Nadal reclaims #2 ranking

Rafael Nadal is back to his winning ways on the red clay, taking the Rome Masters title last Monday (the final was scheduled on Sunday but it was washed out by rain) over current chief rival Novak Djokovic. This win was significant on so many levels:

• He moves back up to #2. This means that the earliest he can meet Novak in the upcoming French Open is in the final. Novak is the player who has given Rafa the most trouble in his entire career, so the later he gets to meet his current chief rival, the better.
• That said, he has now beaten his nemesis twice in a row. After losing 7 straight matches - finals, at that! - to Novak, he now seems to have solved the Djokovic riddle. At least on red clay.
• Which is good, because the French Open is played on red clay. Rafa hasn't hasn't lost on this surface so far in 2012
• He also won his 21st Masters title, reclaiming the solo record for most Masters titles. He was tied with Roger Federer at 20 when Roger won in Madrid.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that Rafa can maintain his winning ways. Roland Garros starts in a few days and I really hope Nadal can win his 7th French Open and 11th Grand Slam title.