Destiny appears to have already inscribed Roger Federer's name on the French Open trophy but Robin Soderling is ready to shock the world.

Everybody, it seems, outside Sweden is pulling for the popular Federer to etch his name in the history books by completing the grand slam of major titles with a win in the Roland Garros final tomorrow.

There is even a sense of inevitability about it, given the way he has scraped through the rounds this past fortnight, stuttering past opponents he was expected to bury out of sight while seeing his leading rivals fall by the wayside.

But Soderling, who famously slayed reigning champion and king of clay Rafael Nadal in the fourth round, has already proved at this tournament there is no such thing as a dead cert.

And the Swede, who has gone from a journeyman to a grand slam title contender in the space of two weeks, is confident he has one more big match in him.

"He's going to be the favourite by far," Soderling said of Federer, who has a 9-0 record against the 24-year-old from Tibro, an industrial town in the south of Sweden.

"But Nadal was the favourite against me as well. As I said before the match against Nadal, if I don't believe I can win, there's no point going on the court.

"I think I have a chance."

Soderling will be the most unpopular person in the French capital should he deny Federer a title that would, in many people's eyes, secure his position as the greatest tennis player ever.

A victory for Federer would move him level with Pete Sampras on a record 14 grand slam crowns. Sampras, though, never won at Roland Garros.

The Swiss is not only a firm favourite in Paris because of his elegance and style, but also the simple fact he can speak French. He can be sure of unwavering support on Philippe Chatrier court tomorrow.

Soderling, the 23rd seed, will not care one jot. He is used to being the underdog, the villain of the piece. A mention of his name, and the phrase 'not the most popular man in the locker room' usually follows.

He has the complete respect of world number two Federer, nonetheless.

"There are no easy grand slam finals. The man on the other side of the net has also won six matches and is definitely in the shape of his life," he said.

"He has a big serve, big shots off both sides, forehand and backhand. Maybe because he was so dangerous on indoors you never really give him respect on a slower court.

"He's playing the tennis of his life but I'm ready for the challenge."

Aside from Nadal, Soderling has beaten 10th seed Nikolay Davydenko, 12th seed Fernando Gonzalez - in five absorbing sets in yesterday's semi-finals - and 14th seed David Ferrer en route to the final.

Federer needed a deciding set to get past not only Juan Martin del Potro in the last four but also Tommy Haas in round four. He was far from his best too in four-set wins against Jose Acasuso in the second round and Paul-Henri Mathieu in round three.

He has still made it to the final, for the fourth year in a row here.

He knows what it takes to win a Major, something that cannot be said of the unheralded Soderling.

"I'm excited because I know these moments will not happen every single day," said Federer, 27.

"Yet I'm quite relaxed. I've played so many grand slam finals, major tournaments, major finals. I've seen it all several times already.

"The pressure is big not only for me but for him also. It's his first big step in a grand slam."

Prior to Roland Garros, Soderling had never gone beyond the third round at a major. This will Federer's 19th grand slam final.