A totally flat and uninspiring Rafa defeated 32-year-old Ivan Ljubicic by a 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 scoreline. I'm struggling hard at the moment in knowing what to say about these matches. Rafa broke early and was racing ahead in the first set, only to be broken back and the set go to the wire before Rafa takes it. Towards the end of the second set, he started playing like the Rafa of old, but it then dropped in the third. He's still got enough to beat these guys, but there is a blankness behind the eyes, Rafa barely even celebrated his own win, and its obvious that he's finding it really, really hard work out there.
Mats Wilander in commentary said that when he won his last French Open, he only started playing well in the semi-final and final. As Rafa next faces Robin Soderling ... will we even have the luxury of seeing if he can achieve this?? This flat, passionless Rafa is paining me to see. He's exciting to watch because he finds it exciting to play ... but not at the moment. His flesh isn't weak, but his spirit isn't willing. We will support him through it, come what may ... but seeing Rafa a shadow of the player we know he is ... well, its killing me.
Mats Wilander in commentary said that when he won his last French Open, he only started playing well in the semi-final and final. As Rafa next faces Robin Soderling ... will we even have the luxury of seeing if he can achieve this?? This flat, passionless Rafa is paining me to see. He's exciting to watch because he finds it exciting to play ... but not at the moment. His flesh isn't weak, but his spirit isn't willing. We will support him through it, come what may ... but seeing Rafa a shadow of the player we know he is ... well, its killing me.
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