Novak Djokovic targets French Open after beating Nadal
- Published
Djokovic is closing in on Nadal's world number one ranking
Novak Djokovic set his sights on dethroning Rafael Nadal at the French Open after ending the Spaniard's unbeaten clay-court run in Madrid.
The Serbian defeated Nadal 7-5 6-4 to win the Madrid Open and take his winning start to 2011 to 32 matches.
And the two-time Australian Open champion is now targeting Paris.
"Probably because of my winning streak and because I am in the shape of a lifetime I am one of the favourites to win the title," said Djokovic.
"But Rafa has only lost one match there and I think he is still right up there above everybody else.
"It is my goal to try to go all the way at Roland Garros and I am definitely setting my form up for that tournament.
"I just started the clay-court season. It was a perfect start and I need to really stay dedicated and focused."
Djokovic has now won six titles in 2011, including the Australian Open, and stretching back to last year his winning run is 34 matches - placing him ninth on the all-time list.
The victory on Sunday also takes him past Bjorn Borg with the second-best start to an ATP season on 32 victories, behind John McEnroe's 42 in 1984.
That run came to an end when the American lost the French Open final to Ivan Lendl, after being two sets up, but Djokovic insists he is not thinking about records.
"I know this run I have is really incredible but I try not to think about how long it's going to go and when I am going to lose," he said.
"It's about how many more wins I am going to have. I try to think about winning."
Nadal retains a healthy lead over Djokovic in the world rankings but having won the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open last year, the Spaniard fears he too many points to defend against the in-form Serbian.
"The number one ranking is not in danger, the number one has already gone," said Nadal, who saw his winning streak of 37 matches on clay brought to an end after nearly two years.
"You must be doing something very good if you are winning every match. When he plays with that confidence he is very difficult to beat.
"He was always very good I think, I don't think he has improved anything huge recently."