Federer looks ahead to a 'wonderful match' with Nadal

The Swiss beat fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko 7-5 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (9/7) in a little more than three hours to set up an encounter with Rafael Nadal, himself seeking a third successive victory at Roland Garros.

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Thrilled: Roger Federer is through to his second successive French Open final

Critics will argue it is not a genuine Grand Slam - just as they did when Federer's close friend Tiger Woods held all four golf majors in 2001 having not won them all in the same year.

However, Federer is ignoring the history as he tries to find a way past the Spaniard who has defeated him on the French clay in the last two years: a last-four encounter in 2005 and the final 12 months ago.

"I don't want to think about that too much," said Federer.

"I want to be focused on this very specific match. I've never achieved such a thing so I don't know how I'll feel.

"He has already won the title twice so I would say he is the favourite. But anything can happen in just one match.

"It's a going to be a wonderful, wonderful match."

Nadal, whose only defeat on clay since April 2005 came against Federer in Hamburg last month, is so at home on the surface he is confident he can overcome the world number one.

The Spaniard maintained his unbeaten record at Roland Garros by storming to a 7-5 6-4 6-2 triumph over sixth seed Novak Djokovic, and is bidding to become the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win the French Open three years running.

"I know if I play my best tennis, it's going to be very, very difficult for him," he said.

"But I know he's a better player than me, because the numbers and everything say that.

"Federer is an unbelievable player so for that reason he is the favourite. He is highly experienced for these types of matches.

"But anything can happen on Sunday."