Before setting out on his first French Open campaign, Rafael Nadal [Images] was asked what he hoped to be doing on his 19th birthday on Friday.

He joked that he might be at home in Mallorca fishing in the Mediterranean. Deep down Nadal knew his destiny was to be slugging it out in the semi-finals at Roland Garros.

The fourth seed has lived up to all the pre-tournament hype fuelled by three consecutive claycourt titles.

Tuesday's straight sets defeat of fellow Spaniard David Ferrer was his 22nd consecutive victory and now there is just one more obstacle barring his road to the final.

That obstacle could not be bigger - world number one Roger Federer [Images], who is yet to drop a set here.

Nadal almost beat the Swiss in the Masters Series final in Miami [Images] this year, leading by two sets to love before running out of steam. That match was proof the muscular Spaniard has what it takes to challenge for the world number one spot.

For now though his thoughts are only about winning the French Open.

"Playing the semi-final against the number one is unbelievable for me," said 'Rafa'. "A final would be unbelievable for me, especially at 19."

While Nadal charms with his boyish enthusiasm, scrambled English and love of ice cream, once on court he displays a ruthlessness way beyond his years.

CASH SHOCKED

Former Wimbledon [Images] champion Pat Cash discovered that first hand when he lost to Nadal, then aged 14, in an exhibition match in Mallorca.

The outspoken Australian, 36 at the time, said he was stunned by the young upstart's ferocious on-court demeanour, all fist-pumps and yells of "vamos" after every point.

That body language has been in ample evidence this year as Nadal trampled all over some of the world's best players.

On his way to winning in Monte Carlo he thrashed French Open champion Gaston Gaudio 6-3, 6-0. In Rome he dropped just eight games in his first three matches.

In the final he came back from the dead to beat Argentina's Guillermo Coria in a five-hour marathon.

Former great John McEnroe [Images] has tipped Nadal as the natural successor to Federer while fellow Mallorcan Carlos Moya [Images], who helped in Nadal's early development, is convinced he will emulate his own Roland Garros triumph of 1998.

If that Paris victory is to be this year he must first land the biggest fish of his career, the imperious Federer.

"It's Roland Garros - if you lose, you're going to lose something important. I'm going to be giving it a fight, giving it my all," said Nadal.

Anybody who has faced him this year knows he will be true to his word.

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