Joe Root, Virat Kohli win big at Ceat Cricket Awards, full list of winners!

The Ceat Cricket Awards 2015-16 honoured outstanding players, who have consistently performed over the year. Top Indian cricketers were present at the award ceremony held in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai on 30 May.

It was an Englishman who took away the big prize winning the Ceat international cricketer of the year award, while New Zealand's mighty batting duo of Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill won the test cricketer of the year award and Ceat ODI batsman of the year award, respectively.

It was a good night for the Indian lads as well, with spinner R Ashwin claiming the international bowler of the year prize, while superstar Virat Kohli's form in Twenty20 Internationals ensured he was bestowed with the international T20 player of the year honour.

Below is the full list of Ceat Award winners 2015-16:

International cricketer of the year – Joe Root (England)

International batsman of the year – Joe Root (England)

International bowler of the year – R Ashwin (India)

Test cricketer of the year – Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

ODI cricketer of the year – Martin Guptill (New Zealand)

T20 player of the year – Virat Kohli (India)

Lifetime achievement award – Dilip Vengsarkar (India)

Indian cricketer of the year – Rohit Sharma

Domestic cricketer of the year – Shreyas Iyer

Young player of the year – Rishabh Pant

Special award – Ajinkya Rahane

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Have you quit smoking? Here are tips to ward off the constant cravings!

May 31st is World No Tobacco Day – a day which is meant to encourage a 24 hour period of abstinence from consuming all forms of tobacco. And this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling on all countries to ‘Get ready for plain packaging’ - in other words, bring out standardised packages which are devoid of any branding, logo,  colours, corporate logos or imagery – with just the health hazard warning written on it.

According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, approximately 5.5 million people die around the world, because of tobacco-related ailments, and one-fifth of these are in India. The average age where people start consuming tobacco has also fallen, and India has the second highest number of women smokers, after the United States.

While quitting tobacco can be a major task – with nicotine addiction being a challenge - staying off the cigarette may be an equally, or an even more daunting task. However, tobacco cravings can get weaker, every time you resist the urge to succumb to it. Here are some tips that you can follow to to permanently chuck the bud:

Drink water and stay hydrated: Water is known to stop nicotine cravings, hence drink a glass of water each time you feel the urge to smoke. Drinking six to eight glasses of water a day will help reduce the desire to consume tobacco, by making the body forget the euphoric feeling it gets after consuming nicotine.

Practice meditation and breathing exercises: Taking a deep breath and count till 10, each time you get nicotine cravings, will help you gain control over the craving. As you breath in, imagine the good air that you are filling your lungs with, and as you breathe out, think of all the bad air that is being expelled. Practicing breathing exercises and meditation will also help you control stress, which is related to nicotine withdrawal, and will help you curb the cravings.

Yoga and exercises: Some people gain weight after they quit smoking. Exercise helps to limit this weight gain, and also helps in dealing with nicotine cravings. Yoga and exercise also has the effect of improving your mood, thereby helping you cope with the stress associated with nicotine withdrawal.

Get support from family/friends/group: Rather than trying to deal with the cravings all by yourself, a good idea would be to call/meet and get support from family/friends. Talking to friends/support groups will help keep your mind off the constant thought of wanting to smoke.

Chew on sugarless gum: Chewing on sugarless gum, candy, or even a healthy stick of carrot, keeps the mouth busy and can help ward off nicotine craving.

Cultivate a hobby: Get a hobby and divert your attention to something else such as music, books, gardening, or anything that helps you relax. This will keep your mind off thoughts of smoking, and will ease the stress of nicotine withdrawal.

Take a shower: Taking a warm shower just as you start getting a craving, will help you get over the feeling, and will leave you feeling fresh, instead.

Eat something nutritious: Take small snack breaks throughout the day and munch on nutritious food – fruits, nuts, vegetables, etc will help regulate your sugar level and preserve your energy, thereby cutting down your urge to smoke.  By replacing the nicotine in your body with nutritious food, you will feel healthier, and your mood will also improve, thereby reducing stress.

Spend time in public places: In the initial days, spend as much time as possible, in public places such as gardens, restaurants, cafes, malls and libraries, where smoking is not allowed.

