Oh Dear God Almighty Rafa ... why do you do this to us?? I knew it wouldn't be easy for Rafa because Isner is not a great match up for him. Massive serve, great height, so Rafa's high bouncing top spin isn't as much a danger ... and the key for him playing Isner is to try and serve well himself and make the most of any break points that came his way.
And for a set and half, that was what Rafa was exactly doing. He broke in the first to take it 6-4 and had a break in the second. But a sloppy service game gave it right back with Isner taking the one break point he had, and then it carried on serve to a tie-breaker. And here we had Rafa playing pretty nervous and poorly within it and in the blink of an eye ... it was set all.
This obviously rocked Rafa, and his play was at times short and at others, lacking rhythm, but it kept on serve until Isner was at 5-6 down with Rafa having break points and thus set points, but he lost them all. So there we were again, firmly :clunk: :clicked: into another rollercoaster ride ... and the shoot out of the tie-break saw Rafa play nervy again and other one was lost.
If Rafa was to win this ... then it was the hard way, and to go to a 5th.
But he came firing out of the blocks and got an early break, and then another ... and he played almost the perfect set as he made ZERO unforced errors and he took it 6-2. Bravo Rafa!!! He once again took an early break in the 5th which was good, as he was serving second and it took some of that pressure away. Isner never had a sniff on Rafa's serve and although the final game was tight ... our boy prevailed at 6-4.
Cue much leaping around and vamossing, even from Toni. It was tight, it was nervy ... it was a first round match that was typical of Rafa and with him facing a more worthy opponent than most do.
Of course there are those out there already writing his obituary. This is Rafa's SEVENTH season at the top on clay courts people. We know its not going to last forever, we know that at some point its going to drop off a shade ... it happens. I don't think he's quite done here and credit to him for coming out of it. And before people dance on his grave or read too much into it, Isner took the only one break point he had ... Rafa squandered several ... Rafa's nerves got to him in the breakers which happens to the best of them in the first round matches ... but he was imperious in the fourth and found a way and did not squander his opportunities in the fifth.
That's why he's Rafa ... and that is why he is STILL THE NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD!! Vamos!!
And for a set and half, that was what Rafa was exactly doing. He broke in the first to take it 6-4 and had a break in the second. But a sloppy service game gave it right back with Isner taking the one break point he had, and then it carried on serve to a tie-breaker. And here we had Rafa playing pretty nervous and poorly within it and in the blink of an eye ... it was set all.
This obviously rocked Rafa, and his play was at times short and at others, lacking rhythm, but it kept on serve until Isner was at 5-6 down with Rafa having break points and thus set points, but he lost them all. So there we were again, firmly :clunk: :clicked: into another rollercoaster ride ... and the shoot out of the tie-break saw Rafa play nervy again and other one was lost.
If Rafa was to win this ... then it was the hard way, and to go to a 5th.
But he came firing out of the blocks and got an early break, and then another ... and he played almost the perfect set as he made ZERO unforced errors and he took it 6-2. Bravo Rafa!!! He once again took an early break in the 5th which was good, as he was serving second and it took some of that pressure away. Isner never had a sniff on Rafa's serve and although the final game was tight ... our boy prevailed at 6-4.
Cue much leaping around and vamossing, even from Toni. It was tight, it was nervy ... it was a first round match that was typical of Rafa and with him facing a more worthy opponent than most do.
Of course there are those out there already writing his obituary. This is Rafa's SEVENTH season at the top on clay courts people. We know its not going to last forever, we know that at some point its going to drop off a shade ... it happens. I don't think he's quite done here and credit to him for coming out of it. And before people dance on his grave or read too much into it, Isner took the only one break point he had ... Rafa squandered several ... Rafa's nerves got to him in the breakers which happens to the best of them in the first round matches ... but he was imperious in the fourth and found a way and did not squander his opportunities in the fifth.
That's why he's Rafa ... and that is why he is STILL THE NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD!! Vamos!!
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