Nadal vs. Djokovic: How Suspension of Play Will Affect Final

The first rain delay seemed to eventually aid Novak Djokovic, who stole the momentum after dropping the first two sets in the French Open final.

Will suspension of the match until Monday (5 a.m. EDT) benefit Rafael Nadal?

Unfortunately for Djokovic, I think it will. When the conditions weren't so soggy earlier in the day, Nadal looked borderline unbeatable. He took the first two sets, 6-4 and 6-3, and Djokovic looked visibly frustrated throughout the match.

But Djokovic recovered. After trailing in the third set, 2-0, he turned his game on, winning the set and eight-straight games. It was the first set that Nadal has lost in the tournament, and Djokovic wasn't done, breaking Nadal in the fourth set and taking a 2-1 lead.

And that's when the rains finally halted play for good on Sunday.

Much like Djokovic needed a reboot early in play, Nadal surely needed one late. Tennis is a game of momentum, and Djokovic had all of it in the fourth set.

Ultimately, I think this one is heading for a final set. I don't think Djokovic is going to blow his opportunity to win the fourth with a break on his side. But Nadal will make him work, regaining some of the momentum and setting up a truly epic final set with history laying in the balance.

And in the end, I think Nadal will earn his seventh French Open title (in the last eight years, nonetheless), surpassing Bjorn Borg for the most Roland Garros championships in history and tying Borg in third place all time with his 11th Grand Slam title.

Djokovic will only be able to look toward the heavens and curse the rain for stealing his momentum en route to a fourth-straight Grand Slam title.

What an exciting era it is at the top of the men's game.

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