PARIS (AFP) - Big-hitting Fernando Gonzalez has a 2008 claycourt record that even Rafael Nadal can't match, but it could end in a whimper against Roger Federer in the French Open quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The 24th seeded Chilean has yet to lose a match on clay this year.

He clinched the title at Vina del Mar on home ground in January winning four matches before taking the title when scheduled final opponnent Juan Monaco pulled out injured.

The 27-year-old, the oldest player in the last eight, then won five more matches on his way to the Munich claycourt crown in April before adding two more wins in Rome before injury forced him to hand third round opponent Nicolas Almagro a walkover.

"Maybe this year is an accident that I haven't lost a match on clay. I've been improving my game, and I'm really happy to keep doing it here in the French Open," said Gonzalez.

Despite his record, Gonzalez will be the overwhelming underdog against the world number one having lost 10 of the pair's 11 meetings, including a straight sets third round loss here in 2005.

That day, the Chilean fired turbo-charged forehands at the Swiss superstar throughout a first set of brutal hitting which Federer edged on a tiebreak.

Gonzalez, who put out Swiss ninth seed Stanilas Wawrinka in the third round after coming back from two sets down, steadily ran out of steam and Federer coasted to victory.

"I don't have a really good record against Roger, but we've played many good matches and I really enjoy it," he said.

"Because, after him, there's nobody else. He's No. 1 you have nothing to lose."

Federer, who still needs a French Open to complete a career Grand Slam and add to his 12 majors, is still to hit top gear at Roland Garros as he bids to reach a third successive final.

He's braced for a typical all-out Gonzalaz assault from the start on Wednesday.

"He can go on a great roll at times. But you've got to go against it," said Federer.

"He's a dangerous player. I think that clay's probably his preferred surface. He's got one of the best forehands on the tour, so I'll have to be careful."