Federer and Nadal bid for dream final in Paris

PARIS, June 9 (Reuters) Defending champion Rafael Nadal and world number one Roger Federer aim to set up a dream final at the French Open when they face respectively Ivan Ljubicic and David Nalbandian in the semi-finals today.

It will be the first time since 1985 that all four top seeds feature in the men's semi-finals at the French Open. Should top seed Federer and Nadal win, Sunday's final will be the first since 1984 to feature the top two seeds.

Nadal, who targets a 59th consecutive win on clay and will try to extend his Roland Garros perfect record to 13-0, will start as the hot favourite against fourth seed Ljubicic of Croatia.

Federer, hoping to become the third player to hold all four grand slams, will by contrast have no certainty when he opens the day on centre court against the Argentine third seed.

Nalbandian is one of the few players with a positive record against the Swiss.

Federer, however, won their last match when he beat Nalbandian 6-3 3-6 7-6 in the Rome Masters semi-final.

REUTERS AY RK0948