A sad loss ...

Rafa faced Ivan Dodig in his first match and although it was rain delayed, who expected any problems? Not me. I didn't watch the match live and the highlights I taped only covered the second set tie breaker and the final set, so I didn't get to see any of what was described as pure Rafa magic for a set and half. He was 6-1 and 3-1 up and coasting, but then a break and all the doubts and angst that Rafa has had with his game of late seemed to creep in.

He was taken to a tie breaker in the second set and lost it 7-5. He then raced to an early lead of 3-0 in the third, but to be honest, it wasn't a convincing 3-0 ... it was ugly and hard worked and it wasn't really a shocker that 3-0 became 3-1, then 3-2 then 3-3. And even when Rafa broke again and served for the match, Dodig coming always from behind, didn't have a care in the world and just served like a demon and hit for all he was worth and it worked. Two great shots from Dodig and 2 errors from Rafa lost him that game and it went on serve to the breaker. Again, Rafa got an early lead but the inspired Dodig came through and again won it 7-5 to stun Rafa.

There's been a lot of talk of Rafa being full of a cold and sickness, and it seemed like he was, but in my opinion, this loss has been coming all year ... its just that Rafa has managed to get away with it before. And this pattern of a stellar first set and first few games of the second, to be then met with aggression from his opponent which has alarmed Rafa and knocked his confidence, is a worry. The Rafa who is on his game and full of confidence used to easily run away with matches from commanding positions ... but not at the moment. He was lucky to get through that match against Berdych in Indian Wells, he could have gone out in his first match at Rome, who can forget that opening match against Isner and that woeful first week in the French Open? I don't know what's wrong, and I don't think its his game ... but I think the blow of losing at the Australian Open and the chance of the RafaSlam, ,followed by the unexpected rise of Djokovic has taken its toll. And the joy seems to have gone out of his game.

He was still troubled with his foot when he re-commenced practice after his summer break and perhaps he's not conditioned properly yet. Maybe a few more unexpected days off and practice might aide him in Cincy. I hope so ...

But to not be alarmist, the tennis writer Steve Tignor has written this piece about the match and perhaps we should take heart from his more objective view ...