Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer at Roland Garros: What’s on the line

On Friday, live on Tennis Channel, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will renew their rivalry in the French Open semifinals. Here's everything you need to know to get ready for this throwback throwdown:

**What's On The Line: 10 things at stake for Roger and Rafa

Federer fans: He's 5-0 in their last six matches

Nadal fans: He's 5-0 in their five meetings at Roland Garros

Preview: Steve Tignor breaks down the 39th career meeting**
Podcast: Debating Federer's chances against Nadal in Paris

The dream of many has become a reality: after winning their respective quarterfinals on Tuesday, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will square off in a blockbuster semifinal at Roland Garros on Friday.

Here are just some of the many things that will be on the line as the two meet for the 39th time:

1. Federer has won their last five meetings

Since losing to Nadal in the 2014 Australian Open semifinals, Federer has won their last five meetings, cutting the Spaniard’s lead in their head-to-head from 23-10 to 23-15. Those five meetings were all on hard courts.

2. Nadal is a perfect 5-0 against Federer at Roland Garros

He beat the Swiss in the semifinals in 2005, and in the final in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011. Nadal won the 2008 final in a blowout, 6-1, 6-3, 6-0, but Federer pushed all four of their other terre battue encounters to four sets.

3. Nadal has never lost a semifinal or a final at Roland Garros

Every time Nadal has made it past the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, he has gone on to win the title—he’s 11-0 in semifinals and 11-0 in finals. Federer, meanwhile, is 5-2 in semifinal matches at Roland Garros, and 1-4 in finals.

4. Federer has held his last 31 service games against Nadal

The last time Nadal broke serve in this rivalry was four meetings and almost two-and-a-half years ago in the 2017 Australian Open final—he broke Federer in the first game of the fifth set and eventually built a 3-1 lead, but the Swiss won the last five games of the match for a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory and his 18th Grand Slam title.

Federer didn’t even face a break point in nine service games the last time these two met, in the final of the 2017 Shanghai Masters, which he won in an hour and 12 minutes, 6-4, 6-3.

5. Nadal is trying to become the first man to beat Federer 10 times in Grand Slams

Nadal, who is 9-3 against Federer in majors, would be the first man to get to 10 wins against him in the biggest stages in tennis. Novak Djokovic also has nine wins over Federer at Slams; no one else has more than two.

6. Federer is trying to reach his 31st career major final; Nadal is going for his 26th

Federer and Nadal already have the top two Grand Slam final totals in men's tennis history. Djokovic is right behind Nadal, though—he is going for his 25th in Paris this year.

7. They both have excellent records in major semifinals

Federer is 30-13 in major semifinals, a .698 winning percentage; Nadal has a 25-5 record, a .833 winning percentage.

8. This match isn’t just for a spot in the French Open final, it’s also for the No. 2 ranking

Whoever wins this match will be No. 2 on the post-Roland Garros rankings, and the other player will be No. 3.

Nadal has been ranked in the Top 2 every week over the last two years, since winning his 15th Grand Slam title at the 2017 French Open. Federer hasn’t been ranked in the Top 2 since last October.

9. If Federer wins this match, he is a win away from an Open Era first

If the Swiss goes on to win the title, he’ll be the first man in the Open Era—and the third man in tennis history, after Roy Emerson and Rod Laver—to win all four majors twice. Djokovic can achieve the same feat if he wins this title.

The 37-year-old is also trying to become the oldest player, male or female, to win a major in the Open Era.

10. If Nadal wins, he'll be a win away from an all-time first

No man or woman has ever won the same Grand Slam tournament 12 times. The most any player in history has won is 11: Margaret Court at the Australian Open, and of course Nadal at Roland Garros.