Who will Replace Rafael Nadal as the New King of Clay?

For the last 13 years the French Open has been dominated by one guy. Rafael Nadal has won 86 matches only losing twice to Novak Djokovic of Serbia in 2015 and Robin Soderling of Sweden in 2009.

Nadal has won 17 Grand Slams (as of 1/09/2018). He's won one in Australia, 12 in France, two at Wimbledon, and three in New York. However at the age of 32 his career is entering its end. The main question among tennis fans young and old is: Will any one be able to replace Nadal as the dominant figure at the French Open, or will it become a more competitive tournament like it was before Nadal came along?

These are the two players I think have the best chances of replacing Nadal as the new King of Clay.

1. Dominic Thiem, Austria

Many Tennis analysts agree that the next French Open champion will be Dominic Thiem. The reason for this is because that Thiems game is perfectly made for clay. He uses the right sort of spin which works on clay. His forehand is strong and his backhand is really good. He's made the final of the French Open but lost to Nadal. His only issue could be that he is never won a 1000 event or a Grand Slam. He's made three finals, but lost them all. The biggest trophy he has won is an ATP 500 event so no one knows if he can mentally get it done in a Grand Slam final. However he has beaten Rafael Nadal on clay, Novak Djokovic on clay and Andy Murray on clay the big question is can he do it in a five-set battle. He only beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam but Novak was beginning to struggle with an elbow issue. However, due to his clay court game, I have put him in at number one, and at the age of 24, he has a few years to improve.

2. Alexander Zverev, Germany

Alexander Zverev. He's won three Masters 1000 events. Two on clay, beating Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem. He's 6'6" with a huge serve and he can surprisingly move really well on a clay court. With a huge backhand and an ever improving forehand on his day he can beat any player in the world and was a rain delay away from beating Nadal in Rome earlier this year. His biggest problem will be his Grand Slam experience with him only making it to the quarter final of a Grand Slam once and he was beaten by Thiem pretty easily in that match at the French open earlier this year. He's only 21 so like with Thiem time is really on his side and he is getting better with ever big tournament he wins. He will definitely win a Grand Slam in the future the big question is whether it will be the French.

These are the two most likely candidates who will be the next French Open champion after Nadal. I didn't include playes like Denis Shapovalov or Juan Martin Del Potro because I don't think they are as good on clay as Thiem or Zverev.

I think Rafael Nadal will win the French Open in 2019 and 2020. Then I think Zverev or Thiem will be the next champion. Hell, they could meet in the 2020 French Open final which would make me a prediction God.