Djokovic wins 2008 Rome Masters 

The ATP Tour will head to Hamburg this week, as the world’s top players negotiate yet another clay court tournament in a packed pre French Open clay court season.

The densely packed ATP schedule looks like it may engineer a reshuffle at the top of the world rankings, with Novak Djokovic rapidly catching up with Rafael Nadal, while the latter is on the verge of pulling past long time rival Roger Federer.

Few would have seen Djokovic’s victory at the 2008 Rome Masters coming, particularly given the way that Federer and Nadal have dominated Grand Slam and Masters events over the past two years.

Yet the Serbian player proved his versatility and ability to continue achieving at the highest level by winning his second Masters title of the year in Rome on Sunday.

In fact, going on recent former, Djokovic may actually enter the 2008 French Open as a favourite. With the lion’s share of 2008 Masters titles to his credit, alongside a title in the year’s only Grand Slam thus far, Djokovic boasts a stronger record in 2008 than either of his two biggest rivals.

However Rafael Nadal will have an opportunity to get his 2008 French Open campaign back on track this week in Hamburg. The Spanish player will have benefited from a week’s rest, and will be raring to claim his second Masters title of the year along with the world number one spot that has been denied to him for so long.