Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 2012: Why Fans Should Be Rooting for Rafael Nadal

If you love rivalries and the sport of tennis, then you should be rooting for clay king Rafael Nadal this weekend at the 2012 Monte Carlo Rolex Masters in Monaco.

The 25-year-old is arguably the greatest tennis player of all-time on clay and will be the man to beat on the unique playing surface in 2012.

So, why should you root for the explosive former No. 1?

Root for the Rivalry

The world No. 2 finds himself in the midst of an intensely growing rivalry with the world's No. 1 ranked player, Novak Djokovic as the clay-court season begins.

Unfortunately for Nadal and tennis enthusiasts, however, Djokovic has taken the last seven meetings between the two players, including January's Australian Open final in Melbourne, which nearly lasted six hours.

However close it was and still is between Nole and Rafa, though, the epic duel, which many believed to be an emerging rivalry, is in danger of becoming one-sided.

Whatever little bit of confidence Nadal has left after coming up short in the last three Grand Slam finals to Djokovic will be put to use this spring as the two superstars take to the clay to add to their respective legacies.

Root for History

Nadal has won at Monte Carlo seven consecutive times dating back to 2005 and is the only player in the Open era to win seven-straight titles at the same tournament.

Nadal has won six of the past seven French Open tournaments at Roland Garros and joined Bjorn Borg in 2011 as the only other player since 1925 to have won at least six times on the historic clay at Paris.

An eighth consecutive title at the Monte Carlo Masters would springboard Nadal into another strong clay season and potentially his 11th career Grand Slam at the French this June.

Root for an Encore

Despite Nadal's greatness on clay over the past seven years, his most jaw-dropping on-court achievements are likely behind him.

Djokovic has taken the last two clay-court meetings from Nadal, both straight-set tournament final wins in 2011. The Serbian took down the then-top-ranked Spaniard 7-5, 6-4 in Madrid before besting him just one week later, 6-4, 6-4 in Rome. Before 2011, Nadal was 9-0 against Djokovic on clay.

Assuming that Nadal's knee holds up through the next three rounds of action in Monaco, the two are poised to meet in Sunday's final, where Rafael Nadal can turn the tide of his 2012 season and restore his rivalry with Novak Djokovic, all while maintaining his dominance on the red surface.

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