Nadal down but not out ahead of Paris showpiece

At the Foro Italico on Sunday the world's top two players squared off in a Masters Series final for the fourth time this season, and for the fourth time in a row Novak Djokovic defeated the world number one, Rafael Nadal. At Indian Wells and Miami, on hard courts, Djokovic was required to recover from one set down to lift the title. At Madrid and Rome, on clay, the surface that has become synonymous with the muscle-bound Mallorcan, Djokovic did not cede a single set in two finals that have not quite - at least not quite yet - shaken the foundations of clay court tennis, but have served to rattle the unfaltering self-belief of Nadal.

Before the European clay court season the question being asked was whether Nadal could complete a second consecutive sweep of all three Masters tournaments and the French Open. Despite a record seventh triumph in Barcelona, the inquest has undergone a seismic shift; can Nadal beat Djokovic? Can anyone, for that matter? The Serbian number two has slashed Nadal's considerable lead in the ATP ranking to just 405 points, is undefeated in 37 matches in 2011 and has won all seven tournaments he has entered this season. Only one other player, Nikolay Davydenko, has beaten Nadal four times on the spin, each time on a hard court, the Russian's preferred hunting ground. Djokovic's prodigious form has made Nadal the prey on the Spaniard's red brick home.

The world's top players will reconvene in Paris from Sunday for the denouement to the clay leg of the season, where if Djokovic continues in this vein, Nadal could be stripped not only of his Roland Garros crown but also the number-one ranking; Djokovic will assume the mantle if he reaches the final. Nadal could find himself an emperor in need of a new suit before the grass season, but a five-set match is a different mindset to three. "I was amazed by the way I played," said the Serb after the Rome final. "This was maybe my best performance on clay to beat the best in the world in straight sets. Let's get something straight - he's still the king of clay. He's the best ever on these courts. Winning twice against him has given me confidence going into France but he has been very dominant over the years."

Nadal, who is seeking a sixth French Open title to equal Björn Borg's record, has only lost once in Paris. "He's playing the best right now," the Spaniard said. "In the last few months he's been at a different level. He's doing amazing things. The big champions are not just those that are able to win every week but those that are able to wait until the right moment."