Paris ? Rafael Nadal celebrated his 19th birthday with the match of his young life. The Spaniard won a showdown Friday against top-ranked Roger Federer, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, to reach the final in his first French Open.

Nadal avenged a loss to Federer at Key Biscayne two months ago and extended his winning streak to 23 matches, all on clay. Nadal became the youngest men’s finalist at Roland Garros since Michael Chang, the 1989 champion at age 17.

“I’m very happy,” Nadal said in his rapidly improving English. “I am in the final. For me, that is very important. It’s a dream for me. I won today against the No. 1.”

With light fading in the final set, Nadal swept the last five games and stopped Federer short in his bid for his first French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam.

“I started bad and finished bad,” Federer said. “I was good in the middle, but that was not good enough.”

Nadal’s opponent Sunday will be unseeded Mariano Puerta, who advanced to his first Grand Slam final by winning the last four games and overtaking a weary Nikolay Davydenko, 6-3, 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

“I’m in paradise,” said Puerta, a nine-year pro. “I’m the happiest man on earth right now.”

Puerta and Nadal will play the first all-lefty men’s final at Roland Garros in the Open era. Nadal will try to become the first man since Mats Wilander in 1982 to win the French Open in his debut.

Justine Henin-Hardenne bids for her fourth Grand Slam championship and her second at Roland Garros when she plays France’s Mary Pierce in the women’s final today.