Rafael Nadal Assumes Control of Rivalry with Novak Djokovic with French Open Win

It seemed that Novak Djokovic had overtaken Rafael Nadal as the premier tennis player in the world, but Rafa stomped that notion with his triumph in the French Open final on Monday.

Djokovic had won 10 of the last 12 matches that the two had played, including seven straight wins in tournament finals. Djoker had beaten Nadal in the finals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2011, but 2012 is Rafa's year.

After losing the first match he played against Djokovic in 2012 at the Australian Open, Nadal has turned the tides and won their last three meetings, all coming in the final match of a tournament.

He won at Monte Carlo 6-3, 6-1 in dominant fashion, taking just 78 minutes to win. The Italian Open was more of the same as Rafa won that meeting 7-5, 6-3.

Two straight wins in less than major tournaments didn't satisfy Nadal. He didn't make quick work of Djokovic at the French Open, but he was able to come away with his record seventh French Open title, winning 6–4, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5.

Sure, the last three matches they have played took place on clay, but Djokovic had won the previous two matches on clay before this year. He made a rivalry out of a series that Nadal once led 16-7, pushing it all the way to 16-14 before the calendar changed to 2012.

The 2012 French Open will be looked back on as a renewal of Nadal's dominance over Djokovic. He's the best serve returner in the sport, he's always been one of the fastest and it's nearly impossible to get the ball by him.

Nothing is as powerful as momentum. That much can be seen in Djokovic's 2011 sweep of Nadal when he won all six matches the two played against one another. Now that Nadal has gone on a run, he's not going to slow down.

That's not to say that Djokovic won't regain control in this rivalry sometime down the road, but for the time being, Nadal is at the top of tennis despite his No. 2 ATP ranking.

Djokovic always gives Nadal a hard time, but Nadal has been brilliant in his last few matches against the world No. 1. He's been consistently aggressive and has kept Djoker on his toes with some great counter shots 

The next time these two have a chance to meet in a major final will be in Wimbledon at the end of June. You'd be wise to put your money on Nadal winning his third Wimbledon championship if he meets Djokovic in the final.