Avoid situations and food that may trigger cravings: If you associate smoking with certain parties, alcohol or spicy food, avoid indulging in them for atleast a month, until you are able to manage your cravings.

Delay: Every time you feel the urge to smoke, delay by 10 minutes, and distract yourself in the meantime. You can keep increasing the intervals until you are able to completely fight off the craving.

Say no: Don’t tell yourself that this would be the last one. Having one often leads to another, and you may never be able to give up completely. Each time you feel like smoking, distract yourself. Be stern with yourself and tell yourself that you will not give in to the urge. Remembering all the good that will happen to your health, and that of your loved ones, if you quit smoking, may help your mind fight nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

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19 Magnesium Tips You Didn't Know You Needed!

This underdog mineral deserves a spotlight!

We all hear about the importance of vitamin D, calcium, and omega-3s every day, but it’s not that often we hear about the body-boosting benefits of magnesium. That’s a shame because magnesium really is a miracle mineral that can help alleviate—or even prevent—many of the problems that many of us experience.

1. There’s a Reason It’s Called ‘Essential’

It might be hard to believe, but magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, including brain and muscle function. Ignore your body’s need for it and you’ll feel crummy; headaches, muscle aches, and overall fatigue are common indicators that you’re not getting enough magnesium in your life.

2. You Need More of It Than You Realize

According to the National Institutes of Health, people need quite a bit of magnesium every day to maintain proper levels. Adult females need 310-320 milligrams a day, while pregnant and breastfeeding women need as much as 400 milligrams. Men need the most: At least 400 milligrams a day to stay balanced.

3. Hard Water is a Good Source

Few of us drink hard water anymore, thanks to the water purification process. This process gives us clean water, but it takes out the natural minerals—namely magnesium and calcium—found in hard water. According to a report by the World Health Organization, native communities who consume hard water showed fewer problems with cardiovascular disease when compared to natives who moved into more urban settings.

4. It's Best to Get It From Food

Whole foods are the best place to get magnesium. Foods high in fiber—like dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish, beans, avocados, and bananas—are great sources. And don’t expect to get much from your favorite snack foods: the food processing techniques used by manufacturers take out most of the vitamins and minerals in foods, including magnesium.

5. Pumpkin Seeds and Kelp Are Great Sources

Believe it or not, just a half cup of pumpkin seeds provides nearly 100 percent of your daily magnesium needs. Kelp, a type of seaweed, might not be the most common food on your menu, but one serving of the green stuff contains 780 mg of magnesium. Also, bananas are a great source of potassium, but one medium piece of the fruit also provides 15 grams of magnesium.

6. Craving Chocolate? You Need Magnesium

We all love a delicious piece of chocolate now and then, but if you can’t get enough? Time to get some magnesium. According to a study by the University of Arizona Medical Center, chocolate lovers might be obsessed because their bodies are craving the body-boosting benefits of magnesium. Chocolate—especially dark chocolate—contains about 24 percent of your daily magnesium needs, making it a good (and yummy!) source.

7. Supplements Are Often Needed

It might be best to get magnesium from food, but it’s not always possible. That’s where supplements come in, but not all are created equal. According to the National Institutes of Health, magnesium in aspartate, citrate, lactate, and chloride forms is better absorbed by the body than magnesium oxide and sulfate forms.

8. It’s Best With Calcium and Vitamin D...

Magnesium and calcium are best buddies because the magnesium helps draw calcium into the bones, keeping them strong. This helps prevent osteoporosis and some forms of arthritis. In addition, magnesium and vitamin D work well together. That said, there’s a school of thought that recommends taking magnesium separate from other vitamins because it’s usually taken in large doses. The best bet? Get a recommendation from your doctor.

9. ...But Not With Zinc

Zinc is another important nutrient, but it’s best not to take large doses with magnesium. According to one study, high doses of zinc (over 142 milligrams a day) can throw off the balance of magnesium in the body and keep it from absorbing correctly.

