French Open: All that you need to know before Nadal vs Ferrer final
Rafael Nadal may have had a huge advantage over very good friend and compatriot David Ferrer up till now but the Spaniard will know that his fellow country-man has all the ingredients and qualities to overcome all that and clinch the 2013 French Open men's singles title.
Penpix of Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer who will contest the French Open men's final at Roland Garros on Sunday:
RAFAEL NADAL (ESP)
World ranking: 4
Age: 27
Birthdate: June 3, 1986
Birthplace: Manacor, Mallorca, Spain
Residence: Manacor, Mallorca, Spain
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
Weight: 188 lbs (85 kg)
Plays: Left-handed
Turned Pro: 2001
Coach: Toni Nadal
Website: www.rafaelnadal.com
Twitter: @RafaelNadal
Career singles titles: 56
Grand Slam singles titles: 11 (Australian Open 2009; French Open 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012; Wimbledon 2008, 2010; US Open 2010)
Career prize money: $53,801,264
Best French Open result: Champion (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012)
- No man has ever won eight singles titles at the same Grand Slam event and Nadal, with a 19-4 record over Ferrer, is the overwhelming favourite. Took his record in Paris to 58 wins from 59 matches with his epic five-set triumph over Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
DAVID FERRER (ESP)
World ranking: 5
Age: 31
Birthdate: April 2, 1982
Birthplace: Javea, Spain
Residence: Valencia, Spain
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
Weight: 160 lbs (73 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned pro: 2000
Coach: Javier Piles
Website: www.davidferrer.com
Twitter: @DavidFerrer87
Career singles titles: 20
Grand Slam singles titles: 0
Career prize money: $18,544,109
Best French Open result: Final (2013)
- In another era, Ferrer, nicknamed 'The Bulldozer', probably would have earned a respectable haul of major titles. Has reached his first Grand Slam final at the 42nd attempt and has reached the final without dropping a set.
Head-to-head record for Sunday's French Open men's final (year, tournament, surface, round, winner, score; x denotes seeded player):
Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) v David Ferrer (ESP x4)
Nadal leads 19-4
2013 Rome Clay QF Nadal 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
2013 Madrid Clay QF Nadal 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0
2013 Acapulco Clay F Nadal 6-0, 6-2
2012 French Open Clay SF Nadal 6-2, 6-2, 6-1
2012 Rome Clay SF Nadal 7-6 (8/6), 6-0
2012 Barcelona Clay F Nadal 7-6 (7/1), 7-5
2011 Barcelona Clay F Nadal 6-2, 6-4
2011 Monte Carlo Clay F Nadal 6-4, 7-5
2011 Australian Open Hard QF Ferrer 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
2010 Rome Clay F Nadal 7-5, 6-2
2010 Monte Carlo Clay SF Nadal 6-2, 6-3
2010 Miami Hard R16 Nadal 7-6 (7/5), 6-4
2009 Montreal Hard R32 Nadal 4-3 - retired
2009 Barcelona Clay F Nadal 6-2, 7-5
2008 Barcelona Clay F Nadal 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
2008 Monte Carlo Clay QF Nadal 6-1, 7-5
2007 Shanghai Hard RR Ferrer 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
2007 US Open Hard R16 Ferrer 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2
2007 Barcelona Clay SF Nadal 7-5, 6-1
2005 French Open Clay QF Nadal 7-5, 6-2, 6-0
2005 Rome Clay SF Nadal 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
2005 Miami Hard SF Nadal 6-4, 6-3
2004 Stuttgart Clay QF Ferrer 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 7-5
Paths to Sunday's French Open men's singles final (x denotes seeded player):
Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) v David Ferrer (ESP x4)
Nadal
1st rd: bt Daniel Brands (GER) 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 6-3
2nd rd: bt Martin Klizan (AUT) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
3rd rd: bt Fabio Fognini (ITA x27) 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4
4th rd: bt Kei Nishikori (JPN x13) 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
QF: bt Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x9) 6-2, 6-3, 6-1
SF: bt Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 9-7
Ferrer
1st rd: bt Marinko Matosevic (AUS) 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
2nd rd: bt Albert Montanes (ESP) 6-2, 6-1, 6-3
3rd rd: bt Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-1, 7-5, 6-4
4th rd: bt Kevin Anderson (RSA x23) 6-3, 6-1, 6-1
QF: bt Tommy Robredo (ESP x32) 6-2, 6-1, 6-1
SF: bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x6) 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2