Monte Carlo Day 7 - Going for Eight ...

So what was it going to be? Eight victories in a row for Rafa at the Monte Carlo Masters, or eight victories in a row for Djokovic against Rafa?

Hand up who felt the nerves??

We decided on an early start again to get up to the Club, so we arrived at about 9.30 am. And so began the questioning of where Rafa might practice. We stayed for a bit on the main terrace until Rafan thought she'd go and have a wander to see what she could find out. I just stayed to admire the views when I got a text that word was that Rafa would be practising on Court 2 at 10.30 am. I started to make my descent down to Court 2 and then Uncle Toni passed me on the way. I wished him "Good Luck for today!"

There were a few other Rafa fans waiting around Court 2, so all seemed rather promising. Eventually Rafan joined me and was squeaking with excitement as she'd been around the main entrance when Rafa arrived and he'd signed the Monte Carlo 2012 tennis ball that Costa gave to her. What a treat, and what a momento!! By now it was approaching 10.30 am, and Rafa fans were growing in number. We made our entrance onto Court 2 and found that Sky Sports Barry Cowan was also there with a camera crew. So someone asked, "Barry! Are you here for Rafa?", and he just gave that schoolboy gurn of his and replied, "Yes". One of our gang reminded Barry that next time he spoke of "the Spanish fans", he should remember that we are actually British fans who come and support Rafa. Lets see, huh? ;)

So we all then sat along the front row of the seats of the court, happy in that we would get a brilliant un-obscured view of Rafa ... and waited. And waited. There was a little boy practising his shots on there with someone who you assume was his coach. Eventually, the coach came over to us and said, "Are you waiting for Rafa, because they gave US this court to practice on." *gaah* Just at the same time, Barry Cowan must have been tipped the nod as he packed up and left, and the word was that Rafa would go onto the Centre Court to practice - as he had done last year. So we all headed off there but we were refused entry until 11.15 am which meant that Rafa at least had half an hour of closed practice.

So when they eventually let us in, we took up positions to watch. If I'm being perfectly honest, there was nothing particularly inspiring about Rafa's practice at all ... indeed, there hadn't been for the whole week. When he finished, he had to do a couple of media interviews, and then he was gone.

Enter Djokovic into the arena. Whereas Rafan had learnt from our European cousins that if you don't ask you don't get, something I'd picked up from our Italian friends was that I would just sit right down in any [slightly more comfortable seat] seat whilst I ate my lunch and would only move when the ticket holder actually arrived ... but the Englishness of Rafan won through and she went right up the stand to sit in her actual seat to eat hers. Hehe ...

So we watched the PoD do his practice ... and the difference between him and Rafa was alarming. He was hitting the ball beautifully. He had perfect length, his shots had "pop", the sound of the ball coming off his racquet sounded perfect ... and he wasn't even going at it full tilt. DOOM!!

I went to re-join Rafan and take my seat, and at 1.50 pm sharp, the whole event started. Monte Carlo does put on a sense of ceremony at the final which is nice. You have a whole heap of ballboys and girls that stand at one end of the court, and some that make a guard of honour which each player passes through, following their own national flag. Prince Albert and the Princess were in attendance as usual, and they playrd the Monagasque National Anthem. After the players' introductions and knock ups ... then we were ready to start.

Yikes.

I was convinced that the French and the Italians would be there in full voice for Djokovic. Not so. Rafa was soundly supported by all of us who had travelled from the UK and there were plenty of others in the stadium who were doing likewise. The great thing was that so many people had made an effort and were dressed in Rafa t-shirts or the red and gold of Spain, and many of us were there with our flags to wave and MAC from VB had very kindly handed out a load of red and gold pom poms to cheer with. Whatever the outcome of this match, we were going to make sure that Rafa was cheered to the rafters and we wanted to make him know it.

