Scratchy and patchy ...

It wasn't vintage, was it??

I wouldn't even say it was a fairly typical start for Rafa as he took his time to adjust to the surface and everything else that goes with it ... cos when does he ever go 0-4 down at the start of a match? The thing is though, Bellucci sometimes belies his ranking. He gave Rafa a pretty hard time at the French Open in 2010, and last year, wasn't it Canada where he took a set off the PoD and had chances in the second too??

So it wasn't quite the "cakewalk" opening match people accuse him of and Bellucci didn't half smack that ball at the start. But then, this is probably why he is ranked where he is because its as if he suddenly copped on to what he was doing and got tight. Rafa roared back to 4-4, and then when Bellucci was away from expectation, he started playing with more freedom again. The set edged to a tie-breaker, but Bellucci's nerve was nowhere, and he got trounced 7-0.

The second set was more solid from Rafa, and with two breaks of serve and excellent stats racking up within it, he took command of the match as he won it 6-2.

After a quick toilet break for Rafa (I'm surprised that there hasn't been more abuse for him running out to take a wee and how that put off his opponent), the third set started with more of the same. Rafa broke early, so you would think here we go ... its a romp, but Bellucci had other ideas. He broke Rafa right back, and so it stayed on serve until Rafa broke in the 6th game with some beautiful play. At 5-2 with Bellucci serving, it was a bit of good shot, bad shot from Rafa, ending with a great shot from Bellucci. But when Rafa served at 5-3 it was two mistakes from Bellucci, followed by one from Rafa, then another one, then one from Bellucci, and bang! An ace by Rafa to win it. Who cares, he's through ... one match at a time.

And what a great picture ... as Rafa was leaving the court, Camp Vamo3 was pictured in all their flag bearing, pom pom waving glory. What a great way to end the match.  And  by the way ... you two know who you are, but what a great shot of you from the stands by the TV when Rafa was signing.  Dame Wooffster approves ... ;)

VAMO3!!!