But Nadal is taking nothing for granted and is prepared for another marathon encounter after his epic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 9-7 win over world No 1 Novak Djokovic.

"I learned during all of my career to enjoy suffering, and these kind of matches are very special. You don't have the chance to play these kinds of matches every day," Nadal said.

He had twice led top seed Djokovic by a set and a break but had to come back from 4-2 down in the decider to seal a place in his eighth Paris final, extending his record to 58 wins in 59 matches at the tournament in the process.

"When these kind of matches happen you suffer, but I really enjoy these moments. I really enjoy suffering, because what's harder is when I am in Mallorca last year and I had to watch these kinds of matches on the TV.

"Today I am here. So you can lose, you can win, and that's part of the sport. That's the beautiful thing."

Nadal has been the sensation of 2013, winning 42 of 44 matches and six titles since his return in February from a seven-month injury lay-off to rest his troublesome knees.

It was a low period of his life and career as he missed the Olympics as well as US and Australian Opens.

Ferrer, the fourth seed, has reached his maiden final without losing a set.

He has slipped through the gap created when Andy Murray pulled out of the tournament with an injury and which was left wide open when Roger Federer was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Ferrer then eased past the Frenchman 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 in his semi-final, but he will be well aware that his only victory on clay against Nadal was in their first meeting at Stuttgart in 2004 when his compatriot was just 16.

As well as losing to Nadal in the quarter-finals in Paris in 2005, and in the semi-finals last year, Ferrer has already lost three times to his countryman in 2013, again all on clay.

"It's a dream for me to be in the final of a grand slam, and Roland Garros is more important for me," said Ferrer, who has lost eight straight to Nadal.

"I will fight. It's very difficult to beat Rafael on all the surfaces, but on a clay court it is more difficult. I think I need to play my best tennis to beat him. I need to play very aggressive all the match."

Ferrer should at least be the fresher of the two having spent six hours fewer than Nadal to get to the championship match.

The match will be the third all-Spanish final at a grand slam and all have come in Paris.

Victory for Nadal will take him clear of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, who have seven Wimbledon titles, as the most successful player at one major in the Open era. Meanwhile, at 31 years and 68 days, Ferrer is bidding to become the oldest man to win a grand slam title since Andre Agassi (32 years 272 days) at the 2003 Australian Open.

(ESP)

4
27
June 3, 1986
Manacor, Mallorca, Spain
Manacor
6'1" (185 cm)
188 lbs (85 kg)
Left-handed
2001
Toni Nadal

56
11 (Australian Open 2009; French Open 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012; Wimbledon 2008, 2010; US Open 2010)
$53,801,264
Champion (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012)

No man has ever won eight singles titles at the same grand slam and Nadal is the overwhelming favourite. Took his record in Paris to 58 wins from 59 matches with his semi win.

(ESP)

5
31
April 2, 1982
Javea, Spain
Valencia, Spain
5'9" (175 cm)
160 lbs (73 kg)
Right-handed
2000
Javier Piles

20
0
$18,544,109<
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.