PARIS -- This is what Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic wanted. Its what they expected. And now theyll meet in a French Open final with so much at stake for both. Nadal is seeking championship No. 9 at Roland Garros, and his 14th major title overall. Djokovic is hoping to finally conquer the French Open and complete a career Grand Slam. Fittingly, whoever wins the rivals 42nd head-to-head meeting Sunday will be ranked No. 1 on Monday; the runner-up will be No. 2. "He has the motivation to win Roland Garros for the first time, for sure. But at the same time, he has the pressure to win for the first time," Nadal said. "I have the pressure that I want to win -- and the motivation that I want to win -- the ninth." In Fridays semifinals, the No. 1-seeded Nadal was at his imperious, and nearly immaculate, best in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Wimbledon champion Andy Murray that lasted all of 100 minutes. Nadal never faced a break point, converted all six he earned, and whipped his uppercut of a forehand as only he can. Toni Nadal, Rafaels uncle and coach, called the match "one of the best that he has ever played here." Thats sure saying something. Tonis nephew is 65-1 at the clay-court tournament and carries a 34-match winning streak into the final. The thick, grey clouds and chill that became a staple these two weeks gave way to sunshine and warmth Friday, and Nadal reveled in it. "For me, is much better when the weather is like today," he said. "My ball creates more topspin. The ball goes quicker in the air, and with my forehand I am able to create more with less." All in all, Nadal made Murray look rather lost. "You want to be competitive. You want to make it hard for him," Murray said. "I wasnt able to do that." The No. 2-seeded Djokovics semifinal was only slightly less perfunctory, a 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over 18th-seeded Ernests Gulbis of Latvia that came first Friday, when the temperature hit 82 degrees (28 Celsius). Wrapping a cold towel around his neck during changeovers, Djokovic was brilliant through two sets, then faltered in the third, showing frustration by spiking a racket so hard he mangled it. Djokovic has made no secret of the importance he places on a French Open title to add to the six majors hes won -- four at the Australian Open, one each at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. "Obviously, Novak would like to win the one he is missing," said Djokovics coach, Marian Vajda. "So all these hopes ... make him more tense than usually you see him. But I think this match helped him to release it." Afterward, Djokovic said he felt "physically fatigued a little bit" and was looking forward to resting until Sunday, when the forecast predicts similar heat but also a chance of rain. No two men in the Open era, which began in 1968, faced each other as often as these two. Nadal leads 22-19 overall, 8-3 at majors, and 5-0 in the French Open -- including victories over Djokovic in the 2012 final and 2013 semifinals. But Djokovic won their last four matchups, including on clay in the final at Rome last month, which the Serb said boosted his belief in himself. Still, Djokovic conceded, "I dont know how much upper hand I have, really. ... There is no doubt that he is the favourite to win the title." Nadals take? "Probably he will come to the match mentally a little bit better than me because he beat me the last four," said the Spaniard, who won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open twice each, and the Australian Open once, and can tie Pete Sampras at 14 major titles, behind only Roger Federers record for men of 17. "But at the same time, my feeling is I am doing the things better, and I am playing better again." Nadal arrived at Roland Garros dealing with some doubts. There were the three losses on clay in 2014. There was the pain in his back that resurfaced early last week, leading to a dip in his serve speeds and prompting him to wear vertical strips of tape under his shirt for support. By Friday evening, all was well. His back felt fine. His serves had zip. His forehand was fearsome. The sun was shining. And now Djokovic awaits. Saints Jerseys China . Cruz set the tone with a two-run homer in the first inning, and Baltimore scored eight times in the eighth to pull away for a 12-3 victory in Game 1. The major league leader with 40 homers during the regular season, Cruz added an RBI single to his early blast off Max Scherzer. Custom New Orleans Saints Jerseys . The start of the seasons fifth and final major was delayed two hours due to heavy rain in the area. The tournament eventually began, but with water on the greens and the rain persisting, players were called back to the clubhouse less than an hour after the first group teed off. https://www.saintsjerseyssale.com/ . Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks were proof of that on Wednesday night. Stitched Saints Jerseys . A larger-than-life personality known for his intimidating style in the 18-yard box, Schmeichels career spanned some 20 years -- including a memorable tenure at Manchester United. New Orleans Saints Gear . Over the course of his career Glenn is 79-71-1 in 151 starts for a .526 career winning percentage. Since becoming a Stampeder, he has elevated his play and raised his stock around the league.Ninety minutes doesnt make a season. Just ask last seasons Supporters Shield winners, the New York Red Bulls, who were resoundingly defeated last weekend by a rampant Vancouver Whitecaps in a match which produced two contenders for MLS Goal of the Week from Sebastian Fernandez and Pedro Morales. Another of those contenders was a slice of set piece magic from FC Dallas playmaker, Mauro Diaz, which after the final whistle blew, ended up the difference-maker as the Montreal Impact kicked their season off on the wrong side of a five-goal thriller after taking a deserved lead at Toyota Stadium last Saturday night. This for a club which has built its foundation on taking the lead and parking the bus since the time Jose Mourinho was working as a translator for Sir Bobby Robson at Barcelona. Conceding goals in threes, though, was a recurring theme in the preseason for the Impact. For those who believe preseason matches dont really matter, lets not bother having them and, while were at it, please scrap all those preseason tournaments. There was no connection whatsoever with the Columbus Crew putting four past the 2013 MLS Cup champion Sporting KC in the final of the Disney Pro Soccer Classic and taking all that confidence and Orlando momentum into D.C. to start their season last Saturday with a 3-0 rout of United. Growing a cohesive defensive unit and mindset was a significant ingredient as the Impacts training camp progressed. With that in mind, it was rather baffling that in his first match as gaffer, Frank Klopas strayed from that blueprint and morphed into the Tinkerman. Pre-game, I dont suspect that anybody would have predicted that such an unacquainted defence would have taken the pitch in Dallas. Having not played a minute in preseason, it was hardly surprising that Jeb Brovsky didnt display his usual reliable, risk-averse self. And when will the Impact finally realize the liability that is Hassoun Camara in a central role? As its only in adversity or defeat that one learns, the Impact head across the state with plenty learned in Dallas to be applied when the Impact return to the scene of that playoff crime in Houston on Saturday night. As geography plays a significant part in growing rivalries across planet futbol, whod have thought MLSs 19th franchise would have developed a bitter rivalry with a club they dont even share the same time zone with? The origins for which we must thank Dominic Kinnear and Jesse Marsch. The Dynamos head coach for first leaving him unprotected in the Expansion Draft and the Impacts original head coach for having the fortitude to rise to the rostrum at the Impacts downtown offices back on November 23, 2011 and, with his first selecction, utter those infamous words, "Brian Ching.dddddddddddd" Whether Quebec native and Canadian international defender Andre Hainault was the real target is still the stuff of debate, but what is certain is that these two clubs dont much care for each other with last years Halloween Eve playoff horrors merely the icing on the cake. After embarrassing the Dynamo in sticking five past them late last summer at Saputo Stadium, Houston avenged that by first beating the Impact in the return encounter in early October and twisted the knife during the first round of the playoffs. Houston boasts one of the best home records in all of Major League Soccer these recent seasons and it is going to take a supreme team effort for the Impact to get anything from the match. Having spent the entire week down in Texas will have allowed them for the perfect preparation. No club wants to start its season 0-2 and the Impact will not want any additional pressures heading into their Olympic Stadium home opener March 22 against the Seattle Sounders. Nor will Klopas want to be explaining himself as he makes his Montreal bow. Houston has not been kind to the ex-Fire head coach, where he sports a solitary win from seven matches. Klopas will want a repeat performance from Justin Mapp, who was scintillating in Dallas. New DP Hernan Bernadello will have to last the 90 minutes. Splendid early on orchestrating the attacks, the 27-year old Argentine physically and mentally tired as the game wore on. How refreshing it would have been for Impact management and faithful alike that Andrew Wenger finally displayed the type of football through the 90 minutes we all know he is capable of? A well taken goal, following expert delivery from Felipe on the flank, was thoroughly deserved. The 2012 SuperDraft first-overall pick will be brimming with confidence when he hits the pitch Saturday night. It is vital he utilizes that additional injection of adrenaline in a positive manner. Individually and as a team, the Impact cannot allow any tension get to them. Greater concentration and discipline were the key messages to emerge from the time training in Texas. The Impact didnt gain any points in Dallas, but after a thoroughly entertaining 90 minutes of football, they certainly gained many new admirers back in La Belle Province as they tuned into the action as an appetizer to the Habs late night west coast encounter. Sanna Nyassi, who was the Impacts best player to emerge from training camp and scored last weeks opener, will be missed. Klopas will tinker with his starting XI. You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter ' ' 'udience of the Olympics thus far. ' ' '