10. ...And Not With Certain Antibiotics

It seems odd since magnesium is essential for the body, but you shouldn’t take extra supplements if you’re on certain antibiotics. Antibiotics that contain aminoglycosides affect the muscles and, since magnesium affects the muscles, it might cause problems. Also, some antibiotics—like Quinolones—can affect how much magnesium the body can absorb. Magnesium can also bond to Tetracycline antibiotics, reducing the healing powers of the medication.

11. It’ll Stop the Tossing and Turning

Feeling restless when you try to sleep? You probably need magnesium. Magnesium helps the function of the GABA receptors in the body and nervous system. GABA is the neurotransmitter that helps calm the body—without it, we stay tense and awake. This calming factor is why many opt to take magnesium supplements before bed.

12. It Can Help Ease Migraine Pain

Migraines are one of the most confusing conditions in the world, but it’s believed that at least some of them—especially premenstrual migraines—are caused by low levels of magnesium. The reasons aren’t thoroughly understood, but it's believed that magnesium helps relax muscles and the brain’s blood vessels.

13. And Helps Beat Belly Fat

Can’t seem to lose belly fat? It might have something to do with your magnesium levels. Magnesium plays an important role in insulin function, allowing the body to effectively convert glucose into energy. Keep magnesium levels in check and your body is better able to function, leaving you energetic and less likely to develop more belly fat.

14. It Helps Keep Your Heart Strong

Heart disease is a huge killer of both men and women, but adequate magnesium has been shown to help keep it away. A study of people participating in the Honolulu Heart Program found that men who took more than 320 mg—less than the daily recommended intake—showed that only four out of 1,000 participants developed heart disease. On the other side, seven men out of 1,000 who look less than 320 milligrams developed heart disease.

15. Caffeine is Magnesium’s Enemy

There are a million-and-one reasons why you should cut out cola, but here’s another one: It can make you deficient in magnesium. The reason: Excessive caffeine makes it more difficult for the intestines to absorb magnesium. You can counteract that by consuming more magnesium, but at some point, you won’t be able to get enough to make up the difference.

16. Gym Rat? You Need Magnesium

Magnesium is important to athletes because of its heart benefits, but it’s also shown to help the body rebuild adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that’s broken down during exercise. It also helps the body burn that energy more efficiently, lowering the amount of lactic acid that builds up post-exercise. Less lactic acid means less muscle soreness. In addition, the muscle-relaxing properties of magnesium also help soothe pain post-workout.

17. It Alleviates the Blues

Magnesium affects many neurological processes, including parts of the brain responsible for mood levels. According to the National Institutes of Health, the true connection between magnesium levels and depression isn’t totally understood, but a clinical study found that proper levels of magnesium are shown to be just as effective as a popular (but unnamed) antidepressant.

18. It Cuts Down Your Risk of Cancer

Magnesium, at its very core, helps prevent inflammation in the body. Inflammation is shown to be a leading cause of a number of diseases, including cancer. Cells low in magnesium are weaker, leading them to be more susceptible to other invaders. A meta-analysis by the International Society for the Development of Research on Magnesium found that low magnesium negatively affects the permeability of cells, which has been shown to initiate carcinogenesis (or the formation of cancer).

19. It Get Things Moving

Magnesium is often used as a stool softener because it helps draw water into waste, making it easier to pass through. Also, it’s effectiveness as a muscle relaxer makes it easier to, well, relax the muscles responsible for waste elimination. Relaxed colon muscles mean it’ll be easier to push things through and is why magnesium is part of our list about 23 Foods That Make You Poop.

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The Great Egg Debate: To Fridge Or Not To Fridge?!

There has been many a heated debate about where to put your eggs (aside from not in one basket, of course). The world falls roughly into two camps: those who keep their eggs in the fridge and those who think room temp is best. Each group believes they are right and views the rival gang as, er, a bit cracked *groans*.  

Despite there being a low risk of salmonella, some experts still recommend eggs are kept in the fridge.

Years ago, most of our condiments, including our eggs, were kept in the kitchen cupboard, but recently more and more of us are opting to move them into the fridge. Despite the fact that a new survey revealed us Brits are the least likely people in Europe to refrigerate our eggs.

So why is it that some people believe eggs, which have sat happily on our kitchen counters for so many years, should have to make the move into the cold?  

