Rafael Nadal Has Confidence to Beat Djokovic at French Open After Win in Rome

The pressure was truly on Rafael Nadal after his shocking loss in the third round of the Madrid Open. And just like that, after a win over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Rome, it's all gone.

Perfect timing, with the French Open looming a few days away.

After losing to Fernando Verdasco in Madrid earlier in May, Nadal was smart enough to know he'd be just fine for the Rome Masters a week later. Though it seemed like he was making excuses at the time, he was smart to blame his inefficiency in Madrid on the slippery blue surfaces; that way, he knew that when the time came to win on traditional red clay—on which he boasts a 16-1 record—he'd be his old self.

And it worked. Nadal beat Djokovic to win his sixth Rome Masters, and now he'll use that momentum to propel himself toward a historical seventh French Open title.

Beating Djokovic was no easy feat for Nadal. He'd lost to Djokovic seven times in a row before recently beating him two consecutive times. Now, Nadal is gunning to make it a third.

After his victory in Rome, Nadal acknowledged that it couldn't have come at a better time. He told The Independent: 

"

Winning is important, when you lose you play with doubts. This was an important match. I will put this trophy in my bedroom. It is a dream of confidence I am playing well. This comes when I play at the right level, hopefully I'll keep playing like this. 

"

And now, the pressure has transitioned from Nadal's shoulders squarely onto those of Djokovic, who is aiming to win his fourth Grand Slam after taking Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open.

A win over Nadal could've done wonders for Djokovic's confidence, too, but instead, he'll have to find a way to do exactly what Nadal did after his loss in Madrid.

And despite beating Nadal seven times in the past, Djokovic knows that your most recent loss is the only one that matters.

He told The Independent, "[Nadal] is always the favorite, even if I win against him seven times; he is the best player in the world on this surface."

In his quest to become the first man to win the French Open seven times, Nadal is in a better position than ever to prevent his rival from making his own history. All Nadal has to do is maintain his confidence and keep this momentum going. If he accomplishes that, history is within his reach.