Vive Le French Open

Who can stop Rafa in Paris?

Men's side

Novak Djokovic will arrive at Roland Garros seven wins away from becoming the first man for 43 years to hold all four Grand Slam titles concurrently - the only trouble is one of his victims will probably have to be clay-court king Rafael Nadal.

The 25-year-old Serb will be seeded one at the French Open, courtesy of the top ranking that goes with being the current Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion.

However, few will mark him down as favorite with Nadal, who Djokovic calls the "ultimate challenge" on clay, peaking at just the right time to chase a seventh Paris title and move him ahead of Bjorn Borg in the pantheon of Roland Garros champions.

Last year, Djokovic began in Paris on a clay-court roll after beating Nadal in the Madrid and Rome finals - only to fall to an inspired Roger Federer in the semifinals.

His form this year has been impressive, if not quite as spectacular as last year when he won his first 41 matches of 2011 before the four-set loss to Federer.

He has also relinquished his iron-like hold over Nadal - losing in the Monte Carlo and Rome finals having won his previous seven matches against the Mallorcan powerhouse.

Having beaten a rejuvenated Federer in the Rome semis, however, and with world No 4 Andy Murray not in the best form or fitness, there appear few natural barriers to prevent Djokovic facing his day of destiny on June 10.

"It's there, the possibility to win four Grand Slams in a row but I am going to prepare as I prepare for any other big event, with more focus," Djokovic said after his 7-5, 6-3 defeat by Nadal in the Italian capital, a match that was too close to call for much of a brutal first set.

Few adjustments

"The French Open is the only Grand Slam that I haven't played in the finals so it's a hard task but I feel good and I'm always motivated in France."

Should he win his first French Open title Djokovic would join Australia's Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) and American Don Budge (1938) as holders of all four slams at the same time.

To achieve it now, however, would be a considerably greater feat as back then three of the four slams were played on grass whereas now players must master three surfaces.

Another title for Nadal would leave little room for argument about the left-hander's credentials as the greatest clay-court player of all time.

After beating Federer in last year's final to draw level with Borg, Nadal failed to win another tournament until last month in Monte Carlo - a worrying gap that revived questions about the effect his playing style was having on his body.

He then won in Barcelona and, apart from a blip on Madrid's experimental blue clay when he lost to fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, Nadal has looked supreme.

Getting the better of Djokovic in Monte Carlo and Rome would have given him an enormous boost.

"I think this win is important psychologically," Nadal said after claiming a sixth Rome title.

"The clay-court season was better for me (this year) apart from the mistake of Madrid. I am playing well and at the right level in my opinion."

NOTE

France's Gael Monfils withdrew from the French Open on Thursday after failing to recover from a right knee injury, dealing a major blow to home hopes of ending a 29-year wait for a men's champion.

Reuters in Paris