Some eggs-perts *groans again* argue eggs should be kept in the fridge to avoid incidence of food poisoning, like salmonella. Indeed, The British Egg Information Service believes the only place to keep food cool and avoid temperature fluctuations is the fridge, hence the advice on egg packs and fridges actually coming with those little plastic egg holders in them.

The cupboard or fridge debate is has been rumbling on for years.

Linda Nicolaides, a Microbiologist and an expert in Food Safety & Quality Management explains how eggs could contribute to the risk of salmonella.

“There is a low risk that eggs will become infected with Salmonella Enteritidis Phage type 4 at the point of laying,” she explains. “If this happens the bacterial cells present in low numbers will be “trapped” in the white (Albumen). In fresh eggs the albumen is too viscous to allow salmonellae to move from the point of infection. As the egg is stored it absorbs moisture from the air diluting the albumen. It takes approximately three weeks for the albumen to be liquid enough to allow Salmonella to swim from the albumen into the yolk, where they can use the surrounding nutrients to increase in numbers.”

“The government recommends that eggs should be eggs in the refrigerator in the domestic situation,” adds Linda. “However they should be used within three weeks of laying to make sure the yolk is Salmonella free.”  

But not all eggs-perts (sorry, sorry!) agree. Dr Martin Goldberg, a lecturer in microbiology at Nottingham Trent University argues that keeping eggs in the fridge does not alter the risk of salmonella. “There is no need to keep eggs in the fridge as the shell and membranes act as a barrier to bacteria,” he says.  “When we find Salmonella in eggs, it is because they get in during formation of the eggs in the chickens’ oviducts.”

And some foodies actively discourage people from keeping eggs in the refrigerator.

“You don’t need to refrigerate eggs,” says Craig Mather, head chef at the Empire Room, Ramsgate, who’s ‘soft boiled duck egg with crispy smoked eel soldiers’ were deemed 'Starter of the Year’ by food critic Jay Rayner.

“Egg shells are porous and will absorb flavours of other foods in the fridge, such as cheese (which shouldn’t be in the fridge either) or onions,” he adds.

According to the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF), British eggs with the red ‘lion’ brand carry a very low risk of salmonella contamination and many experts believe contamination mainly occurs when the eggs are laid or soon after.

When it comes to reducing the risk of food poisoning, the NHS website advises against eating eggs that are cracked or dirty and recommend storing them away from other foods to avoid the spread of infection. They also say that cooking eggs properly significantly reduces the risk of salmonella.

So, basically, the experts are split on the egg storage dilemma, but if you keep your eggs cool, clean and cook them well, you should be just eggs-cellent (last one we promise!)

Great news for sports fans!

Sunrisers beat RCB by 8 runs to claim first IPL title!

Sunrisers Hyderabad claimed their first Indian Premier League title and inflicted more heartache on Royal Challengers Bangalore with an eight-run victory in a pulsating final on Sunday.

Prolific captain David Warner top scored with a brutal 69 off just 38 balls as Sunrisers posted an imposing 208-7 after winning the toss at a packed M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

A star-studded RCB side looked to be heading for their maiden IPL crown when Chris Gayle (76 from 38) and the irrepressible Virat Kohli (54 off 35) put on 114 for the first wicket off a mere 69 balls.

But Ben Cutting (2-35) impressed with the ball after also making 39 not out from 15 balls andBhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a tight final over as RCB fell short once again in their own backyard.

Only Kohli has scored more runs than Warner in the 2016 IPL and the Australia opener got his side off to a rapid start, launching the expensive Shane Watson's first ball into the crowd and Shikhar Dhawan(28 from 25) did the same two balls later.

Gayle put down a sharp chance to get rid of Dhawan off his own bowling, with the India batsman and Warner adding insult to injury by giving the West Indies opening batsman the treatment.

Yuvraj Singh (38 from 23) got in on the act after Dhawan and Moises Henriques were dismissed, while Warner smashed another two sixes and eight fours before Sreenath Aravind (2-30) ended his magnificent knock.

Chris Jordan took 3-45, with Watson going for a wicket-less 61 from his four overs after Cutting cut loose with a late flurry to get Sunrisers over the 200 mark.

