Hello everybody. Don't worry ... I haven't gone off in some sort of huff because of the result of the Wimbledon final. Nor have I abandoned Rafi ... that will never happen. I've just been a bit busy, that's all.
So to recap.
Once again I awoke on that Sunday morning absolutely convinced that Rafa would win that match. He'd been marvellous against Andy Murray, a display of total tennis, and he had all the experience here at Wimbledon - his 5th final for God's sake - so surely, surely this time the God's would favour him?? But no. As we all know, Rafa has been completely open and admitted that Djokovic is in his head now, and his once famed nerves of steel now warp a bit under the pressure. And so whilst the match started off looking fairly even and went with serve, when Rafa (who as usual, elected to receive when winning the toss therefore always putting himself behind) stood to serve at 4-5 down ... his nerves kicked in under the pressure and he lost serve, and of course ... the set. Bang! and gone ...
And it looked like that first strike by Djokovic crushed him as Rafa was just overcome in the second and lost it 6-1. Astonishing.
I have to say, I have never hated watching one of Rafa's matches so much. Hated every single minute of it. But Djokovic's level dropped a little in the third and Rafa took advantage. Now it was his turn to romp away with a set, 6-1. Could he? Can he? Could the seemingly impossible really happen??
When Rafa had break points at the start of the fourth we could not have shouted him on more. But he lost them, and lost his chance. And then worse still ... he lost his own serve, probably because once again, his mind was all over the place after knowing he didn't take the opportunity when it came to him. But credit to Rafa, he kept on fighting back and got the immediate break back. Good boy. So it goes with serve and then Rafa stood to serve at 3-4 ... and again, baulked under the pressure. The might with which his Dad banged on the stand when Rafa lost his serve was felt by all of us, because Djokovic stood to serve for the match. And didn't fail.
Rafa ... if you can take heart from anything, it was the depth of feeling that the crowd poured on you that day. We love you here, you are a people's champion. The cheers that greeted you as you walked round that court in your lap of honour are testament to everything we think about you and it is a love that Djokovic can only dream about.
Rafa couldn't even watch him lift that trophy and there wasn't the slighted bit of eye contact when they crossed as they walked round the famed Centre Court. Did your crass behaviour in Madrid put an end to that friendship, Novak? Learn how to be a good winner, that's an art in itself.
So we were again left disappointed by the result of this match up. Enjoy your holiday Rafa, and thank you for the Spring/early Summer season you've brought us. Fabulous to be in the final of every competition you've entered, shame that its the same guy that has been beating you.
Never mind ... the Wimbledon trophy is only on loan. Rafa will find a way ... VAMOS!!
So to recap.
Once again I awoke on that Sunday morning absolutely convinced that Rafa would win that match. He'd been marvellous against Andy Murray, a display of total tennis, and he had all the experience here at Wimbledon - his 5th final for God's sake - so surely, surely this time the God's would favour him?? But no. As we all know, Rafa has been completely open and admitted that Djokovic is in his head now, and his once famed nerves of steel now warp a bit under the pressure. And so whilst the match started off looking fairly even and went with serve, when Rafa (who as usual, elected to receive when winning the toss therefore always putting himself behind) stood to serve at 4-5 down ... his nerves kicked in under the pressure and he lost serve, and of course ... the set. Bang! and gone ...
And it looked like that first strike by Djokovic crushed him as Rafa was just overcome in the second and lost it 6-1. Astonishing.
I have to say, I have never hated watching one of Rafa's matches so much. Hated every single minute of it. But Djokovic's level dropped a little in the third and Rafa took advantage. Now it was his turn to romp away with a set, 6-1. Could he? Can he? Could the seemingly impossible really happen??
When Rafa had break points at the start of the fourth we could not have shouted him on more. But he lost them, and lost his chance. And then worse still ... he lost his own serve, probably because once again, his mind was all over the place after knowing he didn't take the opportunity when it came to him. But credit to Rafa, he kept on fighting back and got the immediate break back. Good boy. So it goes with serve and then Rafa stood to serve at 3-4 ... and again, baulked under the pressure. The might with which his Dad banged on the stand when Rafa lost his serve was felt by all of us, because Djokovic stood to serve for the match. And didn't fail.
Rafa ... if you can take heart from anything, it was the depth of feeling that the crowd poured on you that day. We love you here, you are a people's champion. The cheers that greeted you as you walked round that court in your lap of honour are testament to everything we think about you and it is a love that Djokovic can only dream about.
Rafa couldn't even watch him lift that trophy and there wasn't the slighted bit of eye contact when they crossed as they walked round the famed Centre Court. Did your crass behaviour in Madrid put an end to that friendship, Novak? Learn how to be a good winner, that's an art in itself.
So we were again left disappointed by the result of this match up. Enjoy your holiday Rafa, and thank you for the Spring/early Summer season you've brought us. Fabulous to be in the final of every competition you've entered, shame that its the same guy that has been beating you.
Never mind ... the Wimbledon trophy is only on loan. Rafa will find a way ... VAMOS!!
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