Nadal Wins French Open 2012

Well, the pictures say it all. We can perhaps rename the French Open as the Nadal Open.

I couldn't watch the game today as the earlier start meant that I was still at work seeing patients while the match resumed after yesterday's rain delay. Fortunately, my wife recorded it for me and messaged me with updates.

I was hesitant about posting last night actually, especially after Djokovic won 8 games in a row from 0-2 down in the third set to win the set 6-2 and was leading 2-0 in the fourth set before Nadal won a game and the match was suspended again a second time with Nadal 1-2 behind in the fourth set.

I was afraid as the 2 previous times I wrote about Nadal, he lost.

After the rain delay, momentum was clearly on Djokovic's side as the soggier conditions clearly favoured him with Nadal unable to hit top spins properly as the balls became heavier due to the rain.

With his win, Nadal surpassed Bjorn Borg for the most number of French Open titles in history and tied him for the third most Grand Slam titles at 11. Only Pete Sampras and Roger Federer are ahead now with 14 and 16 titles respectively.

After losing the Australian Open to Djokovic early this year, Nadal has beaten him in their last 3 meetings. Dare I say, Wimbledon here we come.

*Pictures from AFP

History Will Be Made

While watching the French Open between Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic, I felt a sudden urge the write this down. Whatever the outcome, regardless who wins, history will be made.

If Rafa wins, he will be the owner of 7 French Open crowns, a brand new record. (Currently he is tied with Bjorn Borg with 6 titles each). If Novak wins, he will be the first player in the Open Era to hold all four majors since Rod Laver last achieved it in 1969.

So, can Novak pull it off? Well, I'm not even talking about Novak winning the French Open, not yet. My question is can he even beat Nadal in Paris?

They are meeting for the 33rd time, and playing the fourth straight Grand Slam final. Rafa leads 18-14 but has lost the last 3 Grand Slam finals. In fact, Nadal lost all seven times he play Djokovic last year. This year though, he's won the last 2 finals they played in Monte Carlo and Rome on his beloved red clay.

Djokovic saved four match points against Tsonga in the quarter finals and in the semis against Federer was 0-3 down in the second set, but broke Federer while Federer was serving for that set and won the set and match eventually.

Nadal hasn't lost a set so far in Paris this year and look most likely to wrenched back control of the rivalry, well at least on clay. Nadal's record here is currently an amazing 51-1, yes 51 victories and just 1 loss.

Either way, it's gonna be a history making match. No prizes for guessing I'll be rooting for Nadal.

Nadal leads 6-4, 5-3 and the match is temporarily suspended because of rain.....

*Picture by Mike Hewitt/ Getty Images