropping a touch. Djokovic shows variety in his serve to move to 30-0, beofre two unforced errors from his opponent hand him a 4-2 lead.

Serve has been the dominant feature in the past 10 minutes, and another love-service hold is brought up when Djokovic makes two errors off his forehand. There is a strange atmosphere at the moment. The crowd seem to be already anticipating a win for Djokovic, but as long as Kohlschreiber remains a break of serve behind, he has a chance.

Kohlschreiber appeared to have got to grips with the conditions earlier in the match, but he is making far too many unforced errors at the moment. He falls 30-0 behind, but a couple of solid points bring him back to 30-30. Again, the error comes, and Djokovic has game point, which is converted when the German nets a backhand return.

An excellent backhand volley sees Kohlschreiber move to 30-15, which is followed by a forehand winner and an ace to force Djokovic to serve for the set, which is the most important game of the match so far.

SET! Kohlschreiber starts well, forcing two mistakes from Djokovic, and we have 0-30. The world number responds with a unreturnable first serve. He brings up set point with another serve that his opponent can't deal with, and he repeats the feat to move a set away from the quarter-finals.

The two sides of Kohlschreiber's game are displayed in the opening three points, with a couple of strong forehands coming either side of a drop shot into the net. However, some heavy hitting from Djokovic bring up break point, which the German saves with a backhand that is too hot to handle for the world number one. Kohlschreiber's drop shot is aided by the wind to bring up game point, but a top-spin forehand brings up deuce once more. That's some hitting from Kohlschreiber, who thunders a drive-volley winner from the back of the court, and he seals the game when Djokovic goes long.

Djokovic has finally began to get a measure of Kohlschreiber on his serve, and he coasts to game point, before a serve-and-forehand combination levels the set.

A lot of credit should go to Kohlschreiber for continuing to go for his shots throughout the match. His backhand is a thing of beauty when it comes off, and it does exactly that on the third point of the game. He then looks confident in taking the next two points with a smash and a forehand into the open court, and he has started this set with plenty of intent.

Djokovic hasn't played to his usual high standards this afternoon, but this game was much more like it. After wrong-footing Kohlschreiber with a forehand, he plays a lovely shot out wide that sees the German fling his racquet at the ball in desperation.

BREAK! It's been remarkable how many times Kohlschreiber has received assistance from the net cord, and it helps him set up a tremendous backhand winner. He then engineers another point with a delicate drop shot, but he gets over-confident when firing an ambitious forehand long. His backhand qualities are displayed yet again to move to game point, but he double faults to make it deuce. A lengthy rally results in Djokovic earning break point with a winner from the back of the court, and he seals the break when the German nets, and his elated reaction says it all - that could be the match right there.

Djokovic wants this match over and done with as soon as possible, and he pounces on a short ball to bring up game point. Kohlschreiber strikes back with a winning return, and he comes out on top after a stunning rally, with Djokovic somehow not winning the point after some relentless hitting. Out of nowhere, Kohlschreiber has a break point when Djokovic nets a drop shot, but a lovely backhand drop-volley saves the day. The pair then trade winners from the baseline, but after recording his second ace, Kohlschreiber nets and Djokovic survives.

BREAK! What a lob from Djokovic, who storms into a 15-30 lead, despite an ace from Kohlschreiber. The number 16 seed then double faults, and it's two break points for the Serb. He saves the first with a serve out wide, but Djokovic isn't to be denied on the second, muscling a cross-court winner past his opponent, and he will now serve for the match.

BREAK! Kohlschreiber has shown no signs of wilting in terms of confidence, and he wins the first point with a forehand that Djokovic can't return. The German brings up two break points when his opponent nets twice in a row, but he misses both opportunities. Djokovic brings up match point with a another forehand winner, but he goes wide, and Kohlschreiber has the chance for the break with a cross-court forehand. He takes his chance when Djokovic goes long, and that is one of the break of serves back.

The two players share the opening four points, before Kohlschreiber strikes with an ace. He then plays a lovely combination to force Djokovic out wide, before sealing the game with a forehand winner to force last year's runner-up to try to serve for the match for the second time.

MATCH! Djokovic proves too powerful on the first point, but Kohlschreiber responds in kind to make it 15-15. The German goes marginally long off a second serve return, and Djokovic is two points away. A forehand from inside the baseline brings up two more match points, but a miraculous backhand winner from Kohlschreiber saves the first. However, Djokovic isn't to be denied, hitting a winner from the back of the court to progess to the quarter-finals.

Well that was a fantastic encounter between two players who weren't afraid of going for their shots. Their were plenty of mistakes to compliment the brilliance, but it was a fine match to watch, with Djokovic deserving the win. He will now face Tommy Haas in the last eight.

That will be all from this match, but return in 15 minutes time for the start of Rafael Nadal's match with Kei Nishikori. Goodbye for now.