Roger Federer’s vow on Monday to continue playing tennis until after the 2016 Olympics in Rio thrilled his millions of followers, of course – but there is lingering doubt about the longevity of the Swiss’s enduring rival, Rafael Nadal.
While it is inconceivable that the Spaniard who has won nine French Open titles and 66 of 67 matches at Roland Garros over 10 years will lose in his opening-round match against the 18-year-old French wildcard Quentin Halys on Tuesday, such a calamity would inspire not only wild celebration among Parisians who have often been ambivalent about their imported king of clay, but an orgy of speculation elsewhere about Nadal’s future.