Nadal Seeks Spot in French History

Nineteen-year-old Rafael Nadal of Spain is one victory away from matching the accomplishment of Mats Wilander, who won the French Open in his first try, in 1982.

In the men’s final today, the fourth-seeded Nadal will play unseeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina. Nadal has not lost a set to Puerta in two matches.

Their most recent meeting was in the semifinals at Acapulco on clay, with Nadal winning, 6-4, 6-1.

Puerta had never been past the third round of a Grand Slam tournament.

Nadal is on a 23-match winning streak on clay.

The most significant victory during the streak was against No. 1 Roger Federer of Switzerland in four sets in the semifinals Friday.

Igor Andreev of Russia was the last player to defeat Nadal on clay, in the quarterfinals at Valencia, Spain, in April.

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TALE OF THE TAPE

*--* Puerta Nadal Age 26 19 Entry ranking 37 5 Titles 3 6 Grand Slam record 14-15 12-8 Best Grand Slam result Fin-1 Fin-1 French Open record 12-5 6-0 Career clay record 108-100 63-12 2005 record 23-8 47-6

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MEN’S FINAL

* Who: Mariano Puerta vs. Rafael Nadal (4)

* When: Today, 6 a.m. PDT

* Television: Channel 4

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-- Lisa Dilllman