Quiver to the Max!! - I'm NOT, I repeat NOT, going to buy one ...

Remember this quote from Rafan's last report??

"I haven't got tickets for Thursday night. And I'm NOT, I repeat NOT, going to buy one."

Well. She did ...

So…last night. Just as I was getting off the tube at the O2 I had a text saying Rafa was practising in the main arena. I high-tailed it up to the information point (opposite 409 for those of you still going) and asked if I could swap my ticket, they said yes straight away and I got into Block 106 row C. The secret is to get there either before the doubles start or while they're on - basically they want these seats filled for the TV cameras. So why they don't sell them in the first place I do not know! The only problem with them (and this more of a problem for tennissssss fans rather than Rafa ), is that you do get a slightly inhibited view, as the TV cameras can get in the way a bit, plus you can't see all the lines so don't know if a ball is in or out sometimes! The good things are that you are close to the players (or Rafa as I like to call him ;) ) and you get the full effect of balls whistling towards you.

Anyhoo, I took my seat and Rafa was just finishing up his serving practice, and then left the court. I heard from Womble that she'd managed to get better seats in 107, so that was great!

The doubles was "ok", I didn't really care, just wanted it over and done with. The other two doubles matches which I've watched were more entertaining - the Polish pair are good! Luckily despite going into a match tiebreak, the doubles was over in good time for an 8 pm start for Rafa/Tsonga. At that point I felt a bit isolated in 106 so I ran to the information point again and asked to swap my ticket for one in 107. They said "yes" and gave me a ticket which was just behind the barrier and down and across from Womble, so we could exchange nervous glances every now and then!

I don't know how you all saw it on TV - but pretty much Tsonga was excellent. His net play was as good as it was in the doubles in Cordoba, and his serve was on to (though I think Rafa ended up with a higher first serve percentage but much less on it). Rafa did seem much more up for it though than he was on Tuesday night, and there was a lot of "vamos", plus of course a fabulous knee up first pump vamos (at the other end of the court unfortunately). Again though I think he just ran out of steam, and to be honest Tsonga deserved it.

When Rafa came off court he signed and then he was gone.

Sorry for Angie [our Rafateer friend] though as she didn't get to see Rafa. I don't know what Angie and Womble are hoping for (maybe a Djokovic/Feds semi - hopefully it would be a good match!) but I hope that you get what you wish for!

Vamos to lovely Rafa, it has once again been a pleasure to see him, and I've had lovely moments this week between the *hiding* and *nailbiting*

And I would just like to add my heart-felt thanks to Rafan for bringing us all her detailed reports, her pictures, and all the gossip from the O2 that we would never have otherwise heard of. She works hard to bring us all this stuff, so I hope you've enjoyed it and I really appreciate being able to bring it to you here.

Thank you Rafan! You are the best!!