So it was quarter-final time ... and the one saving grace is that Rafa has at least matched his result here from last year. But up next was Mardy Fish (don't let me start on those ugly, baggy, sweaty, grey shorts ... but I swear if I have to see them one more time, I shall scream.) Anyhow, Fish is a bit of the form player on the US hardcourts this season - no, really - and plays the sort of "American" classic hardcourt play which isn't particular in one style, but he mixes up in several different ways. So in short, Rafa was in for a hard match.
And yet I told myself that this is going to be one of those tournies where its bad match, good match for Rafa and hence ... it was his time for a good one. And so it started, with Rafa having a break point in the first of Fish's opening games, but somehow he inexplicably stopped play because he was sure that a baseline shot of Fish's was out ... but Hawkeye proved that by a hair's breadth ... it was in. Point and advantage lost, Rafa.
And it didn't get much better from there ...
Rafa was broken in his second service game and Fish raced to a 4-1 lead. Credit somehow to Rafa that he held his next two serves but he made no in-roads whatsoever on the Fish serve and therefore lost the first set 6-3.
I thought Rafa was playing a little better than against Fer, but the reality was, his opponent was better still, and even though he had a couple of break points ... Rafa could do nothing with them. He ended up losing serve again, and Fish had no nerves in serving out for the match which he took at 6-4.
So what to make of Rafa?? Un-inspired, perhaps not fit (or fit enough), laboured, nervy and no confidence. He has exactly one week till the defence of his US Open title and typical Rafa of late, he says that perhaps he is not in his best condition, but he will try his best.
Rafa's best - this season - just hasn't been good enough.
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