Djokovic courts crowd

Following his last 16 victory over Gael Monfils, the 18-year-old attended the press conference adorned with a les blues shirt, a ploy he unashamedly admits to using to get the local French crowd on his side.

"That shirt is a really nice present," he explained. "I got it from a French girl in Italy recently. There's my lucky number and my nickname written on the back.

"So I think it is a really great thing to have. Maybe it will help me get the crowd behind me in the next few days."

It is the first time Djokovic - who has made headlines this week by revealing a desire to get a British passport - has never made it to the quarter finals of a Grand Slam before, and the prospect of playing the 'king of clay' Nadal is something he can't help but get excited about.

"To be in the last eight of a Grand Slam is just an amazing feeling for me," he said. "I'll just try to give my best in the next match and to win.

"When I deal with the pressure in a good way I don't care who is on the other side of the net," he continued. "I just try to play my best tennis as I have nothing to lose right now in the quarter finals. I will give everything.

"Nadal, as we all know, is the player on this surface. He can prove that by his results, and the record of more than 50 victories in a row. I'd say it is pretty amazing for a 20 year old.

"For sure he is the number one favourite to win this year title at Roland Garros. He is feeling pretty well and hasn't had many long or difficult matches.

"I hope that I will recover as much as I can to be ready for this match. I think I need to be really fit and a 100 percent ready to win against Nadal."

Postcards from Roland