French Open 2012: Rafael Nadal Won't Be Seriously Challenged Until Final
If anyone has a chance to even get Rafael Nadal's attention at the 2012 French Open, it'll be Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer in the men's final.
Rafa hadn't lost more than three games in a set through two rounds, and he clearly has his game face on. He continued his dominance on Saturday with a straight-sets win over Eduardo Schwank (6-1, 6-3, 6-4).
It's possible he's still upset at losing on the blue clay at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Madrid. Though it is a different surface than the traditional clay he and other players are accustomed to, it still counts as a clay-court loss. That is something Rafa simply doesn't experience often.
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Nadal is a nasty 247-19 on clay in his career. That's a win percentage of just under 93 percent and that includes an amazing 35 titles on the soft stuff.
He and Djokovic, who also fell at Madrid, whined about the surface and vowed not to return unless it was replaced. While Nadal and Djokovic cried over the blue clay, Federer took the tournament.
Nadal subsequently went on to World Tour Masters 1000 in Rome and set the clay-court world back on its axis.
He defeated Djokovic in straight sets (7-5, 6-3) there to steady himself heading into Roland Garros. Rafa hasn't missed a step at the French Open. He has punished his opponents with his relentless and seemingly tireless style, and I don't see anyone giving him a scare until the end.
Nadal and Djokovic have had some memorable matches in the past, but Djokovic has never seriously threatened Nadal at the French Open. In three previous meetings at Roland Garros, Nadal hasn't dropped a set to him.
That said, the last meeting was in 2008, and Djokovic is a better player now than he was then.
Djokovic was a ridiculous 73-6 in 2011 and has become the world's No. 1-ranked player. Djokovic is in position to give Nadal his best effort at Roland Garros to date. It is the only Grand Slam he has yet to capture in his career.
As for Federer, he and Nadal's rivalry runs deep. The two have met in the French Open five times, with four of those meetings taking place in the final. Nadal has won every one of them.
He has won the French Open six times overall, including the last two years, and I think he's destined for a three-peat. He is healthy, fired-up, playing well and on his surface of choice.
Either Federer or Djokovic will give Nadal his toughest match, but in the end a motivated and healthy Nadal is nearly unbeatable on clay.
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