Rafa took on Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in his fourth round match following the furore and nonsense after the weekend. Even with Rafa's right knee issues, I wasn't particularly worried about this opponent as he's never trouble him before and again, it proved to be the case.
Rafa put in a solid performance, slow to start, but he eventually romped away with it 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. His cross court backhand was a particularly lovely shot today. Interestingly, with Rafa a set up, about to serve for the second set, and obviously with all the momentum with him, Mathieu took a medical time out. *Tumbleweed* ... and that's representative of the total outcry that that particular MTO expended. Funny that.
There's not much to be said on the right knee injury and when questioned about in his presser, Rafa was non committal and said it was fine. A report today on 606 from someone who was at the match said that Rafa was wearing blue tape along his right thigh which you would assume was something to give some aide to it.
And so to the quarters ... and that ugly Sod. Literally. I hope Rafa gives him a pasting which fills his dimples in so that they won't be on show at the end of the match tomorrow. Rafa has been eschewed from Centre Court in favour of girly Feds (obviously) and Mandy Murray (obviously). But strangely I think 'the People's Court' on Number 1 might suit him better. Less of a stuffy atmosphere, and Rafa - for whatever 606 say - is a huge favourite at Wimbers. He won't be able to execute the excellent retrieving game he displayed in the French Open due to the surface, a game plan which totally wiped the Sod out as he threw everything at Rafa and still it didn't work. But he's still experienced enough on this surface to take it to him.
Come on Rafa ... you can do it, you can DO it!!
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