Jo-Wilfried Tsonga holds off Kei Nishikori in five-set thriller

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga held off a Kei Nishikori fightback to move into the semi-finals of the French Open on Tuesday.

The Frenchman came through 6-1 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3 after almost four hours on Philippe-Chatrier in a match delayed by falling metal sheet from the scoreboard.

In breezy conditions, wind caused the sheet to fall with three spectators suffering minor injuries and play was delayed by 20 minutes at a point when Tsonga was well in control.

While fifth seed Nishikori improved when the action resumed, Tsonga proved too strong - much to the delight of the home crowd - as he set up a semi-final with Stan Wawrinka.

Tsonga was in fine form when he ended Tomas Berdych's run in the fourth round and he brought that momentum onto Chatrier - breaking twice to move into a dominant 4-0 lead in the first set.

Backed by the home crowd, the 14th seed went within a game of the opening set as he chased down lost causes in the sixth before awaiting a wayward Nishikori forehand down the line.

With Nishikori continuing to make unforced errors, Tsonga took full advantage - finessing a powerful forehand cross court to claim the first set before roaring back from 40-15 down to break early in the second.

Tsonga spurned four set points in the seventh, prior to the delay, and the break initially helped Nishikori recover two games only for Tsonga to end a testing rally and the set with a pushed forehand.

It was a sign of things to come from Nishikori, who reduced his unforced errors to hang on in the third set before his momentum saw the match levelled.

However, Tsonga steadied himself to convert one of his two break-point opportunities in the final set, ending Nishikori's fightback and setting up his third meeting with Wawrinka at Roland Garros.

"I will never forget this moment, it's wonderful," Tsonga said on court.

"I am a happy man. I served very well in the fifth, I was strong mentally and I am very happy.

"I already played Stan at Roland Garros in a five-set match, it will be tough. I'm going to try recover so I can give 100 per cent on Friday [sic Thursday]."