Roger Federer knows he has his best ever chance of winning the only Grand Slam title to elude him as he prepares for Friday's French Open semi-final.
A surprise defeat for four-time Roland Garros winner Rafael Nadal has opened up the opportunity for Federer to complete the set of Grand Slam titles.
"It's incredible. Everybody's telling me 'this is your year'," said Federer, who will face Juan Martin del Potro.
Nadal's conqueror Robin Soderling plays Fernando Gonzalez in the other semi.
Soderling, who became the first player to beat Nadal on the clay of Roland Garros, and Del Potro have never reached the semi-final stage of a Grand Slam before, while Gonzalez has only been in the last four once (when he went on to lose to Federer in the final of the 2007 Australian Open).
In contrast, Federer has made the semi-finals, at least, of the last 20 Grand Slam tournaments.
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It doesn't mean that, because I have a good record against all the players left in the draw, that I am going to win this but I'll definitely try everything I possibly can to do it
Roger Federer
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The 27-year-old has won 13 Grand Slam titles in total but has found his path at Roland Garros blocked by the incredible consistency of Nadal, who has beaten Federer in the last three finals in Paris.
Federer would be a popular winner should he draw level with Pete Sampras's record of 14 by becoming the first man to complete the full set of Wimbledon, the US Open, the Australian Open and the French Open since Andre Agassi.
"I'm delighted to see the extent that people are supporting me," said Federer after beating Gael Monfils in straight sets in the quarter-finals.
"They're screaming from their scooters and out of the car. They even get out at the red lights and want me to sign an autograph or take a picture. It's quite incredible this last couple of weeks.
"I have felt it for a few years now, to be honest, but this year is even more extreme.
"It's nice feeling the support - it can only help a player. I'm very thrilled and excited to be back in another semi and to have the opportunity here.
"It doesn't mean that, because I have a good record against all the players left in the draw, that I am going to win this but I'll definitely try everything I possibly can to do it."
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Aussie_Ahmed
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Federer has an overwhelmingly superior record in his previous matches against Soderling (9-0), Gonzalez (12-1) and Del Potro (5-0) and has won 63 of 69 sets against the trio.
His most recent victory over Del Potro came on clay in Madrid in May.
But the in-form Argentine, at 20 the youngest man left in the draw, has made a significant improvement on the surface this year.
Del Potro easily overcame Tommy Robredo in the quarter-finals and has dropped only one set, to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in round four, during a fine run to the semi-finals.
"He has improved in incredible ways since a year ago," added Federer. "I expect a very difficult match - it's too big a match and he is playing too well to underestimate him."
Del Potro has climbed from 44th in the rankings to fifth in the past 18 months but is not getting carried away about his chances ahead of his meeting with Federer.
"With his game, he does everything perfectly," Del Potro explained. "His game is much of a problem to me, and this is why I never won when I played him.
"We all know how he plays, and we all know what he wants to achieve here now that Rafa is no longer here.
 Like Soderling, Gonzalez posseses a fearsome forehand
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"We all feel the pressure of the fans, everybody wants Roger to win this tournament but when I play Roger, I'll have to play my game. Otherwise I'll never achieve anything."
Friday's second semi-final sees Soderling, who is looking to to continue his surprising progress, up against Gonzalez, who beat Andy Murray in the last eight.
The 24-year-old Swede, seeded 23rd, sprang one of the biggest shocks in the history of Roland Garros when he ended Nadal's four-year reign by beating him in the fourth round, and followed that up by breezing past Nikolay Davydenko.
He is growing in confidence but will have to be at his best to overcome Gonzalez, 28, who outclassed Murray with some incredible groundstrokes.
"If you'd asked me four years ago, I'd have said I would never reach a semi in Paris," said Soderling. "But for every year, I think I started to play better and better on clay."
Gonzalez, the 12th seed, admitted he did not expect Soderling - who possesses some huge groundstrokes but is also known for his erratic play - to progress this far but says he will take nothing for granted.
"It is a big surprise. We all know Soderling, how he plays," the Chilean said.
"Had someone told me I would reach the semi-final of a Grand Slam and I would have to play him, I don't know if I would have believed it.
"But this is a big moment in my career and I want to make the most of it. I want to think I'm a favourite because I feel fit to win my next match, and that is what I want to focus on."
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