I woke on finals day with a calmness that overtook all the emotion that I had been feeling on the Saturday, because I just knew that he would DO it. After all, he is Rafael Nadal, he is fit, its clay ... its his time.
And his time it was ... Rafa chose the final to bring out his best tennis. Everything that the Sod had to throw at Rafa, he had an answer to. He retrieved for his life, he got back everything that came his way and that's without mentioning his own superior game. The Sod is actually just another of those one-dimensional bish-bash-bosh players in that when his one and only game plan of "hit hard" isn't working, all he has the intelligence for is to offer up ... "hit harder". He was out-played, out-thought, out-maneouvered ... out-classed.
Rafa became the French Open Champion for the fifth time with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
At his point of victory, he did his trademark falling to floor on his back, and he clenched his fists and shook them hard for all they were worth. Later when back in his chair, perhaps a whole 12 months of emotion came flooding out. 12 months of coming to terms with the loss of his most treasured titles, his injury, his pain, his parents divorce, his loss of confidence. But here he was, a Grand Slam Champion again ... and something to make it even sweeter, a return to the Number One position, stopping Federer from breaking Sampras' record of the most number of weeks at number 1. Perfect.
But back to that chair, there he was ... sobbing his heart out for all its worth. Huge, convulsive sobs which I hope helped drain away some of the pain that these past 12 months brought. If ever "Destiny" was ever realised, this was it.
Rafael Nadal ... the French Open Champion once more. His seventh Slam and I am sure, one of his sweetest.
We are proud of everything you do Rafa, and we shed a little tear whilst sitting in our homes for you. We didn't worry ... you are Nadal, and you did it Rafa ... you DID it!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment