Federer, Nadal prepare for classic on clay

PARIS, June 10 (Reuters) After two weeks slugging it out on the punishing clay at Roland Garros, world number one Roger Federer faces the biggest challenge of his career tomorrow.

If the 24-year-old Swiss can overcome defending champion Rafael Nadal in the French Open final, he will have gone a long way to justifying the assertion of many that he is the best tennis player ever.

Federer will join Australian Rod Laver and American Don Budge as the only men to win four consecutive grand slams. It has only been achieved once in the professional era -- Laver's second Grand Slam of 1969.

''It would be something quite incredible,'' said Federer, who holds seven grand slam titles but is through to only his first Roland Garros final. ''It hasn't happened for such a long time.

''To have created this chance, it's unbelievable.

''If I win the tournament, it will be something special because I'll be winning two things at the same time.'' To do so the world number one will have to beat a seemingly invincible opponent on his favourite surface. Nadal has won his last 59 matches on clay, including three victories over Federer.

The 20-year-old Spaniard, though, had to save two match points in his most recent win over the Swiss, a five-set thriller at the Rome Masters last month.

''I'm feeling good enough and know that I'm playing well,'' said Federer. ''I've got to play like I did in Rome: aggressive, patient and everything. That seemed that was the way to go at it.'' Federer's progress to the final has been smoother than expected on a surface he has found harder to master than hardcourt or grass.

He has dropped only two sets, the same as Nadal, and managed to produce his very best tennis to subdue David Nalbandian in the semi-finals when the Argentine took a set and 3-0 lead.

As second seed Nadal knows, that is the mark of a champion.

''The characteristic of the big champions is to play good in the difficult moments, with the serve, with the backhand, with the forehand, with the drop, with the lob, anything,'' said the Spaniard.

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