Gayle clubbed eight sixes and passed 9000 Twenty20 runs in an onslaught with support from the classy Kohli, but Cutting sent the Windies left-hander on his way and the RCB skipper soon followed when he was bowled by Barinder Sran.

RCB needed 18 off the last over and that proved to be too much as Bhuvneshwar, the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, showed his death-bowling prowess to silence a partisan crowd.

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Real Madrid win 11th Champions League title on penalties!

Milan, May 29 (IANS) Real Madrid captured an unprecedented 11th Champions League title with a 5-3 victory on penalties over cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid, which had rallied to tie 1-1 in the regulation 90 minutes of play.

In a rematch of the 2014 final of Europe's biggest club competition, the same team came out on top but the roles were reversed this time as Real held the lead for the majority of the contest here on Saturday, reports Efe.

Sergio Ramos put Real Madrid ahead in the 15th minute when Toni Kroos sent a ball in from the left side on a free kick and Gareth Bale headed it onward to Atletico Madrid's goal.

Atletico's net minder Jan Oblak was beaten by Sergio Ramos, who knocked it home with his left foot to open the scoring, a goal that stood even though replays showed the Real Madrid defender was offside.

That lead then held up for the rest of the first half even though Atletico showed signs of life before the intermission, with French striker Antoine Griezmann, a new addition to the club since its last Champions final, tirelessly applying pressure on Real's defences.

Atletico then had a golden chance to tie the contest at the start of the second half when Pepe fouled Fernando Torres in the area, but Griezmann slammed his penalty try off the crossbar to the growing dread of the white-and-red-clad fans in the stands at San Siro stadium.

Time was Atletico Madrid's enemy, but Yannick Carrasco, who had come on at the start of the second half, tied up the game in the 79th minute after receiving a perfectly placed cross from Juanfran.

Two years after coming within seconds of the Champions League crown in Lisbon, now it was Real Madrid's turn to rue a late equaliser.

No more scoring would occur over the remainder of regulation or in extra time, so penalties would have to determine bragging rights in the Spanish capital.

The first seven players stepped up and deposited the ball in the back of the net - Lucas Vazquez, Marcelo, Bale and Ramos for Real Madrid and Griezmann, Gabi and Saul Niguez for Atletico, but a Juanfran attempt that hit the post put the Atletico's hopes on life support.

That left only Cristiano Ronaldo to calmly boot the game winner into the right half of the goal as Oblak dove the other way.

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane, who turned around the club's fortunes when he took over midway through the season, did not have to wait long for his first big crown.

"I dreamed of this title when I took this job. I knew it was possible, especially working with a team with this much history. We did it with effort and work and we fought to the end. The players deserve everything," Zidane, who starred for Real as a midfielder, said after the match.

Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, for his part, offered words of encouragement for his club's local rival, which came tantalisingly close to winning its first Champions League title two years ago before Ramos knotted the final at 1-1 with a goal three minutes into injury time in the second half.

"I feel a little sad that they've put in so much effort and haven't been able to win, but I'm convinced they'll win the Champions League," Perez said.

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Hull wins soccer's richest match, back in Premier League!

LONDON (AP) — Hull secured an immediate return to the English Premier League and a minimum $250 million cash bonanza by beating Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 in the League Championship playoff final on Saturday.

Mohamed Diame's goal was worthy of winning soccer's richest single match, the Senegal midfielder collecting the ball 25 meters out and curling a right-footed shot into the top-right corner in the 72nd minute.

"That little bit of quality to decide a big game," Hull manager Steve Bruce said. "Diame has produced a bit of magic and it's won us the match."

Wednesday goalkeeper Kieren Westwood had produced a string of excellent saves to keep dominant Hull at bay at Wembley Stadium, and got his fingertips to Diame's shot. He couldn't keep it out.

Hull bounces back into England's lucrative top division at the first attempt under the ownership of Egyptian-born businessman Assem Allam, who is seriously ill and wasn't at Wembley for the game.

Allam saved Hull from falling into financial ruin when he took over the northeast England club in 2010, following its relegation from the Premier League.

