Rafa roars ...

... back on that rollercoaster again, eh? Again, because of the time difference, I couldn't watch the match. But the first set sounds like a usual pattern for someone who plays Karlovic ... due to his serve, everything is even, but then when as Rafa did, you throw in the one dodgy service game - bang ... the set is all over. As was the case here. At 5-5 Rafa lost his serve and Karlovic served out to take the first set.


Rafa roared back and took the second 6-1. But then it all became equal again which resulted in that final set tie-breaker. Thank god I was tucked up in bed because I don't know if I'd have been able to take the tension. Rafa and tie-breakers = Wooffs a nervous wreck. And this was a close one. He held match points because of some of Rafa's own stunning play, and at 7-6, he finally took one.


Hurrah and thank you Lord and Sweet Jesus above. And cue MASSIVE celebrations from Rafa. Boy, did that mean something to him. Hopefully it will have pumped him up for his next big encounter ... a semi-final against Juan Martin Del Potro.

Take him Rafa!! Pound him! Get him! and ... VAMOS!!!


Enjoy the phots of just what it meant to Rafa to win ...