In the seven other meetings between this pair, whilst I'd had some fear about the outcome, if I'm being perfectly honest I always believed that is was going to be "this time". And even though I could watch it all unfold before me and be more part of it than what you ever can just watching on a TV screen, I couldn't for the life of me escape this feeling of "doom". Sorry folks, I just couldn't. Rafan and I were looking at each other and saying, "I just don't know what he can do to beat this guy!"

To be honest, I can barely remember much of the match. More because we were living on our nerves. When Rafa got that break in the first set and took it, we still didn't dare let ourselves catch our breath. "This is what he does," said Rafan. "He gives him the first set as a bit of a headstart, and then comes along and takes it from him." But Rafa was playing storming stuff in the second. He got his first break of serve, he then took his second. I shouted out, "Believe, Rafa!!", but I could barely believe it myself. When he stood to serve at 4-0, I think Rafa reacted to how we were all thinking ... if I get this service game under my belt, I'm 5-0 up. FIVE ... LOVE.

I think those voices in his head just got the better of him, and at 4-0 down, Djokovic had nothing to lose just by hitting and hoping. And Rafa lost his serve. But this is where I am most impressed by Rafa. In Djokovic's next service game, he concentrated, got himself back on track ... and broke to love. 5-1 and Rafa was to serve to be Champion.

Rafan and I never said a word to each other. I was exhaling loudly, we were looking at each other, until it got to the point where that became unbearable and we were yelling to each other ... "DON'T EVEN LOOK AT ME!!" as Rafa took to serve. In the days of old when we gathered together on our chat forum to keep each other company whilst Rafa was playing, I always used to do the "countdown" when Rafa got the 1-2-3 points he needed and then to win it. When he got the first, I said "One" ... and boy had it been a long time since I last did that. They started to accumulate until he got to match point, I could feel the tears coming cos he was about to do it ... and then he banged down that ace to victory.

We were totally and utterly ecstatic. Fabulous Rafa!! You DID IT!! Rafan and I hugged each other with relief and whilst Rafa let out a roar on victory, he kept a respectful and muted celebration if you ask me and did nothing in Djokovic's face so as not to be disrespectful considering his own personal situation of that week.

Which leads me on to this comment.

We all know that Djokovic lost his grandfather and that his funeral was on semi-finals day. And if Djokovic's mind was elsewhere, well, that was up to him. He had every choice as to either stay on in the tournament, or withdraw ... bearing in mind that he had nothing to lose if he did withdraw, and bearing in mind that if he stayed, then he must have known that his likely opponent in any final would be Rafa. But he chose to play on because from a professional point of view, he wanted to win the tournament, and he wanted to be the one to beat Rafa in order to do it. But he didn't, and comments like it wasn't the "real" Novak which were put to Rafa are disingenuous because as he said, the "real" Rafa has turned up when he's won or when he's lost. That's it ... whatever the circumstance.

But nothing, literally nothing will take the shine off this victory for us. Rafa cracked a joke in his acceptance speech thanking Djokovic for letting him have this one, and to see him biting a trophy again with a huge smile on his face was priceless. The manner of Rafa's victory pleases me the most and the fantastic tennis he played is a real joy. We basked in the victory until Rafa left the court, and then we joined Mrs L and Pearl for a drink and a chat - where we discussed World Peace, the Economy and the co-alition Government. Hehe. The VB girls were in full celebration mode in the background.

So that was it. Rafa was the Champion, the 8 times winner and he once again moves ahead of Federer for having the record number of Masters. It was a fantastic experience in one of the loveliest tournaments in the world, and we got to see Rafa break his recent duck and play fantastic tennis and DO IT. It was exhilarating, but very, very tiring.

So that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed the read and I hope I could bring you a little bit of the flavour of the tournament as we experienced it. My next big task is to sort through all of my photos, but I'll provide you with the links when I've done it, as I will with Rafan's as she has taken some stunning pics.

Lets hope this is just the start of good things for Rafa in this clay season *unjinx*. VAMOS!!!!