RAFAEL Nadal believes his game is almost perfect as he targets a historic fifth successive French Open title.
The 22-year-old world No1, whose incredible Roland Garros record stands at 28 wins from 28 matches, has already written off losing his 33-match claycourt streak to old rival Roger Federer in Madrid last week.
He believes a combination of a draining four-hour semi-final victory over Novak Djokovic and the high altitude of the Spanish capital conspired against him.
''I am very happy with my claycourt season. I won in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and made the final in Madrid. It's almost perfect,'' said Nadal, the top seed.
''Madrid was a different tournament. The court was fast, the balls were flying and I didn't play that well.''
Adding to his confidence is the knowledge he has beaten Federer in the past three French Open finals.
Federer, who is one title short of matching Pete Sampras's all-time mark of 14 majors, needs a French Open to become only the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam.
But he's travelled this road before.
Two years ago, Federer ended Nadal's 81-match winning streak on clay at Hamburg to instil fresh confidence of finally cracking the French code, but he was to be denied once the duo resumed hostilities in Paris.
On the evidence of the 2008 tournament, where Nadal didn't drop a set in seven matches and Federer won just four games in a one-sided final, the Swiss star again looks doomed.
But Federer refuses to concede defeat, believing that his win in Madrid, which was his 58th title, but first of 2009, could represent another launch pad.
''He has never lost in Paris so obviously his confidence is very high, but I think we have seen that if you play Rafa the right way, there are chances,'' the 27-year-old world No2 said.
Last Sunday's meeting in Madrid was the pair's 20th career clash with Nadal holding the upper hand 13-7 overall, and 9-2 on clay.
Their rivalry is one of sport's most compelling with Nadal having dethroned Federer as Wimbledon champion in an epic final in 2008 before the Spaniard reduced the Swiss to a tearful wreck after victory in Australia this year in another five-set thriller.
In the event of the June7 final not being a repeat of the past three, Djokovic, who had three match points against Nadal in his Madrid semi-final, would be the most likely beneficiary.
But the big-hearted Serbian, who turned 22 on Friday, has lost all nine claycourt meetings with Nadal, including four in this year in the Davis Cup, Monte-Carlo, Rome and then in Spain.
Britain's Andy Murray has lost both his claycourt meetings with Nadal and despite holding a 6-2 advantage over Federer, the two have never met on clay.
AFP