Sometimes, some things are just not meant to be ...
Rafa departed the WTF on Thursday evening after a courageous display against Jo-Wilfrid Tsonga by a 6-7, 6-4, 3-6 scoreline. He's struggled with his health at this tournie, but he still matched Tsonga all the way in the first set to take it to a tie-breaker. He surrendered that by 7 points to 2, and you did kind of have the feeling that if Rafa were to succeed in this match, he had to take the first set.
But he rallied, he kept himself in there, and he kept himself pumped. I saw more fist pumps and vamoses in that match than in a long while. And somehow, he worked his way back into it. He had nothing to look at on Tsonga's serve but in this set, he did manage a break of serve and that was all he needed to take it.
Sadly though, this effort left him with nothing in the tank and he had an early break of serve. Then the second came, and you knew it was curtains, only Tsonga choked when serving for the match but then sadly took Rafa's to win it.
When he met Rafan last Friday, Rafa said he was "perfect". Sadly, events took over and he became anything but.
So long to the ATP Tour for 2011. Bye Rafa, you did us proud ...
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