TENNIS in DEPTH.

Novak Djokovic may have been unable to end Rafael Nadal’s amazing run of results at Monte Carlo but the Serb firmly believes he has the world number one’s number on clay heading into next month’s French Open.

Nadal claimed his fifth successive Monte Carlo Masters title with a 6-3 2-6 6-1 win over Djokovic in Sunday’s final and he continues to look unbeatable on his favoured surface, but world number three Djokovic produced what he felt was his best performance against the Spaniard on the dirt.

With the Roland Garros grand slam a month away, Djokovic reckons he has the weapons to dismantle the Mallorcan on clay, saying: “Playing him on this surface is in itself a true challenge to find the right tactics. But I really believe that one day I can beat him on this surface. I can do it.”

He added: “Because I have already produced solid matches against him on clay and now I really see how he plays.

“I will have to raise my level still further, as I did in the second set here.”

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