Nadal the constant in changing RG

Rafael Nadal's stranglehold on the French Open has endured so long and remains so strong that he has even out-lasted his favourite Court Philippe Chatrier stadium and will probably still be winning the title when it gets a roof in 2020.

The dust will hardly have settled on Nadal's record-extending 11th Roland Garros title achieved with a 6-4 6-3 6-2 defeat of Austrian Dominic Thiem before the demolition teams move in to start ripping out chunks of the old concrete.

Roland Garros is undergoing a major modernisation project, as have Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows, the venue of the U.S. Open.

Written off as fading forces two years ago, Nadal, 32, and Roger Federer, approaching 37, have won the last six Grand Slam titles between them. So much for the ageing process and the new generation expected to shove them to one side.

Spaniard Nadal reclaimed his French Open title 12 months ago without dropping a set and triumphed at the U.S. Open.

Nadal has now won three Grand Slam titles since turning 30 and only three men, Federer, Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall, who handed over the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy on Sunday, have managed more, having done it four times.

"If you told seven or eight years ago that I will be here at 32 years old having this trophy with me again, I will tell you that is something almost impossible, but here we are."

RAFA'S WIMBLEDON IN DOUBT

Nadal has cast doubt on his participation at Wimbledon, saying he needs to see how his body recovers after a long clay court campaign.

"Difficult for me to think about it now. I had a long and mentally tough clay court season, of course, because I played almost all the matches possible after coming from an injury. So it was a demanding two months for me," Nadal told reporters.