Tennis: After four defeats in four meetings at the French Open, Roger Federer could be forgiven for wanting to play anyone but Rafael Nadal in Sunday's final. Indeed, the last time they met at Roland Garros in 2008, Federer won only four games, but the Swiss described facing his great rival again as "a gift".
The pressure was lifted from Federer's shoulders with his triumph over Robin Soderling two years ago to enable him to finally complete his set of grand slam titles, but he knows beating Nadal on the court he has made his own would be possibly his crowning glory.
Federer certainly has no worries about his form having become the first person to beat Novak Djokovic in 2011 in a semi-final of supreme quality.
He said: "I'm looking forward to the match with Rafa, who has been my true rival for all those years. This is obviously another big match. It always seems to me that Rafa needs to be in a French Open final to make it special, and I got the match I guess I was hoping for. After beating Novak, it's in a way a gift that I get the chance."
The main argument used by those who dispute Federer's status as the best player of all time is his head-to-head record against Nadal, which currently stands at 16-8 in the Spaniard's favour.
Both their matches this year have gone Nadal's way but the 25-year-old was pushed in Madrid last month, while his dominance on clay has been weakened by losses to Djokovic and some shaky form in the early rounds in Paris.
Federer is expecting to see Nadal at his best on Sunday, though, saying: "We played a great match in Madrid and obviously I've got my hands full with him now. Whoever thinks it's going to be a walk in the park is so wrong. Everybody knows how many times he's gotten me here in Paris.
"I'm happy I never had a letdown just because he has beaten me here and that I never stopped believing. That's why I got the Roland Garros title in 2009, which remains one of my most special wins in my career. And I have another opportunity to beat Rafa here and get the French Open title. I've got to play some extraordinarily special tennis. I'm aware of that."
Federer had gone five grand slam tournaments without reaching the final before arriving in Paris, losing to Djokovic in the last four in the US and Australian Opens, but his belief never wavered and he is benefiting from a relaxed attitude.
He added: "I was very close in the US Open, Novak played very well and also in Australia. Last year maybe I had a hard time here and at Wimbledon, but it's sometimes difficult to play the perfect match. So that's why you have to accept it and continue to work.
"I feel very good. I think I'm moving very well. I'm never stressed. If there is a ball that you miss, it's just because your opponent played it very well, and not because I made a mistake or I played bad tennis."
Sunday's meeting will be the ninth grand slam final between Federer and Nadal but the first since the Spaniard's win at the Australian Open in 2009.
The world number three probably has not been as under the radar since he first won Wimbledon in 2003 as he was coming into the tournament but Nadal is not one of the people surprised to see Federer in the final again.
The Majorcan, who would equal Bjorn Borg's record of six titles with victory, said: "It is no surprise. We all know how good Roger is. Roger is having, in my opinion, a good season. It is impossible to be every week at your best.
"What Roger did in his career is something impossible to repeat for the rest of the players today, I think. He's fantastic and it is always an honour to play against him. After yesterday (Friday) he must feel very confident. It was a fantastic match to watch. It will be nothing new against Roger. I know he's going to play aggressively. I have to try to play long, to play consistently all the time, and try to be aggressive when I have the chance."