Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic: Whose Run Is More Impressive?

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have been battling for the entire season. Djokovic has always come out on top. In four ATP World Tour Master 1000 finals, Djokovic is 4-0 vs. Nadal. This week, they entered Nadal's house, Roland Garros, on the red clay in Paris.

Nadal has taken five of the past six titles in Paris, including last year where he didn't drop a set through all seven matches. The only blip in his dominance was a loss to Robin Soderling two years ago, when Nadal was fighting bad tendinitis in both his knees. Despite a tough five-setter to open his newest campaign, Nadal is still the favorite to make the final in a relatively weak draw.

On the other side, Novak Djokovic is trying to improve on another incredible record. After cruising past his first two opponents, he has an unbelievable 41-match win streak. He has started the year 39-0 (with two wins dating from last year's Davis cup) and has beaten fellow top four players—Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray—a combined 9 times.

These two players have had contrasting runs into third round this week. Djokovic has continued the theme of routing his opponents, losing only 14 games during the first two matches. Nadal needed five sets to take out American giant John Isner, and then labored in three tough sets against compatriot Pablo Andujar in Round 2. 

Next round, however, Djokovic takes on Juan Martin Del Potro, the 25th seed, while Nadal battles unknown qualifier Antionio Veic. Del Potro, who was once ranked world No. 4 and won the 2009 US Open before a wrist injury made his ranking plummet to No. 484. His dramatic rise has shot him back into the top 30. Veic, on the other hand, has only one win overall on tour this season.

Both still are expecting to see each other on the opposite side of the net on June 5th, but until then, this rivalry opens up some very interesting questions.

First, whose run is more impressive? And, more importantly, whose run will end first?

I think that had Nadal won the 2009 French, his record would be better. However, Djokovic's numbers this years are simply out of this world. He has cruised past great opposition, won a major, and beaten the world No. 1 player four consecutive times.

Nadal's run is more, well, important, because Slams are what most fans look at. But Djokovic is just about to have to longest start-of-year win streak ever. He's writing history. This streak, for a player who wasn't even second best entering the year, is ridiculous.

Although, for the second question I pick Nadal.

Yes, Novak has outplayed him—dominated him, even on his favorite surface—but Nadal will win the match in Paris. Novak has barely been tested this year, and in Nadal's house, with fans rooting for him, it will be a test. A lot of times, when you've soared past all opposition, when you run into trouble, you crumble. Sure, Djokovic has amazing mental toughness, but Nadal has a lot to prove, and his mental game helps him win, and it's always there during Slams.

A Nadal win would give him a sixth crown at Roland Garros, and would make everybody rethink this argument.