Rafael Nadal: Second-Ranked Star Will Deny Novak Djokovic His Missing Major

Novak Djokovic, the world's top-ranked tennis star, will attempt to notch his fourth-straight Grand Slam title. He'll fall short in the French Open, though, which is the only major to elude him thus far in his career. 

Rafael Nadal is ranked second to Djokovic but has has the advantage on Roland Garros' clay courts.

In 2011 it was Roger Federer who finished off Djokovic in the semi-finals...his last loss in a major. 

The finals seem almost inevitable for Djokovic in 2012. As the draw falls, he will likely face Nadal in his bid to be the first male player to win four consecutive major tournaments since Rod Laver accomplished it in 1969. 

As the player who currently stopped Djokovic from that feat, Federer offered some unique perspective. He missed the feat twice, both times at the French Open. He lost to Nadal in the finals in 2006 and 2007. According to Federer:

"

The hard part is (the) same for everyone: Every point you play, every game you play, the pressure you face, and just answering the questions time and time again. It's fun, because you're talking about the highest of accomplishments. But at the end of the day, you just like to play the matches and not talk about it that much. (h/t to Fox News)

"

Nadal has the edge on Djokovic on clay, though. Nadal lost seven of nine finals to Djokovic since last season. His only two wins came on clay.

Nadal added another clay-court final win in 2011. He beat Federer in the finals of the French Open, marking his sixth title in the last seven years. He is 45-1 in the tournament, his lone loss coming in 2009.

It isn't just that Nadal beat Djokovic in their two clay matches last season. He did it in convincing fashion, notching straight-set wins both times.

Djokovic will look to redeem himself in the semifinals against Federer, who will have his eyes set on another shot at beating Nadal in the French Open.

The drive for a fourth-straight major title will be too much for Federer to match.

Unfortunately for Djokovic, Nadal's superior clay play will end his pursuit.

But one should be careful when calling this a possible Grand Slam in front of Laver. "People will say, 'He's going for a Grand Slam.' And I say, 'No, he's not doing that.' That wasn't the way this whole thing was set up," Laver said.

"It starts in January and ends in September—starts with the Australian Open and ends with the U.S. Open," he continued.

Regardless of what one wants to call the feat, it is significant all the same.

But Nadal will save Laver the need to explain how his true Grand Slam (accomplished twice in his career) is superior. He will be too much for Djokovic on the clay court he has dominated over his career.