May 6, 2006, 20:03 GMT
Estoril, Portugal - Carlos Moya says he's the only man who can stop teenaged Spanish compatriot Rafael Nadal from tying the all-time clay-court win streak of Guillermo Vilas.
Moya, who serves as mentor and friend to Roland Garros champion, was drawn Saturday to face the teenaged second seed in the first round of the Roma Masters which begins Monday.
Just over a month ago, Moya schooled the 19-year-old in a match in Miami on hardcourt.
And he says he can do it again.
'It will be a tough match against Rafa, but I think I can beat him,' said the former world number 1 and 1998 French Open champion. 'If I don't then I think he will go all the way to tie the win record.'
Nadal's title victory last weekend in Barcelona lifted him to 47 consecutive wins on clay.
Winning a second Rome title a week from Sunday would nudge his record to 53, the same as Vilas, who achieved the feat nearly three decades ago.
'I'm expecting to play better on Tuesday than I did today,' said Moya, beaten in a wind-whipped Estoril semifinal 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 by Russian Nikolay Davydenko.
'Rafa's on a great streak, but it's got to end sometime. I think that could happen against me.'
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