Rafael Nadal is happy to suffer if it allows him to become the first man to capture the same Grand Slam title eight times when he tackles Spanish compatriot David Ferrer in Sunday’s French Open final.
Nadal, who won the Roland Garros crown in 2012 for the seventh time to pull clear of Bjorn Borg’s six titles, goes into his 17th Grand Slam final seeking a 12th major overall.
Ferrer, 31, Nadal’s senior by four years, will be playing on this stage for the first time and will be handicapped by a 19-4 losing streak against his fellow Spaniard, 16 of those losses coming on clay.
But Nadal is taking nothing for granted and is prepared for another marathon encounter after his epic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 9-7 win over world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
“I learned during all of my career to enjoy suffering, and these kind of matches are very special. You don’t have the chance to play these kind of matches every day,” said Nadal.
Nadal has been the sensation of 2013, winning 42 of 44 matches and six titles since his return in February from a seven-month injury lay-off to rest his troublesome knees.
Ferrer, the fourth seed, has reached his maiden final without losing a set.
Ferrer then eased past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 in his semi-final but he will be well aware that his only victory on clay against Nadal was in their first meeting at Stuttgart in 2004 when his compatriot was just 16. As well as losing to Nadal in the quarter-finals in Paris in 2005, and in the semi-finals last year, Ferrer has already lost three times to his countryman in 2013, again all on clay.
“I will fight. It’s very difficult to beat Rafael on all the surfaces, but on a clay court it is more difficult. I think I need to play my best tennis to beat him. I need to play very aggressive all the match.”
Victory for Nadal will take him clear of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, who have seven Wimbledon titles, as the most successful player at one major in the Open era.
Meanwhile, at 31 years and 68 days, Ferrer is bidding to become the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title since Andre Agassi (32 years 272 days) at the 2003 Australian Open.