Why Beating Rafael Nadal Won’t Impact Novak Djokovic’s 2015 French Open

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: April 18, 2015

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Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal, 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. It was Djokovic's fifth clay-court victory over Nadal.

So what?

He can defeat Nadal 100 times on clay, but unless Djokovic does it at the French Open, a victory over the "King of Clay" means nothing.

Once befuddled by Nadal, Djokovic has clearly found a solution to the Spaniard's clay-court prowess.

However, the Serbian's quest to win his first French Open is about more than defeating Nadal. Djokovic's near-misses and miscues at Roland Garros are demons unto themselves.

It's not just the dirt. It's the dirt devils.

Winning the French Open, the one Grand Slam that has eluded Djokovic, will be difficult with or without Nadal in the draw. Djokovic also needs to clear his head of painful losses.

It's more than a clay thing. Nadal holds a 23-20 edge against Djokovic head-to-head. Although most of those wins have come on clay, all five of Djokovic's clay-court victories over Nadal have come in the last four years. Nadal had a nine-match clay-court winning streak against Djokovic until the 2011 World Tour Masters in Madrid.

Djokovic entered that contest on a 33-match winning streak. Nadal had a 37-match winning streak on clay. Djokovic defeated Nadal in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

After the match, Nadal told the BBC, "I came up against a great player obviously—he's having a monster year. He was better, you have to accept that."

Then Djokovic defeated Nadal in Rome, a slower surface than the fast clay at Monte Carlo. It seemed Djokovic had reached a turning point. Yet a few weeks later, Djokovic's 43-match winning streak and quest for a French Open title came to an end in the semifinals against Roger Federer.

Djokovic defeated Nadal at Monte Carlo again in 2013. They met in the semifinals of the French Open that year. Ranked No. 1 and inspired ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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