Nadal has upper hand over Djokovic

Djokovic, the world No 1 and top seed, must win to keep alive his dream of following Nadal, Roger Federer, Andre Agassi and Rod Laver to become only the fifth man in the modern era to complete a career grand slam.

Nadal, the undisputed king of clay, is striving to become the first man in history to win the same slam 10 times, a colossal feat unlikely ever to be matched.

Six times the Majorcan has shattered the Serb’s title hopes in Paris, most painfully in 2012 when Djokovic had conquered Nadal in the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open finals to stand on the verge of a rare grand slam sweep heading into the title match.

The last time Djokovic denied Nadal at a slam, it took the Serb five hours and 54 minutes in their record-setting 2012 Australian Open final.

The 14-times major champion enters the latest clash – their earliest at a grand slam since the very first of their career meetings in 2006 in Paris – having extended his decade-long Roland Garros record to 70 wins and just one defeat.