Clay is the natural surface for Spanish players, with about 100,000 courts across the country - most small villages have them.

So it is not surprising that Nadal emerged as the latest in a long line of Spanish success - albeit far more sustained than his predecessors - at Roland Garros.

Nadal's 14 wins, plus triumphs for Sergi Bruguera (two), Carlos Moya, Albert Costa and Juan Carlos Ferrero, means the nation has accounted for 19 of the past 30 men's champions.

Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time major winner who is the Spanish heir apparent to Nadal, is expected to add to that in the coming years.

Wandering around Court Philippe Chatrier - particularly before Nadal played a French Open final - felt like being outside the Santiago Bernabeu in the build-up to a big Real Madrid match.

Spanish speakers can be heard everywhere, chattering about the prospect of seeing one of the nation's favourite sons creating more history.

Splashes of red and yellow are ubiquitous on flags, football kits and hats. Super-fans wear Nadal-branded 'raging bull' hats and t-shirts.

Ferrero, the 2001 champion, says it feels like a home from home.

"Roland Garros is the closest Grand Slam and the fact that it is held on clay makes it even closer to Spain," he said.

"The fact that Spanish players have won it a lot, and especially thanks to Nadal, [means] tennis fans relate Roland Garros with good moments for Spanish tennis."