Promotion is worth at least $250 million in future earnings to Hull, with the Premier League's new domestic and international TV deals starting next season and worth a record $12 billion over three years.

Wednesday was seeking a return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence, and was a shock qualifier for the playoff final. But the Thai-owned team appeared to freeze on the big occasion, with Hull creating most of the best chances.

"We seemed to have so many good chances," Bruce said. "Thankfully Diame has come up with a wonder strike . my big players today performed excellently."

Bruce became the first manager to achieve four promotions to the Premier League.

Hull finished the regular season nine points ahead of Wednesday.

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Postpone or move Olympics due to Zika!

Washington, May 28 (IANS) The Rio Olympic Games should be postponed or moved "in the name of public health" over the Zika outbreak in Brazil, more than 100 prominent doctors and professors said in an open letter to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"We make this call despite the widespread fatalism that the Rio 2016 Games are inevitable or 'too big to fail,'" the writers said on Friday in the letter addressed to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan.

"Our greater concern is for global health. The Brazilian strain of Zika virus harms health in ways that science has not observed before."

However, the WHO released a statement saying that based on its current assessment, "cancelling or changing the location of the 2016 Olympics will not significantly alter the international spread of Zika virus."

The organisation noted that Brazil has been the epicentre of the virus and one of almost 60 countries that have reported continuing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes, CNN reported.

"People continue to travel between these countries and territories for a variety of reasons. The best way to reduce risk of disease is to follow public health travel advice," the WHO said.

The International Olympic Committee has said it has no plans to cancel or postpone the Games.

The officials in the letter stated the Zika virus has "more serious medical consequences than previously known" and has worsened in the Rio area despite widespread mosquito treatment programmes.

"It is unethical to run the risk," the letter said, adding "It is therefore imperative that WHO conduct a fresh, evidence-based assessment of Zika and the Games, and its recommendations for travellers."

The Olympics are scheduled to begin on August 5-21. More than 500,000 people are expected to travel to Brazil from around the world.

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Long live the King! Rafael Nadal wins 200th Grand Slam match!

Rafael Nadal, the King of Clay, has reached another milestone here at Roland Garros with his 200th Grand Slam win, as he routed 26-year-old Argentine Facundo Bagnis in straight sets, breezing through to the third round.

Interestingly, the Spaniard wasn’t aware of the fact that he is the eighth player in the history of tennis to have achieved such a feat; he rather would focus on the present than resting on his laurels.

“I even didn’t know that. For me, the most important thing is a victory in the second round more than the 200 victories. That’s only another number, and that’s it.”

His first Grand Slam win was back in 2003, at Wimbledon against Croatian Mario Ancic. Nadal made it to the third round that year, becoming the youngest player since Boris Becker to do so at Wimbledon in the Open Era.

“That was my first Wimbledon in 2003. It has always been a dream for me to play there, a major victory for me,” Nadal fondly recalled.

Nadal, a nine-time champion here in Roland Garros, is seeded fourth this year, and his name falls in the top half of the draw along with top seed Novak Djokovic. Both the players have had a smooth run in the tournament so far, and if we are lucky, we can expect a semi-final face-off between the arch-rivals. That would be the most-awaited encounter of the tournament, the ‘real final’ before the final.

Djokovic, a three-time runner-up here in Paris, had lost on two occasions to Nadal in the finals — in 2012 and 2014. However, when the duo met last time here in the quarter-finals, it was Djokovic who emerged as the winner.

But this year, things are different. Nadal has been making a slow but steady progress, and seems to have regained his rhythm, even though the aura of invincibility around him has faded a bit. Nevertheless, he wouldn’t make things easy for Djokovic this time.

“Each year is different. Things keep on changing. We have a new story to write. The only thing I know is that I have reached round No. 3. That’s the only thing that matters for me, and what I know is I have to play at a very high level in order to go deep. That’s my sole objective, the only reality. The other is mere speculation. And that’s not something I like,” a pragmatic Nadal opined.

Nadal doesn’t see himself as a 9-time champion in Roland Garros, and for the same reason, he isn’t satiated. Like Oliver Twist, he wants some more!