Novak Djokovic remains undefeated heading into the French Open. Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in the finals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia Open. Djokovic is now 39-0 going back to December and 37-0 to begin this season. He has a chance to pass John McEnroe who started a season 42-0. Most likely that will happen at the French Open. This latest tournament was the second straight clay court event in which these two men have met in this season. Djokovic beat Nadal twice in eight days. Now, he has qualified for the ATP World Finals in London for a fifth straight season. Djokovic beat Nadal for the fourth time this year in a final of an ATP Masters 1000 event. Djokovic is in striking distance of claiming the number one ranking in the world. He had a chance to take that ranking going into the French Open, but Nadal had to lose before the semi-finals of the event. However, Nadal made it to the final of the Rome Masters event therefore Nadal would be ranked number one at the French Open.
Djokovic won his ninth ATP Masters 1000 crown and his fourth of the season. He is the first player to win four Masters 1000 event titles in the same season since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal each won four apiece in 2005. Djokovic won the match in straight sets, and he dominated from the opening ball. Novak was the one who was suppose to be tired since he just played an epic semifinal with Andy Murray the night before. This type of court was Rafael Nadal’s favorite surface, and he has a reputation not to lose on it. He has lost twice on clay in two weeks. Djokovic has become the first player to defeat Nadal on clay twice in one season.
Djokovic is one of the favorites to win the French Open. There were a lot of critics of Djokovic heading into the clay court season. After he defeated Nadal twice on hard courts in Indian Wells and Miami, coming from a set down each time. Critics said wait until he gets to the clay court season to see how he body holds up. In Madrid, Djokovic defeated Nadal for the first time on clay ever. However, that tournament was played in altitude, and many players felt the court played more like a hard court rather than a clay court. There was talk that wait until they play on the slower clay in Rome and Paris. Well Djokovic defeated Nadal on the slower clay in Rome. His next objective is to beat Nadal in the best three out of five sets at Roland Garros.
Djokovic is playing like he is ranked number one in the world. While he had some scares in some matches, he is showing mental and physical toughness. He is sending a message that he wants to be number one in the world. Nadal had a such a great clay court season last year where he won the ATP Masters 1000 events in Monte Carlo, Rome, and Madrid. Not to mention he reclaimed his French Open title. There were a lot of points to defend and no one expected him to sweep the clay court season again. There are interesting storylines going in the French Open. The tournament begins Sunday May 22nd. Diokovic’s goal will be to un-seed Nadal as the number one player in the world.