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As Rafael Nadal emerged into the bright sunlight and the baking Paris heat, the Spaniard sensed an unexpected opportunity to claim one of the greatest victories of his career. By a quirk of fate, the 38-year-old was handed the chance to face his great rival Novak Djokovic for a final time, on his fortress of Court Philippe-Chatrier and the scene of his 14 French Open titles. For the past two years, sidelined by injuries and frustrated by his body, Nadal had waited for such a moment, to face a fellow legend of his sport and relive his glorious past with a spirited final act.
