Nadal seals Magnificent Seven

Nadal Dominence at Roland Garros continues

The undoubted 'King of Clay'. Rafael Nadal produced another masterful performance to win an incredible 7th French Open title at Roland Garros yesterday. The Spanish World Number 2 defeated Novak Djokovic in a rain-affected final in 4 sets with a 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 win. World Number One Djokovic was simply outgunned and outplayed by the powerful groundstrokes as well as being worn down by the sheer fitness and mental strength of Nadal. 

The victory gave Nadal his 11th Grand Slam and meant that he now surpassed the great Bjorn Borg record of six French open titles and asks the question is Nadal the greatest Clay court player of all time? Djokovic was aiming to become only the fourth man in history to hold all four of the Grand Slam at the same time. 

Djokovic shows his frustration

Serbian Djokovic (left) fought bravely however constantly found himself on the defensive unable to really attack Nadal. The weather affected the final just as it had done throughout the tournament.  The wet conditions on Sunday night seemed to frustrate Nadal who amazingly lost 8 consecutive games before play was suspended and ended for the day. After convincingly losing the first two sets Djokovic had suddenly won the third and was a break up in the fourth at 2-1. However when play resumed on Monday the dry but testing conditions put Djokovic serve immediately under pressure. When his  forehand flicked the tape and went out to make it 2-2 the body language of both players was a complete contrast to what had been seen the previous night. Nadal looked re-energised whereas Djokovic knew the chance he had missed and let his frustration show as he smashed his head with his racket strings. The momentum was back with Nadal who from that moment never looked in danger serving to love twice as he dominated his serve. Compare this to Djokovic who looked very vulnerable and despite the immense mental strength he has shown against the likes of Federer, Tsonga and Nadal in the past saving match-points he looked a beaten man. The match ended on a bit of a anti-climax as Djokovic double-faulted to end a run of three straight Grand Slam titles and gave Nadal his seventh French Open win in the last eight years. 

At the beginning of the year I outlined my predictions and hopes for the coming year in the world of tennis. Djokovic had just won a thrilling Australian Open final and predictions of a Djokovic domination were constant. In my prediction I thought that Nadal would again win the French Open due to his ultimate domination of the clay surface. This prediction was correct, and on this years showing at only 26 should Nadal stay injury free I can see him winning at least the next four French Opens titles. Never in my lifetime have I witnessed such a domination. The closest is the great Federer at both Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows. Roland Garros remains the only Grand Slam tournament in which Djokovic has not beat Nadal. 

For Djokovic his attentions will now turn to retaining his Wimbledon title. This is very realistic ambition. For me he has to be the favourite and if he were to meet Nadal in the final my money would be on Djokovic. I do expect Djokovic to have a good Wimbledon, however I would like to see him meet the great, King of Grass, Roger Federer. Unfortunately Federer has not had a good Wimbledon in the last two years. They have never met on grass and for me this would be a great contest. Also  it saddens me to see people seeing Federer as a semi-finalist and not a winner anymore. For any great on the way down it is his best surface which will always be last to leave him. As a result this would be a great test. If Djokovic were to beat Federer it would for me signal the end. However from a personal view point I do believe that Federer can beat him. As I said at the beginning of the year, it is my hope that Roger Federer can win Wimbledon and equal Pete Sampras' record. My heart says Federer however my head would say Djokovic. 

Nadal will also be targeting a return to winning ways at Wimbledon and with British hope Andy Murray playing in Jubilee year it does promise to be a fascinating Wimbledon, all to hope for now is that the rain stays away. 

Comment Welcome.