• Chris Wilkinson

The streak that just keeps running

Novak Djokovic is in the form of his life © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: McEnroe lauds 'more impressive' Djokovic streak
  
• News: Djokovic books London return
  
• What the Deuce: Djokovic's best impression
  
• News: Phenomenal Djokovic inflicts more pain on Nadal
  
• Profile: Novak Djokovic | Andy Murray | Rafael Nadal

I've been saying for weeks now that Novak Djokovic's unbeaten run has to come to an end, but the longer his streak goes on, the better he gets. Unbeaten in 2011; 37 matches without defeat and seven titles - it's phenomenal really.

I think what is so impressive about his current form is just how much he has improved. If you look at where he was a year ago his progress has been amazing. He is a different player. He recently discovered he has a gluten allergy so has cut a lot of carbohydrates out of his diet. He has sorted his serve out, he is moving well, he is more aggressive and he is hitting the ball harder - and it is the combination of all of these things which have seen him transform from a really good player to a great player.

I was in Rome last week and went to watch him training down on the practice courts. He is getting a real fan base around him now after what he has done this year. He is a real character and loves to entertain the crowd - he was doing tricks and even invited a young kid to practise with him. He has a massive personality and people are really starting to warm to that - like Federer and Nadal he is a fantastic role model for the sport.

At 39 matches stretching back to the Davis Cup final last year, his unbeaten streak is being compared to the likes of Guillermo Vilas (46 matches unbeaten) and John McEnroe (42). Djokovic is likely to overhaul both Roger Federer (41-match streak) and McEnroe at Roland Garros - but I think his streak is more impressive than both Federer and McEnroe's. Federer's run, which included the 2006 US Open and the 2007 Australian Open, was almost exclusively on hard courts, while the game is a lot more physical since the days that McEnroe was playing.

Djokovic has moved from the hard courts to the clay seamlessly and he has beaten Nadal on clay - not once, but twice. Beating the world No. 1 - and arguably the best clay-court player of all time on his best surface is no mean feat. Just how much longer he can keep going remains to be seen - he may even overtake Vilas - but I very much doubt he will get close to Suzanne Lenglen's record - 182 matches unbeaten between 1921 and 1926. Now that's what you call a streak!

There is no way Djokovic can go through the whole season unbeaten - he will be beaten sooner or later and the worry is that it happens at the French Open. I would rather have seen him lose in Madrid or Rome and get it out of his system. He does not want that defeat to come at a grand slam.

Despite failing to defend his titles in Rome and Madrid I still think Nadal is the favourite to win the French Open. He is a five-time champion there - he has lost just once in 39 matches and is very much still the man to beat at Roland Garros. But Djokovic seems to have forgotten how to lose - and he has most definitely worked out how to beat Nadal. In their first 18 meetings, Djokovic won just four. He has now won seven of their last nine encounters. Whether he can beat Nadal over five sets on clay remains to be seen, but regardless of who wins in Paris, this new rivalry is here to stay.

Djokovic's rise could also inspire a similar improvement from Andy Murray. The pair were at a similar level last year and Murray is in danger of being left behind, but after Djokovic has raised his game, the players below will need to respond in order to keep up. I said after his semi-final appearance in Monte Carlo that I thought Murray would do well on clay this year, and he only narrowly missed out on the final in Rome - pushing Djokovic all the way in the semis.

There is little expectation for him to do well on clay and that liberates him on the court. If he can play as well in Paris as he did against Djokovic and Nadal he could easily reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros. That would also give his ranking a boost and would take the pressure off a bit ahead of Wimbledon.

Rafael Nadal is still the man to beat at Roland Garros © Getty Images

Enlarge

Robin Soderling is a two-time finalist and loves playing at Roland Garros - he is the only man to have ever beaten Nadal there. He has gone off the boil a bit after such a scorching start to the season. There will be a bit of pressure on him this year - like Murray he is yet to win a grand slam and he also has a lot of ranking points to lose - a poor week in Paris and he could slip down the rankings.

David Ferrer is probably the third best player on clay right now - he reached the final in Monte Carlo and Barcelona and I would expect him to do well in Paris. Tomas Berdych has hardly set the clay courts alight this season and I think he will struggle to repeat his semi-final showing last year.

One player to keep an eye on is Richard Gasquet. He had a good win over Federer in Rome last week and played well against Nadal. He seems to be hitting form just at the right time and he could really give the French crowd something to cheer about.

Looking at the women's draw, it is much less clear cut. With the Williams sisters out, anyone in the top 20 players has a good chance. Kim Clijsters has won the last two grand slams, but she is coming back from an injury and may be short of match practice. Defending champion Francesca Schiavone looks a good bet - I saw her play in Rome last week and she was looking pretty solid. I don't think Maria Sharapova has enough to go all the way at Roland Garros, but her win in Rome will certainly give her a massive boost.

Madrid champion Petra Kvitova could be one to watch, and the question on everybody's lips is can Caroline Wozniacki finally break her grand slam duck? If I had to put money on it, I think I would go for Victoria Azarenka - providing she is fit. She was winning against Sharapova in Rome last week before she had to retire. Questions have been asked of her mental strength, but she has been going well this season and could do it - but as I said, it is wide open this year.

Chris Wilkinson is a former British No. 1

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.