Rafael Nadal - French Open Men's Tennis Players

Rafael Nadal is on a mission in Paris - he only need lift the 2008 men's singles title at Roland Garros to equal the record of four consecutive wins set by the legendary Swede, Bjorn Borg in 1981.

It is almost impossible to conceive that the dominant young player of clay could falter in his quest for his fourth successive French Open crown, especially since he is unbeaten in the tournament, having won all 21 of his matches over the three years he has contested the event.

Nadal's playing style is literally perfect for clay court competition - he is a vicious and accurate counterpuncher employing powerful topspin, he prefers to play from deep in the court and he moves with tremendous speed and agility leaving his opponent's flat footed and on the defensive. He has proved that he is, however, a consummate professional and has worked on all aspects of his game and is now considered to be a well-rounded all-court expert!

Nadal is virtually invincible on the clay of Europe and he has several consecutive victories in the Masters Series under his belt - he has claimed a trio of wins at both the Monte Carlo and Rome Masters, and made tennis history when he claimed 81 straight clay court wins - the longest winning streak in the open era. Of his 23 career wins, 18 have been on clay, and his career win/loss record on the surface is a remarkable 133/13!

Nadal has also denied the world number one, Roger Federer, the French Open crown on two occasions, thereby eliminating the emperor of tennis from achieving the most sought after feat in tennis lore, the elusive career grand slam, and all indications are that he could well add to Federer's downfall all over again in 2008.

Nadal had a fantastic 2007 season - he reached the final three rounds of every single ATP grand slam and masters tournament he played in, apart from the US Open and the Cincinnati Masters, where he was knocked out in the fourth and second rounds respectively, and he has started the 2008 season in pretty much the same vane.

Although Rafael has yet to win a big event this year, the European clay court season is just around the corner so he will get plenty of practice at the Monte Carlo and Rome Masters where it is widely anticipated that he will clinch a fourth consecutive victory at both events. By the time he reaches Paris he will undoubtedly be in rich clay court form, and unless he suffers an injury, he will surely take the Coupe des Mousquetaires - the men's singles trophy - yet again.