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Federer focused on Nadal ahead of the French Open

Roger Federer has virtually everything any 25-year-old tennis player could want.

US$30 million in prize money tucked away in the bank, 10 Grand Slam titles, at least three languages comfortably mastered and the respect and admiration of peers, fans and media.

What he doesn't have is a French Open title.

However, there's no shortage of people lining up to tell him how to secure that elusive honor.

What has always been mission impossible for the likeable Swiss is how to inflict a first ever Roland Garros defeat on nemesis Rafael Nadal.

He has solved part of the mystery himself by beating the Spaniard for the first time in six clay court meetings in the Hamburg Masters final last Sunday.

"I played fantastic and I really got the feeling in the end I had figured out how to play him," said Federer after his 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 win brought Nadal's 81-match winning streak on clay to an end.

"But I have to be very careful not to get too carried away," he said.

Federer may have learned crucial lessons from seeing Lleyton Hewitt push the Spaniard all the way in the semi-finals in Germany.

"Nadal is the best player on clay, no doubt about that," said the Australian who took the first set in their last four clash.

"He is extremely tough. There are no cheap points against him. You've got to go out there and beat him. When he is front-running, he is one of the best in the business," Hewitt said.
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