It may not be John McEnroe-Bjorn Borg or Pete Sampras-Andre Agassi, but it's the best men's tennis has to offer. What this rivalry really needs is a neutral surface, for Nadal dominates Federer on clay, just as it works in reverse on grass. Compelling as the matchup is, there's a certain inevitability to each result, depending on the locale.

The hope around tennis -- and in living rooms everywhere -- is that Nadal somehow makes a match of it today.

Saturday's semifinals had a world of promise, but the nearly two weeks of rain -- Wimbledon's worst in that category since 1982 -- finally took a toll. An exhausted Richard Gasquet was little more than a butler in Federer's mansion, bowing meekly 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 and admitting he had nothing more to give. Battling an ankle injury as well as fatigue, in the wake of his thrilling victory over Andy Roddick late Friday afternoon, Gasquet said, "I have played too much. Finish at 8, come back at noon, is not easy. I was tired. It was Roger. It was impossible."

At least Gasquet was able to finish. Novak Djokovic, who had spent more than nine hours getting past Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis over the previous two days, had to retire in the third set with Nadal leading 3-6, 6-1, 4-1. Fighting a sore lower back, a painful toe blister and an infection in his left foot, Djokovic received treatment after the second set but knew his cause was hopeless.

"I didn't sleep during the night because I had a lot of bleeding," he said, "and I was barely walking this morning. My back (which required massage several times during the Hewitt and Baghdatis matches) was a problem, too. Basically, it was all the body. I'm really exhausted. My intentions were not to show Nadal that I am weak. But it was just too difficult."

Nadal had to be quietly celebrating the brevity of his match, because he'd been battling tough opponents and rain delays all week. He came out flat, picked up his game, then got an unexpected fast-track to the finals. "It's so tough for Djokovic," he said, "winning a match like yesterday, and today have to retire, no? That's tough for everyone. So I'm very sorry for him."

As for Federer, the record books speak clearly. Nadal has knocked him out of the last three French Opens: the '05 semifinals and the last two finals. Federer found himself confounded and distraught at every turn, unable to overcome the difficult combination of clay courts - where the ball bounces high, ready to be crushed by Nadal's topspin rockets - and the unusual nature of Nadal's left-handedness. Everything works in reverse against a lefty, and while Federer dismisses them like pizza delivery men on grass, he can't help but resent the distraction on clay. (Thanks mostly to six losses on that surface, Federer is 4-8 lifetime against Nadal.)

At last year's Wimbledon, to everyone's amazement, Nadal pummeled his way through the draw and into the final. He gave Federer a pretty good battle, 6-0, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, but it never seemed in doubt. It was their first meeting on grass, and Nadal seems even better this year, thanks mostly to willpower.

Watching from the Royal Box, with keen interest, will be Borg. It's a special trip for Borg, who rarely makes showy appearances at any Grand Slam event, but he is linked historically to both men. Federer is trying to join Borg as the only modern-day men to win five straight Wimbledons (Borg's run: 1976-1980, before John McEnroe beat him in the '81 final). Should Nadal win today, he'll become only the third man in the Open era to pull off the French-Wimbledon double, joining Borg (1978-80) and Rod Laver (1969).

Borg was in attendance Saturday and Federer, who has spoken to him only briefly in the past, admitted being somewhat unnerved. "It's a bit tricky playing in front of a living legend," he said. "I mean, you're out there doing your best ... but in the back of your mind you know he's there."

Someday, the competitors in the Wimbledon men's final will say that about Federer, surely to be dressed impeccably as he joins the various dignities in the Royal Box. Nadal, a man at his best when covered in red clay, will try to inflict a few grass stains on the proceedings.

ROGER FEDERER: Right-handed, 25, born in Basel, Switzerland, and lives in Oberwil, Switzerland. ... Playing Wimbledon for the ninth time. ... Has won the past four titles and is trying to become only the second man in 100 years to win Wimbledon five times in a row (Bjorn Borg, 1976-80). ... Has won a record 53 consecutive matches on grass. ... Is 4-8 against Nadal, but won only meeting on grass in last year's Wimbledon final. ... Has dropped one set at the All England Club this year. ... Beat Teimuraz Gabashvili, Juan Martin del Potro, No. 26 Marat Safin, No. 13 Tommy Haas (walkover), No. 20 Juan Carlos Ferrero, No. 12 Richard Gasquet. ... Ranked No. 1 since Feb. 2, 2004, a record 179 consecutive weeks. ... Will be playing in his ninth consecutive major final, extending his own record. ... Has won 10 of the past 16 Grand Slam titles, four at Wimbledon, three at the U.S. Open, three at the Australian Open. ... Has 48 career titles, three this year. ... Is 35-5 this year.

RAFAEL NADAL: Left-handed, 21, born and lives in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain. ... Playing his fourth Wimbledon; was the runner-up to Federer in 2006. ... Three-time French Open champion aiming to become first player since Borg in 1978-1980 to win titles at Roland Garros and the All England Club in the same year. ... Has a 15-3 career record at Wimbledon. ... Has lost four sets this tournament. ... Beat Mardy Fish, Werner Eschauer, No. 28 Robin Soderling, No. 14 Mikhail Youzhny, No. 7 Tomas Berdych, No. 4 Novak Djokovic (retired hurt). ... Needed three days to complete rain-interrupted third-round match against Soderling. ... Today's final will mark seventh consecutive day on court. ... Has 22 career titles, including a tour-leading five this year. ... Is 51-7 this year. ... Beat Federer in 2006 and 2007 French Open finals.

This article appeared on page D - 20 of the San Francisco Chronicle