Federer, the 22-year-old from Switzerland, could not escape what seems to be becoming inevitable.

Such is the inertia of the climate system that far more dramatic changes have already become inevitable.

At some point or other it had probably become inevitable, but I didn't know just when that point was.

After the court ruling, change became inevitable, and has already begun.

Julia died before a breach between her husband and father had become inevitable.

And then suddenly everyone was saying with the most perfect assurance that it would happen again soon - so swiftly does the unthinkable become inevitable.

Gradually, African church leadership was encouraged - or became inevitable.

This is why we must decide to send a peace force now, as this has become inevitable.

By the time I see things they've become inevitable.

By now the division of the Netherlands into separate states had become almost inevitable.