Birthday boy Nadal set for Almagro challenge

PARIS (Reuters) - Spain's Nicolas Almagro is unlikely to be bearing gifts when he faces three-times champion Rafael Nadal in the French Open quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Nadal, bidding to stretch his perfect streak at Roland Garros to 26 matches, celebrates his 22nd birthday with a place in the semi-finals firmly in his sights.

Almagro has already dispatched Britain's 10th seed Andy Murray and will look to use his huge serve, which has clocked up a tournament-best 78 aces, to find a chink in the Mallorcan's armor.

It will be like old times for third seed Novak Djokovic and Ernests Gulbis of Latvia when they face up in their quarter-final match.

The two products of the Niki Pilic academy in Munich do battle for a probable semi-final place against Nadal.

Women's second seed Ana Ivanovic, now the firm favorite after top seed Maria Sharapova's exit, faces seasoned Swiss 10th seed Patty Schnyder in her quarter-final.

Third seed Jelena Jankovic's arm aches and pains have to hold up or 132nd-ranked Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro will pounce to become the first women's qualifier to reach the semis since the game turned pro in 1968.

(Writing by Miles Evans; editing by Pritha Sarkar)