France, May 26 -- Cheers rang out and a river of tears flowed as Rafael Nadal, the king of clay, came back to the land where he stomped all over Roger and Novak and Andy and everyone else to the point that he has a plaque in the clay on centre courtbearing his footprint and the number 14 to denote his haul of titles. Vamos!

Veni. Lusi. Vici. I came. I played. I conquered.

Apologies to Julius Caesar but his line Veni. Vidi. Vici. (I came. I saw. I conquered) after hacking up Pharnaces II in 47BC at the Battle of Zela in what is now Turkey came to mind during the ceremony to hail Rafael Nadal for his savagery at the Roland Garros Stadium on his way to 14 singles titles between 2005 and 2024. But the warrior supreme says it's no great shak...