The Serbian second seed ground down the local favourite and defending champion during a succession of ferocious rallies to record his 32nd consecutive win of a defeat-free 2011, the best season start since John McEnroe's 42-match streak in 1984.
The defeat marked Nadal's first loss on his beloved clay in 38 matches since he fell to Robin Soderling in the fourth round of the 2009 French Open and denied him a third title on the red dirt in under a month after he won back-to-back at the Monte Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open in April.
Djokovic, who had never beaten Nadal on clay in nine previous attempts, now has six titles this year, including the Australian Open and the Masters in Indian Wells and Miami, where he beat Nadal in both finals.
The question now is whether the 23-year-old can carry the momentum into the French Open where champion Nadal has claimed five of the past six crowns.
"Probably because of my winning streak and because I am in the shape of a lifetime I am one of the favourites to win the title," Djokovic said about his chances at Roland Garros.
"But Rafa has only lost one match there and I think he is still right up there above everybody else.
"It is my goal to try to go all the way at Roland Garros and I am definitely setting my form up for that tournament.
"I just started the claycourt season. It was a perfect start and I need to really stay dedicated and focused."
Djokovic looks far sharper and balanced than the player who once suffered regular mid-match slumps and said the change was down to hard work and the support of his coaching and fitness team.
"I am trying to just stay dedicated and focused for what I do," said Djokovic, whose career has moved to another level since his inspirational role in helping Serbia win the Davis Cup for the first time late last year.
"There are no secrets, things came together for me," he added.
"I am a more mature player and a more mature person so I know what to do on the court."
Djokovic, the current number two, is also on course to take top spot in the rankings from Nadal, who is defending thousands of points over the coming months after a spectacularly successful 2010.
The Spaniard appeared to have already resigned himself to dropping off the summit.
"The number one ranking is not in danger, the number one has already gone," the 24-year-old told a news conference.
"You must be doing something very good if you are winning every match," he added.
"When he plays with that confidence he is very difficult to beat. He was always very good I think, I don't think he has improved anything huge recently.
"I'll have to look at what I did wrong and go forward with the right attitude and look for solutions and how to improve.
"Evidently, I wasn't playing at my best level on clay but I didn't play such a bad match either. Just that against a very good Djokovic it wasn't enough today."
A fired-up Djokovic came out on top in most of the lengthy exchanges in the early stages and surged into a 4-0 lead that prompted nervous mutterings among the home support in the packed, 12,500-capacity arena.
Ever the fighter, Nadal clawed his way back to 4-5 with two breaks and saved three Djokovic set points on his own serve to draw level at 5-5.
However, it was all in vain as the Serb held confidently and then broke Nadal for a third time to move a set ahead.
The Spaniard picked himself up and began the second set strongly, conjuring an incredible shot on the way to breaking Djokovic in the opening game.
After the Serb lifted the ball over Nadal's head to the back of the court, he chased it down and played an audacious lob from between his legs that looped over his opponent and landed just inside the baseline.
A bemused-looking Djokovic could only applaud as the crowd leapt to their feet as one.
Nadal indulged in some characteristic fist-pumping but the euphoria did not last long as he dropped his serve in the next game to make it 1-1.
Nadal had to dig deep to stay in the match but was finally floored when he went wide with a sliced backhand after another mesmerising baseline rally on Djokovic's second match point.
- Reuters
Tags: sport, tennis, spain First posted May 9, 2011 06:36:00
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