Federer sets up Nadal clash

ROGER FEDERER set up a French Open final showdown with Rafael Nadal for the third year in succession after defeating the battling Gael Monfils in four sets yesterday.

The Swiss star struggled at times against the world number 59, allowing himself to be pegged back at one set apiece before posting a hard-fought 6-2 5-7 6-3 7-5 win in a little over three hours.

“It was hard to play against him. He is such a great talent and now he has shown it on a big stage,” said Federer.

A little bit of history will be made regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s final, with Nadal aiming to equal Bjorn Borg’s record of four straight wins at Roland Garros and world number one Federer attempting to complete a Grand Slam of the four majors.

Earlier, Nadal blitzed his way into the final after dismantling Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in three sets.

The Spaniard broke the third seed on only his second service game and rarely looked troubled thereafter as he romped home to a 6-4 6-2 7-6 (7/3) triumph on Philippe Chatrier Court.

Djokovic rallied in the third to force the tie-breaker, only for Nadal to step it up again and close out the match after two hours and 49 minutes.

The second seed has been in imperious form at Roland Garros, and has not dropped a set on his run to the final.