If Novak Djokovic is to make history here this weekend by winning his fourth straight grand slam title, he is going to have to do it the hard way.

The very hard way. The Serb completed part one of the challenge yesterday as he took out Roger Federer 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 to reach the final for the first time.

Part two means beating Rafa Nadal, the man widely regarded as the greatest ever player on clay, a man bidding to win the title here for the seventh time in eight years and who, over the past fortnight, has played some of the best tennis of his career.

Yesterday, Nadal was close to his absolute best as he destroyed David Ferrer 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the final without losing a set for the fourth time in his career.

Ferrer, the sixth seed, had been too strong for Andy Murray in the previous round but he was utterly helpless as Nadal coped brilliantly with difficult, windy conditions.

"It was one of my best matches on this court," Nadal said. "I think I played a really solid match with not easy conditions out there, a lot of wind.

"I did almost everything right because my serve worked very well, changing directions, my backhand was the best day so far today. The forehand, I have hit well during all the tournament."

On the evidence of the past year, nothing is beyond Djokovic, whose mental strength has seen him beat Nadal in three straight grand slam finals, at Wimbledon and the US Open last summer and then again over almost six hours in Australia in January.

But on the evidence of the clay-court season – during which he has lost twice to Nadal, in Monte Carlo and Rome – and especially over the past fortnight here, it is going to be a monumentally difficult task.

"It's the ultimate challenge, of course," Djokovic said. "But I feel that today was the best match of Roland Garros for me this year, so that gives me confidence."

Nadal has dropped just 35 games in reaching the final – the second fewest ever – and Federer said he would be the "overwhelming favourite" to win another title here.

But Djokovic said he believed his achievements over the past two years, and the fact that he beat Nadal on clay in Madrid and Rome last year, give him real hope.

"I lost to him I think here maybe three times. I haven't won a set against him in this court. All the facts are on his side," he said.

"But I feel different nowadays. I believe I'm at the peak of my career. I'm playing the best tennis of my life in the last year and a half, and I should use that, you know? I should use that as a confidence boost and try to get my hands on title. Why not?"

"He is a favourite because of all those facts, but I believe in myself. I think I have a chance."

Having battled back from two sets down to beat Andreas Seppi of Italy and then saved four match points in beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals, Djokovic enjoyed a more comfortable victory than expected against Federer, whose 2009 victory here was the only interruption in Nadal's dominance. The Swiss made 46 unforced errors to Djokovic's 17.

The wind made life difficult for both players but Federer created chances, only to allow Djokovic back into the match, conceding a break of serve in the first set and then a double-break in the second.

The Swiss served for the second set at 5-4, but with his timing off, he never looked totally comfortable and Djokovic broke back and then repeated the feat two games later to go two sets clear.

The atmosphere on Court Philippe Chatrier was as flat as Federer's tennis and after a break to lead 4-2 in the third, Djokovic closed out victory when Federer netted a backhand return.

"I thought he played well, under tough conditions," a dejected Federer said. "I wasn't able to sustain maybe a solid enough game today.

"Semi-finals is, at the end of the day, a very good result for any tennis player. For me, too. But I wish I could have done a bit better today, especially with the wasted opportunities."

Australian Rod Laver was the last man to win all four grand slam titles in a row, in 1969, when he achieved the feat for the second time.

Djokovic would be only the third man to hold all four at the same time and the Serb said he was well aware of what he can achieve by beating Nadal tomorrow.

"There's a lot on the line," he said. "There always is when you're playing in the final of a grand slam.

"Obviously, considering the matches that we played against each other in the last 15 months, we expect another emotional match, another big challenge for both of us, fighting for one of the four biggest titles in our sport.

"And of course the other side, for me, I have this golden opportunity to make history. This motivates me. It really inspires me. I'm really grateful to be in this position and I'll try to prepare for that match and get my hands on that trophy if I can."

Federer will head to Halle to begin his preparations for Wimbledon, where he will hope to win a seventh title.

In his absence, one way or the other, history will be made.