Nadal set his sights on French Open after finally beating Djokovic

Rafael Nadal extended his rule over the Monte Carlo Masters as he won the tournament for the eighth year running and moved to 1/1 to claim a seventh French Open crown.

The Spaniard not only bagged his eighth title, but he also ended a run of seven defeats against world number one Novak Djokovic and scored his first tournament win since the French title he won last year.

The big-hitting 25-year old was delighted to finally end his Djokovic hoo-doo.

“It’s unbelievable to win this historic tournament eight times. I always feel great when I come here.

“I had lost to Novak seven times, so losing eight would not have been much different. But to win this one makes a big difference.”

Nadal will also be delighted that the troublesome knee injury that has hampered him of late was kept under control and didn’t appear to have any effect on his overall game.

The ten-time Grand Slam winner now faces Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the Barcelona Open in a match-up he is expected to breeze through and priced at 1/100 to win.

Nadal has beaten his opponent on three of the four occasions they have met and in all of those matches he has won by two sets to love, which is available at 1/12 here.

Garcia-Lopez triumphed over the current number two back in 2010 at the Thailand Open, on an indoor court, and is 16/1 to cause a major upset, but the ‘King of Clay’ will be an imposing opponent on his favourite surface as he guns for a seventh win in Cataluña in eight years.

With the Mallorca born star seemingly hitting form at the right time punters may also be tempted to bet on him claiming the three remaining Grand Slams this year at an inviting price of 20/1.