PARIS—Rafael Nadal has won the French Open nine times, and during the next two weeks he could reach 100 match wins at Roland Garros.

The 30-year-old Spaniard has played some tremendous matches over the years at the French Open, but he puts a win against Novak Djokovic at the top of the pile.

Nadal blitzed the Serbian, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (3), in the 2008 semis and went on to win the title.

“I think, probably, was the semifinal match against Djokovic, 2008,” he said during his pre-event press conference at the French Open. “I think during two sets and a half [I] probably played one of the best matches, yeah.”

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But it has been a little while since he hoisted the trophy in Paris.

Last year he won his first two matches in straight sets, but a wrist injury forced him to retire ahead of his third-round match against Marcel Granollers.

“I hope that the story don't repeat,” he said.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion has been rolling on clay this season, winning Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid before finally losing in the semis in Rome against Dominic Thiem.

A number of people have picked him to be the favorite. Nadal says that doesn’t matter at all.

“Doesn't matter what you say, what you don't say, no?” Nadal said. “At the end of the day, for me the only important thing is arrive here, play well. If I am playing well, doesn't matter if you believe or you don't believe that I am one of the candidates or not. I have to play. The only way to have chances, real chances to play [a] good event, is play very well, be healthy and then be with the right attitude.

"That's the only way to try to have success here, and I am focused on [trying] to do that.”

Nadal will face Benoit Paire in the first round.

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