Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 in a Wednesday quarter-final to hand the Spaniard only his second loss at the French Open.
The knockout by the top seed and form player this season ended Nadal's chance to earn a record 10th trophy at Roland Garros after lifting it in nine of the last 10 editions.
Nadal, who turned 29 on match day, saw the end of his Paris reign as he came to the court with a phenomenal 70-1 record at the event he has dominated a king of clay on the ATP.
It was his first loss at the tournament since going out to Swede Robin Soderling in a 2009 fourth-round, the year that Roger Federer claimed the trophy.
Nadal had won his last 39 matches at the venue.
Djokovic earned his 27th consecutive victory in a red-hot 2015 campaign in which he has already collected five titles. He still trails his rival 21-23 in their series.
The pair were facing off for the 44th time, with Djokovic now a winner in six of their last seven meetings.
Nadal had won their last four Grand Slam matches and all six of their previous encounters at Roland Garros.
