2014 will not be the first time Novak Djokovic enters the Red Clay season in great form. In 2011 he was the player to beat. He even defeated Nadal in two Masters finals, in Rome and Madrid. Had it not been for Roger Federer playing the match of his life in their Roland Garros semi-final, Djokovic might have the career slam.
In 2012, Djokovic also had his chances. Ranked no. 1, he made it to the final and for a set and a half he knocked Nadal off the heavy damp courts. But the match was suspended, the sun came out the next day, and with it Djokovic’s chances went out the window.
And in 2013, Djokovic, again ranked number 1, beat Nadal in his kingdom of Monte Carlo no less. Then at the French Open, Djokovic led Nadal in the fifth set by a break, but was unable to capitalize in yet another controversial meeting in which, while leading and attacking Nadal with an aggressive game plan, his racket touched the net losing him an important point and knocking his confidence.
Three big chances all come and gone. And 2014 represents a fourth.
This time, Djokovic comes in as the second best player in the world on the 12 month ranking system. But he is very much the best player in the world on current form.
He has won the Indian Wells-Miami double, has beaten Nadal in their last three finals since Beijing 2013 and although he suffered a loss to Wawrinka in Melbourne, he is very much the player to beat the last six months.
Meanwhile, Nadal has rarely looked more vulnerable going into the clay season.
The Spaniard has only won 2 tournaments in 2014, both ATP 500 ones, and the game that brought him the US Open, the French Open and five Masters 1000 titles seems to have deserted him.
And few players know how to get the better off Nadal than Djokovic. The Serbian beat the Spaniard in seven consecutive finals over 2011-12. Djokovic keeps the balls flat and low bouncing, opens the court to go down the line to the Nadal backhand, and has the confidence to step inside the court and take on short balls.
Djokovic has said that last year he was too focused on Roland Garros and that this year he was going to try and relax. A relaxed Djokovic with all the experience he has on clay- he has won every ATP1000 title on the stuff-and with how well his game matches up with Nadal is a dangerous prospect for the rest of the field.
While beating Nadal over five sets on Phillipe Chatrier is something only Robin Soderling has achieved, if anyone is going to do it, it is going to be Djokovic. Should he achieve that feat, he would have the career slam and his seventh Major.
Big numbers for a big-hearted guy.
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