Tonight:
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Andy Murray's task at the French Open looks palpably easier now but it is up to the Scot to make Rafael Nadal's shock defeat relevant by beating Fernando Gonzalez in tomorrow's quarter-final.
Of all the obstacles he could have had removed from his path to glory here at Roland Garros, no longer having to conquer the Spanish king will for many bring Sunday's final onto the Murray horizon.
But in any event, the Scot would not have faced Nadal until the semis and tomorrow's quarter-final against Gonzalez represents by far the biggest test of his title credentials.
It would be a considerable irony were the 22-year-old to actually win his first Grand Slam on his weakest surface, but there is the tantalising prospect of an eminently winnable semi-final against either Nikolay Davydenko or Robin Soderling should he emerge triumphant.
The mantra of many on the tour is to focus only on each match in turn but Team Murray will have a job stopping their charge from believing a place in the final is his to lose.
Indeed, Roger Federer has looked far from imperious so far, so why should Murray not dream of ending Britain's 73-year wait for a Grand Slam champion?
Well, the threat posed by Gonzalez should not be underestimated, especially in light of the fact Murray's progress has not been as comfortable as it would first appear.
Granted, Juan Ignacio Chela was swatted aside with impressive ease but Italian Potito Starace blew a glorious chance to split the first three sets in his favour.
Janko Tipsarevic threw away a 5-2 opening set lead before injury diluted his potency, while Marin Cilic lost his composure on the big points.
Murray, rightly, praised his ability to stay in control of himself and his surroundings at the business end of a superb display against Cilic.
"I came through all the tough situations well," he said. "I played a solid tie-break, and I was obviously very happy to win in straight sets because he's been playing very well.
"You don't get to the quarters of the French not playing good clay court tennis. I made the semis in Monte Carlo and the quarters in Madrid, and now the quarters here at least. So it's been much better than in previous years. I try and keep improving."
But what Gonzalez, the Australian Open runner-up in 2007, represents a player in form, with phenomenal power off both wings and, most importantly, a fearless attitude.
Murray's previous opponents have tightened up when sets are on the line - a sign that his peers are beginning to fear him - but the freewheeling Chilean will do no such thing.
The pair practised on Court Nine last week and 28-year-old Gonzalez won the majority of a ferociously contested series of points with his trademark groundstrokes scarring all parts of the red clay like yellow fireworks.
Murray is noted as an excellent scrambler on other surfaces and is increasingly displaying a quality of defensive movement at the back of the court to rival Nadal on clay - champions here are made of those who can draw the sting from their opponents yet deliver the telling blow of their own.
Federer must now deal with the hand of history upon his shoulder as the Spaniard's departure, coupled with his own three successive final appearances, render him the most obvious candidate to assume Nadal's throne and claim a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam.
Dangerous players including Andy Roddick, Gael Monfils, Juan Martin Del Potro and Jo Wilfried Tsonga lie in his half of the draw, assuming he overcomes big-serving German Tommy Haas today.
So the impact of Nadal's fall is of greater immediacy to Murray - but the biggest disappointment now will come if he does not earn the chance to make the world No1's absence count.
