Federer, Nadal on collision course in Paris

Jun 7, 2007, 16:30 GMT

Paris, France - The men's semifinals will take center stage Friday at the 2007 French Open, as top-seeded Swiss Roger Federer will face fourth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko and second-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal will encounter sixth-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic.

The world No. 1 superstar Federer is 8-0 lifetime against the gritty Davydenko, including 2-0 in Grand Slam events. The Russian succumbed to the sublime Swiss in last year's Aussie Open quarters and U.S. Open semis.

The 10-time Grand Slam champion Federer currently holds the Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Aussie Open crowns and needs the French to complete a career Grand Slam. Legendary Aussie Rod Laver was the last man to hold all four major titles, which he did by sweeping the Grand Slam events in 1969.

The amazing Federer was last year's French Open runner-up to the powerful Nadal.

The 25-year-old Federer has reached at least the semifinals in his last 12 Grand Slam events and has appeared in the last seven major finals. He's won 10 of the last 15 Grand Slam tournaments overall.

Davydenko, meanwhile, will perform in his second French Open semifinal in the last three years. The steady 26-year-old appeared in the Aussie Open quarters back in January.

The reigning two-time defending French Open champion Nadal, meanwhile, is 3-1 all-time versus Djokovic. The two young stars have already met three times this season, with Nadal winning in a final at Indian Wells and a quarterfinal in Rome and the Serb coming out on top in a quarterfinal in Miami.

Nadal has never lost here at Roland Garros, posting a flawless 19-0 record over the last three years.

The 21-year-old star, who has yet to drop a set over the last two weeks, will play in his fourth career Grand Slam semifinal (3-0). He's 2-0 in his French Open semis and is trying to become the first men's three-peat winner at Roland Garros since the great Bjorn Borg captured four straight titles from 1978-1981.

Djokovic will appear in his first-ever Grand Slam semifinal. The surging 20- year-old reached the quarterfinals here a year ago, before losing to Nadal, and is 10-2 lifetime at Roland Garros.

Friday's winners will meet in the final here on Sunday.

© 2007 The Sports Network