Sod off !!!

So here we were ... back to another Sod off, sorry stand off with Robin Soderling. Quite frankly, the furore that surrounds this turnip still never ceases to amaze me. He had one win against Rafa in "that" match last, year, went on to win a 250 series and his biggest triumph to date, a 500 series ... and here he is. Supposedly Rafa's nemesis and the one man with a game to take it Rafa. For a set maybe.

And that was the case. Whether it was nerves or not, Rafa started dreadfully and found himself 0-5 down in no time. But then he clawed a game back, and then another ... just slowly started to feel his way into the match, and whilst he only managed one more game and lost the first set, 6-3, he was starting to play.

And so to a very important second. One of the significant features of this match was once again ... the umpire. First altercation was a ball that was called out which Rafa hit but pulled away with his shot as he heard the call. The Sod challenged, it was shown to be in, so the umpire gave the point to the Sod ... which gave him a break point. Rafa mounted a heated protest to the umpire to play a let as he had a shot on that ball, but held back. To no avail ... the umpire wasn't moving. But this seemed to fire our Rafa on and he took the second set 6-3.

In the third, the controversy really started. Rafa had a break and went ahead to lead 5-4. The players then sat down at for the changeover before Rafa had serve to serve for the set. And that's when it happened ... the Sod called for the trainer.

Now ... bear in mind the flak and outrage that Rafa had to endure because he called a MTO early in the 4th set on Saturday to seek some assistance for the pain in his knees ... and then the Sod calls the trainer to look at the dressing on his big toe. I ask you. Sure, its within the rules and the umpire allowed it ... but they sat there and sat there, waiting for the trainer to come which he did ... nearly 10 minutes later and then we have the MTO for a ickle old plaster change. I was incandescent with rage. That was completely and utterly blatant cheating. No other word for it. No way could he not have been able to carry on for one more game before the longer break after the set ... but no. The Sod employed gamesmanship to its highest level ... and there was nothing Rafa could do about it.

After the whole debacle, Rafa stood to serve for the set ... and served a double fault. Another followed two points later and the utter evilness of that Sod stare came into play as he heralded his break back and levelled at 5-5. I totally ... hate him. And then we stood at a tie-break decider after both players got to 6-6. I detest Rafa tie breaks ... cos he's not got a good record in them. And I also think they so much more favour the guy with the big serve. And to think, there was Rafa playing well with all the momentum and about to serve out for a 2 sets to 1 lead, and that despicable twonk started his antics. I needn't have worried. From somewhere, Rafa played a solid breaker and took it 7 points to 4.

The fourth set turned into a rout - or maybe it was because the Sod's toe was hurting him ... aww, poor lamb, with hateful blisters ... but Rafa dished out a breadstick set and leapt in the air when he beat him at 6-1.

He faces Mandy *bleurgh* Murray next in the semi-final. Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych face off in the other. Go on Rafa ... you can do it, you can DO it!!

Significantly and one of the most joyous sights to be held yesterday, was Feds on the receiving end of a 3 sets to 1 tonking. He was out, for the second Slam in a row not making the semi-finals. He was gutted after the match, close to tears, citing injury and generally taking the defeat very badly, tantamount to the sore loser that he is.

Two results that absolutely made my day.