It’s one of the most hackneyed clichés in sport. A ready-made formula, worn out by dint of being used, of a dismaying vacuity so much it is swayed wrongly and through. “Playing your life on a match, a point…” We have thought about it in recent days while watching Rafael Nadal evolve on “his” land. Against Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, or Alexander Zverev in the half this Friday, in particular. And the evidence came out. There is one for whom these words take on their full meaning. Rafa is literally gambling his life on every ball, every support.
