Is there a jinx for Rafael Nadal in 2008? Hardly. he will be world No.1 by the end of the season and Novak Djokovic should be second. Roger Federer will lose his position to his two younger tennis rivals and will probably never regain his place at the top of the rankings.

It was only a matter of time before Nadal showed the tennis world just what he was capable of in 2008. Although he had no tournament victories in the first three months of the year, Nadal had been consistent with a quarter and semi-final appearances.

It was in Miami though that Nadal showed his first signs of really being in form. He reached the final there and although destroyed by Nikolay Davydenko in straight sets the tournament gave Nadal the confidence he needed for the clay court season - the most important and fruitful period of his season by far.

'It was in Miami that Nadal showed his first signs of really being in form'


Nadal's first tournament on clay this year was last week in Monte Carlo but it didn't show. The Spaniard looked like he had been playing on clay all year hitting shot after shot and playing long rallies to great success. He destroyed the field in the Masters Series event including most of the world's top current ATP tour players.

He was unstoppable and won the title in Monte Carlo for an unprecedented fourth year in a row, showing just how brilliant he is on the clay courts.

There have been many clay court kings of recent years such as Sergei Brugera, Gustavo Kuerten and Thomas Muster, but Nadal is the king of them all. Anyone who thought 2008 would be a poor year for the youngster had better think again. Nadal's season has only just started and there is more success around the corner.

In Barcelona this week Nadal is already into the semi-finals and looks set to again defend his trophy from last year. He should ease past Denis Gremelmayr in the semis and then will probably face Spanish compatriot David Ferrer in the final. I feel Ferrer is the second best clay court player on the tour at present and it will be interesting to see how the players approach the game.

Nadal has complained that the clay court season is gruelling and packed with high-class tournaments too close together - but he still keeps winning!

He has nothing to complain about. He is likely to continue his great form by winning the Masters series in Rome and Hamburg before going on to win a fantastic fourth consecutive French Open title at Roland Garros which starts the end of the month.

Nadal is simply unstoppable and his 2008 season is certainly not jinxed. He will have success on a great scale and although his rivals may fall away, he will revel in the busy clay court period.