If you desire world domination in tennis, best get an early start as Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have proved. So, for the likes of Grigor Dimitrov, Milos Raonic and Bernard Tomic -- often touted as the best of the next generation in men's tennis -- the clock is already ticking. Nadal was just 19 when he burst onto the scene with a first French Open title in 2005. Djokovic was 20 when he made his breakthrough at the 2008 Australian Open while Federer had his first of 17 Grand Slam titles wrapped up at Wimbledon in 2003 when he was 21.

Rafael Nadal can become the first man to win the same Grand Slam title eight times at the French Open with few willing to risk talking down the rejuvenated Spaniard's chances. Having pulled clear of Bjorn Borg's record of six wins at Roland Garros with a seventh championship in 2012, the 26-year-old has already confounded the critics who had written him off during a seventh-month injury absence.

Rome, May 18 (EFE).- Spain's Rafael Nadal produced his best tennis of this year's Rome Masters on Saturday, starting the match on fire and finishing strong to claim a 6-2, 6-4 semifinal victory over Czech Tomas Berdych. Next up for the six-time Rome champion in Sunday's final will be archrival Roger Federer, who defeated surprise semifinalist Benoit Paire of France 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 in the night match. Nadal was in absolute peak form in the first set, seizing control of nearly every point with deep, accurate and heavily spun ground strokes.

Results on the sixth day of the ATP Rome Masters/WTA Rome Open on Friday (x denotes seeding): Men Quarter finals Benoit Paire (FRA) bt Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-1, 6-0 Tomas Berdych (CZE x6) bt Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 Women Quarter-finals Simona Halep (ROM) bt Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 4-6, 6-0, 7-5 Serena Williams (USA x1) bt Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 6-2, 6-0 Sara Errani (ITA x7) bt Maria Sharapova (RUS x2) retired afp