Novak Djokovic must despair – Rafael Nadal can now win Grand Slams on one foot

As Rafa Nadal is continually questioned about his foot injury, and the new French Open champion speculates openly about how much time he has left and if he will be fit for Wimbledon, you do wonder what his opponents must think.

How could he have won a 14th title in Paris, or indeed the Australian Open final in January from two sets down, without proper medical intervention?

His doctor has clearly done a great job in Paris, injections to the nerve in his left foot meaning Rafa had no feeling in the area so, as the Spaniard revealed, ‘the foot was asleep’.

A penny for your thoughts Novak Djokovic, whose eyebrow must arch at any suggestion there is anything wrong with his great rival.

If last year was all about the Serb falling one match short of holding all four majors at the same time, then men’s tennis this year is about Nadal’s attempt at a calendar Grand Slam.

He has won the first two legs and Wimbledon is three weeks away. I think he will play, albeit with his first match on grass this summer coming at SW19. And despite the issues with his foot, you would still not bet against him taking this title too as he chases more historic achievements.

On Sunday he claimed his 22nd major, which sees him pull two clear of Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Sport can become statistically overwhelming and the regurgitation of facts will never be a substitute for good commentary. There should be an attempt at a pithy summing up, a single line that paints a picture.

As far as the French Open goes with Rafa, perhaps it’s just a question – how can he only have lost three matches on the red clay of Roland Garros?

If he had only played three times then fine, but he has competed in the tournament on 17 occasions.

He won it on debut in 2005 and