Rafael Nadal, four-time French Open champion, said what counts at any grand slam is the title rather than who one beats in the final, ahead of his Wimbledon decider against five-time champion Roger Federer.
Nadal and Federer, the world number one, will meet in their third successive Wimbledon final on Sunday.
Nadal's rivalry with Federer has been marked by the Spaniard's dominance of the Swiss on clay at Roland Garros and the reverse on the grass of the All England Club.
"This has been a time in which I have always had to face the best," Nadal said of the succession of finals in which he has met Federer since 2005.
"That makes it more complicated to win."
The 22-year-old has beaten Federer in the last three French Open finals after winning their first Roland Garros encounter in the 2005 semi-finals, and leads their overall head-to-head record 11-6.
The Spaniard has allowed Federer only one victory in their 10 meetings on clay, at the German Open last year.
Federer, 26, has won their two Wimbledon finals with last year's match going to five sets.
Best in history
Nadal said the fact that he had crushed Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 in the French Open final last month had no real bearing on the Wimbledon decider.
"I'm convinced that he has to be the favourite... also because he is the number one," said Nadal.
"It's logical to have a slump at some time. You have to go through a slump in order to win the great tournaments."
Federer has worked his way back from a tough start to the year after a bout of glandular fever, and did not win a title until Estoril in April, a slow start by his standards, and has added only the Halle title on grass.
"I think he's the best player in history, I don't know on grass," said Nadal.
"[Pete] Sampras has seven," he added, referrring to the American's Wimbledon record.
"Hopefully he [Federer] has five. I hope not six."