World number one Roger Federer believes he will have the physical edge over French Open title rival Rafael Nadal when the two clash in an explosive Roland Garros semi-final showdown on Friday. Federer lost to his 18-year-old Spanish rival in their first meeting at the Miami Masters in 2004 but when they met again in the final at the same venue earlier this year, Federer mounted a stunning comeback.
The Swiss star was within two points of defeat that day but turned the final on its head by eventually triumphing in a five-set thriller.
"I had to fight my way back that day. I came through and I felt I was the fitter player," said Federer.
"He looked extremely tired in the fifth set and that kind of surprised me. Miami was a tough match. But that was on hard court, this is clay. The rallies will be even tougher."
Nadal, with five clay court titles under his belt already in 2005 and who celebrates his 19th birthday on Friday, is a superstar in the making with his muscular physique, his flamboyant dress sense and his game of all-out attack.
He is also bidding to become the first man since Mats Wilander in 1982 to win the French Open title on his debut.
There is no doubting he is the man in form, building up a 22-match winning streak but he's keen to put the focus back on the Swiss star.
"For me it's a big moment. There are still two matches to go but it's one of those chances to maybe walk away with the title," said Federer.
He also believes he has made great strides in his clay court game since his disappointing third round loss to Gustavo Kuerten here in 2004.
"It's purely the experience, the big matches, the occasions I have faced. Overall I believe in my game more, not just my clay court game but my all of my game.
"We're not quite there yet. But to win the French Open would be a dream come true. It would mean I have won all the Grand Slams. At 23, that would be quite something."
Federer has already won two Wimbledon titles as well as one Australian Open and one US Open, but he has suffered in Paris with a quarter-final appearance in 2001 his best performance before this year's breakthrough.
In his last three visits, he has not got beyond the third round.
But many observers expect that the winner of Friday's eagerly-awaited clash will also emerge the champion on Sunday as the opposite half of the draw has been stripped bare of all its draw cards.
Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin, only one of two players to have beaten Federer in 2005, defending champion Gaston Gaudio and 2004 runner-up Guillermo Coria have all been knocked out.
That has left a quarter-final line-up which features Russia's Nikolay Davydenko against Tommy Robredo and Guillermo Canas taking on Mariano Puerta.
Federer and Nadal would comfortably fancy their chances of beating any of those opponents.
Federer hasn't lost a set at Roland Garros this year and has not looked in the remotest spot of bother as he has brushed aside claycourt specialists of the calibre of 1998 champion Carlos Moya and hard-hitting Fernando Gonzalez.
There is one aspect of Nadal's game which does concern him - the Spaniard is one of the few left handers of genuine class on the tour.
The 30-year-old, champion here in 2000, won at a canter 6-3, 6-2 against an opponent who had struggled all tournament on a surface she has always disliked.
World number one Federer will be playing in his first Roland Garros semi-final after three lean years where he has failed to get past the third round.
FEDERER BIDDING: Federer is also bidding to become only the sixth man to win all four Grand Slam tournaments.
Fourth seed Nadal, just 18-years-old and with five titles already under his belt this year, is aiming to become the first man to win the title on his French Open debut since Mats Wilander in 1982.
On Tuesday's evidence, the result will be impossible to predict as both players eased through their quarter-final assignments with Federer outclassing Romania's Victor Hanescu 6-2, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 and Nadal beating compatriot David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 to reach his first career Grand Slam semi-final.
It was Nadal's 22nd win in a row in 2005.
Federer and Nadal set up dream showdown
MEN'S (QUARTER-FINALS): Roger Federer (SUI x1) bt Victor Hanescu (ROM) 6-2, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3; Rafael Nadal (ESP x4) bt David Ferrer (ESP x20) 7-5, 6-2, 6-0.
WOMEN'S (QUARTER-FINALS): Nadia Petrova (RUS x7) bt Ana Ivanovic (SEM x29) 6-2, 6-2; Elena Likhovtseva (RUS x16) bt Sesil Karatancheva (BUL) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4; Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL x10) bt Maria Sharapova (RUS x2) 6-4, 6-2; Mary Pierce (FRA x21) bt Lindsay Davenport (USA x1) 6-3, 6-2.
MEN'S DOUBLES (QUARTER-FINALS): Jonas Bjorkman/Max Mirnyi (SWE/BLR x2) bt Wayne Arthurs/Paul Hanley (AUS/AUS x8) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5); Mark Knowles/Daniel Nestor (BAH/CAN x1) bt Martin Damm/Mariano Hood (CZE/ARG x12) 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-1; Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA/USA x3) bt Leander Paes/Nenad Zimonjic (IND/SEM x6) 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
MIXED DOUBLES (QUARTER-FINALS): Anastasia Myskina/Jonas Bjorkman (RUS/SWE x4) bt Lisa Raymond/Mahesh Bhupathi (USA/IND x7) 6-4, 6-2.
Samantha Stosur/Paul Hanley (AUS/AUS) bt Sandrine Testud/Marc Gicquel (FRA/FRA) 6-4, 6-1.