In case, in this distracted era, you only have time to read the first paragraph on your phone, here is the essential from Rafael Nadal: No French Open this year for the first time since 2004; no retirement just yet.

But there is, of course, much more to Nadal¡¯s story, particularly at Roland Garros, the Grand Slam tournament he has dominated like no player has dominated any tennis major.

His 14 singles titles still look like a typo even for those like me who have watched him build that probably unbreakable record, red brick by red brick.