Tennis News 2013: Novak Djokovic Aims To Beat Rafael Nadal at French Open 2014

Former world's No.1 tennis player Novak Djokovic is optimistic on his chances against Rafael Nadal at the 2014 French Open, stressing he has a better chance of beating the Spaniard at his favorite Grand Slam tournament next year.

Djokovic, who relinquished the top spot on the ATP world rankings to Nadal this year, believed he has a solid shot at pulling off a rare feat in the 2014 French Open Championship in May.

After closing the 2013 season on a strong note, Djokovic is confident that next year could be his time to really put more pressure on the eight-time French Open champion at Roland Garros.

Nadal boasts a 59-1 record at Roland Garros with his lone loss coming against Robin Soderling of Sweden in the fourth round of the 2009 French Open.

Djokovic Gunning For Clay-Court Glory

Nadal was perhaps the best tennis player in 2013 after coming through with one of the most remarkable comebacks in sports history, but Djokovic wrapped up the year with a bang as he racked up 20 consecutive wins and bagged four tournament wins; two of those trophies came at the expense of Nadal in the finals.

"I won over 20 matches in a row so with all the confidence that's given me, I'm heading into the new season feeling great and hopefully this can be the year for me where I can challenge Rafa at Roland Garros." Djokovic said in a recent interview via Tennis Tonic.

Djokovic has already won at least one title in all major tournaments except the French Open, where he was a finalist roughly two years ago. A victory by the Serb in Roland Garros would complete his quest of completing a career Grand Slam, a feat already achieved by Big 4 rivals Nadal and Roger Federer.

Serb's Real Chance on Red Clay

Djokovic's improvement on clay-court matches has been dramatic, allowing him to win a few big tournaments played on the red dirt.

Moreover, the Serb insisted that his recent dominance over Nadal showed that he has learned from past mistakes he committed against the Spaniard, adding these miscues have helped him to become a stronger and better player than ever.

"What happened, and everything happens for a reason. Those losses that I had against Nadal in the big matches made me understand what I need to do to become a better and stronger player. That's all that matters now," Djokovic added.