The French Open battle of the teenagers between Spain's Rafael Nadal [Images] and Richard Gasquet of France [Images] on Friday will offer a fascinating glimpse into the future of men's tennis.

Both prodigies have won everything at every age class and are now ready to take the professional circuit by storm.

Nadal, the 18-year-old left-hander with the magic forehand, has won fives titles this year and will try to extend his winning streak on clay to 20 matches in the eagerly anticipated third-round showdown.

The Mallorcan is already as popular there as the island's tennis great, Carlos Moya [Images], the 1998 French Open champion.

Gasquet, who is just 15 days younger than the Spaniard, got used to fame at a tender age. He was on the cover of France's number one tennis magazine when he was nine years old.

The Frenchman took time to live up to high expectations but, like Nadal, he appears to be coming of age. He reached the semi-finals in Monte Carlo, giving Nadal a hard time after having beaten world number one Roger Federer [Images] in the previous round, and went on to reach the final in Hamburg.

"If I am to beat Nadal I have to play a fabulous match," said Gasquet, who is dreaming of becoming France's first men's champion since Yannick Noah in 1983.

"You can't beat Nadal by playing all right. You have to be exceptional in every department. I'll have to be physically fit and I'll need to remain focused. Only by playing the perfect match will I stand a chance."

PARTISAN CROWD

Nadal, trying to become the first player to win the French Open on debut since Swede Mats Wilander in 1982, is getting ready for a tough match before a partisan crowd on a packed centre court.

"Obviously it's going to be a complicated match," he said.

"Clearly he's in top shape and it's going to be his fans out there. It can be positive or negative. It's also pressure for him. You've got to overcome that pressure when you're playing in front of your own crowd.

"I'm going to go out there and try to play my best tennis. I'm going to try to keep up my game. I'm sure I have a chance to win."

Both players warmed up for Friday's clash by winning their second-round matches without dropping a set but Nadal, the fourth seed, was the more impressive, hitting a series of astonishing winners met by roars of approval from the crowd.

If he survives on Friday, Nadal could then be celebrating his 19th birthday on the same showcase court just a week later with a possible semi-final against Federer.

"I hope I'll be here in Paris to celebrate my birthday but then again I might be on holiday and fishing in Mallorca," Nadal said.

Both players know that their career is only starting and insist defeat on Friday would not mean the end of the world.

"If I lose, it won't be that bad," said Gasquet.

Nadal was just as philosophical: "If he plays better and wins, you know, that's it...I'll just go home."

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