Novak Djokovic began his press conference here yesterday with the kind of request that, if you didn't know better, would seem to give away his state of mind as he contemplates trying to win the French Open for the first time; "Please, don't mention the draw."

Beaten in the final by Rafael Nadal last year, Djokovic was drawn in the same half as the seven-times champion and promptly refused to talk about the prospect of playing the Spaniard in the semi-finals, or anyone else, for that matter

The Serb is the world No.1 by some margin, won the first grand slam title of the year in Australia and has won five of the last nine of them.

But with Nadal having reached the final of all eight tournaments since returning from seven months out through injury in February, winning six, Djokovic is clearly concerned that the man from Mallacor could deny him once more.

However, Djokovic can beat Nadal on clay – he managed it in the final in Monte Carlo just last month – and despite early defeats in Madrid and Rome, feels he is ready to win the one grand slam to elude him so far.

"Winning against Nadal on clay is not something that happens every day," he said. "It's a big challenge."

"I managed to play one of the best matches on the clay courts ever in my career, and that's an important it's an important fact prior to Roland Garros."

Djokovic admits that his defeat by Nadal in last year's final still rankles, especially the manner of the conclusion of the match.

Having hit back from two sets down to win the third set and take a 2-0 lead in the fourth, Djokovic's momentum was halted when, after Nadal held to make it 2-1, the players were forced off because of rain.

With light rain falling, the match was eventually called off at around 8pm local time, but soon after the announcement, the sun returned and around 30-40 minutes play might have been possible.

"I felt great. I think it was close to 8pm, 7.45 or whatever. Then I think sunset was, like, 9.15. It was still light, you could still play. So I think in that hour's space I could do some more good things on the court. But, OK, that's the way it is."

It was a loss that hurt badly, not least because he had come so close to completing a full set of grand slam titles.

Only seven men, including Nadal and Roger Federer, the Swiss who received the best draw of all here, have won all four grand slam titles. Djokovic desperately wants to join them. "Your place in history is very important," the Serb said. "Not many athletes, not many tennis players experience and have the privilege to have their names in the history books.

"Knowing that I've already done something that makes me part of history makes me incredibly proud.

"But there is still a long way to go, I feel. I'm 26 this year. I feel that I'm at the peak of my career.

"Hopefully I'm going to make some new history, but I'm going to try to take it slowly because thinking too much ahead or too much behind can really disturb the present moment. That's something that I've learned over the years."

Djokovic says he believes in destiny, but that the power of the mind can change what is preordained, though he didn't go so far as to say he was destined not to win here 12 months ago.

"Maybe I could have won if we had continued that day," he said. "But at the end of the day it wasn't to be. Maybe this year it's going to be. I still keep believing it is the year for Roland Garros."

As world No.1, Djokovic enjoys the trappings that go with being the best in the world, from the private jets to the better tables in restaurants.

But he is also smart enough to know that he may need a bit of extra help from the crowd in Paris. So he's been learning French. "I feel obliged in a way because I live in Monaco, where the official language is French," he said.

"But also, if I want to do well in Roland Garros I will have to learn French. That's what I feel. That's something that's missing, that part."

With Andy Murray back home nursing his injured back, British attention at yesterday's draw focused on the women's event, with Laura Robson receiving the plum first-round match-up, taking on 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki.

British No.1 Robson will fancy her chances against the Dane, who has lost four straight matches.

Elena Baltacha, back after foot surgery, faces New Zealand's Marina Erakovic while Heather Watson, recovering from glandular fever, takes on Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland.

Meanwhile, Colin Fleming's hopes of going into the French Open on a high ended yesterday when he and Jonny Marray were beaten 6-2, 6-7, 10-5 by England's Dominic Inglot and Treat Huey of the Philippines in the semi-finals of the ATP event in Dusseldorf.