In the 1990s, former basketball star Charles Barkley railed in a Nike advertisement that he “wasn’t paid to be a role model”, saying that was the job of parents.

"It will be hard to return to the practice court," a subdued Nadal said after his fourth loss to Fognini, three of which have come on his beloved clay.

In October last year, his family went public with the news of his illness, launching a campaign to raise money for the Brain Tumor Charity.