A month ago, Rafael Nadal seemed to be counting down his days as world No 1. Novak Djokovic seemed unstoppable, and Nadal was losing his edge on clay.
"The No 1 ranking is not in danger, it's finished," he said after Djokovic defeated him in straight sets at Madrid. "Let's not lie to ourselves, that's the reality."
However, the manner in which the French Open played out reminded us of the clear advantage Nadal has over the two men chasing him.
At grand slams, Roger Federer and Djokovic likely must defeat the other to get a shot at Nadal. The Spaniard, meanwhile, gets a semi-final against a player on the south side of the chasm between No 3 and the rest of the world.
Despite all the winning he did to open the season, only at the Paris Open did Djokovic encounter the daunting task of facing Federer and Nadal in succession. He pulled it off; he could not at Roland Garros.
This double-jeopardy problem exists for Federer, as well. He may be close to a spent force as world No 1, but he remains a force against lesser players and on a given day can still beat the top two.
But not in succession. Nadal may no longer be better than Djokovic; the Serb has defeated him four consecutive times this season, and twice on clay.
But as long as Federer remains in Djokovic's side of a draw, Nadal may not have to see Djokovic.
This reality may have Nadal a bit more confident about extending his hold on No 1, now at 54 weeks and counting.
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.