THE CANADIAN PRESS
PARIS -- Daniel Nestor could add another Grand Slam doubles title to his collection this weekend -- only this time the Toronto native would be celebrating with somebody new.
The Toronto left-hander will team with Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia in Saturday's French Open men's doubles final, the Canadian's first Grand Slam championship match with his new partner.
A win over unseeded Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay and Luis Horrna of Peru would give Nestor his second straight doubles crown at Roland Garros and four career Grand Slam titles.
All of his previous championships have been won with former partner Mark Knowles but the two parted ways in November after Nestor said he felt they no longer jelled. The split ended a 13-year partnership.
Knowles and partner Mahesh Bhupathi of India were seeded fourth at the tournament but lost in the first round.
Last year, Nestor and Knowles posted a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback victory over Czechs Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Vizner. But the duo also lost two finals in Paris and Nestor knows capturing another championship won't be easy.
"We're seeds so we're definitely the favourites," said Nestor. "But our opponents have beaten some good teams, they're the same level as us now."
One of those good teams was top-seeded Americans Mike and Bob Bryan, whom the South Americans eliminated with a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 win in the quarter-finals.
"It will be a very tough match," Nestor said. "Against them you have to go for your shots, keep them on their heels, keep them moving."
On Friday, Zimonjic and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia dropped a 6-2, 7-6 (4) decision in the mixed doubles final to Bob Bryan and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
Nestor and Zimonjic will be playing in their fourth final of the season. They lost in Indian Wells and Rome but claimed the Hamburg title on clay last month and have been on a roll since.
They hope to play a bit of a mental game Saturday.
"We want to try and get into their heads," said Nestor. "If we stand back and rally with them, we're not going to win. If we come forward and play aggressive, then we have a good chance."
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