Nadal seeks “La Decima” 

Rafael Nadal has struggled to find his imperious best after an injury-plagued 2014, and as the clay court master returns to his beloved Roland Garros his recent rankings decline means he faces one of his toughest battles on the red dirt if he is to claim an astonishing 10th title
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DECADE OF DOMINANCE Final wins

2005 Mariano Puerta ARG 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5

2006 Roger Federer SUI 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6

2007 Roger Federer 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

2008 Roger Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0

2009 Robin Soderling SWE Lost in R4

2010 Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-2, 6-4

2011 Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1

2012 Novak Djokovic SRB 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5

2013 David Ferrer ESP 6-3, 6-2, 6-3

2014 Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4
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CLAY COMFORTS: Majority of Nadal’s 65 titles won on clay, with superb win
ratio of 92% and at least one clay title each year since 2004

Roland Garros 9

Barcelona 8

Monte- Carlo 8

Rome 7

Madrid 3

Other 11 16 3

Key Clay Hard Grass
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FRUSTRATING FORM: Nadal has lost four matches on favourite surface so far this year – most in single season since 2003

Feb 21 SF Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
lost to Fabio Fognini

Mar 1 W Buenos Aires, Argentina
beat Juan Monaco

Apr 18 SF Monte-Carlo, Monaco
lost to Novak Djokovic

Apr 23 R3 Barcelona, Spain
lost to Fabio Fognini

May 10 F Madrid, Spain
lost to Andy Murray

May 10-17 TBC Rome, Italy
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Source: ATP

Picture: Getty Images

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