Best Case Scenario: A player such as David Ferrer or Juan Monaco gets a shot at Nadal on a day when Rafa is feeling low. Maybe he had a tough match, maybe he is a little sick, maybe he got dumped … but a day where Nadal is not at his steely best. On that day, Ferrer especially could come through.

It’s amazing how quickly things change in tennis. Just a month the pro tennis circuit was nothing short of madness after three months of complete chaos and unpredictability.

So, I keep thinking I am forgetting something. Oh yeah, Rafael Nadal played today as well. That was where I was going with the opening heat comment and I fear I have gotten off track. Big news of the day, Nadal won. Considering he has won 101 of his last 102 matches on clay, I supposed that shouldn’t be too much of a shocker. Here is my big prediction for tomorrow: Nadal has a 99% chance of a victory. I’ll even go out on a limb to say the same is true for Sunday. If I’m wrong I’ll be the first one to stuff my high-heeled foot back in my mouth.

All hands on deck, “calling Dmitry Tursunov. Your ship has sailed!” German Gremelmayr, who ridded the event of the last American, James Blake, has now set Tursunov adrift in a 6-4, 6-0 match.

The universe must be back in alignment as the warmth returned today and the king of the clay retained his throne. Rafael Nadal, who made his 2008 Barcelona debut in front of a packed house, reminded us all why he is the master.

The sun was back today but not so the soft warmness of springtime in Spain. Chilling winds and intermittent clouds gave way for some brief periods of warmth both in temperature and in the fans hearts.

The good news for Roger Federer is that he’s now a perfect 7-0 on the red clay this year. The bad news is that he hasn’t beaten anyone of significance and his next opponent in Monte Carlo just happens to be an in-form David Nalbandian.

After his shaky start to 2008, Roger Federer was supposed to be in serious trouble as the scene shifted to clay.

Sayonara North America hardcourts. Hello, European clay. For the Americans, it’s a time of anguish, when even such simple matters as making a phone call or ordering dinner exacerbate the tensions of playing on a less than familiar surface.

Nothing says clay season more to me than two words: Mardy Fish. That’s right, Mardy Fish.

As proof, Mardy backed me up and went out today and won his first title in a few years beating up on Jurgen Melzer on the red clay in Houston.