UN8ELIEVABLE ...

Rafael Nadal is the Champion of Roland Garros - again. He beat David Ferrer in 3 sets by a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 scoreline and wins the tournament for an 8th time. It is a record number of wins at any of the Slams, and he holds the record for the most matches won there. Hard facts ... amazing.

It was played in almost constant drizzle, there were protesters shouting for their cause which interrupted play, we had a court invasion by some bare chested loon wearing a Phantom mask and waving a lit flare ... and Rafa overcame all of it. And Novak Djokovic.

I think we kind of got the match we were expecting. It wasn't massively high quality, and Rafa's form was up and down. I do think though, that the scoreline didn't quite reflect the effort of Daveed. There was a high number of broken serves, but the telling statistic was that Daveed couldn't convert on all of the chances that he did have. For me, there was a distinct feeling of inevitability the moment he led by 2 sets to 0, and I was happy for that. I'd seen enough drama on Friday to last me a lifetime.

I'm watching the reply back as I'm typing this because seriously, the stress of getting so wrapped up in a match means that I can barely remember any of it in the immediate aftermath. And I don't have Rafa's photographic memory for points. :D To be honest though guys, I think perhaps the final was always going to be a bit of anti-climax, because Rafa's biggest match was always going to be on Friday. And I just felt that if he got through that, than he would beat whoever he met thereafter.

And so to Rafa. I always feel this ... but just when you think you couldn't admire him any more for what he does, you just do. I mean, I'm watching a reply of a Rafa slide, and I can see a puncture wound in that left knee, he's wearing the strapping, he was full of sickness so couldn't come back at the start of the year, he got thumped in that first final when he started his comeback ... and yet here he is again - Champion of Roland Garros.

He now has 12 Slam titles, and is joint third in the All-Time list. And he doesn't just do it at Roland Garros. He's won Monte Carlo and Barcelona 8 times, Rome 7 times ... on clay, he truly is Rafa the Gr8te. And for all those clowns that dumb down his achievements because he's done it on a specialist surface, well ... they're just an embarrassment. But then, of course, we should never forget how "lucky" he is to have 3 of the Masters and 1 Slam played on clay. :D I think of all the trophies, this is the one he was aiming for, and this is the one he wanted. The way he kissed that trophy after lifting it, and the tears in his eyes whilst he listened to the Spanish national anthem, for me, showed all his emotion and what it meant to him.

The fact that I was able to attend this year's event also makes it special for me. It's a great feeling guys, when you now watch it on the telly, and have an understanding for what it's like being courtside, and the view you get from the stands. And when they do those pan shots of the court and site, you know what it's like to walk down those avenues, to see the redness of the clay ... it's just ... well, great. Special. It's made me very, very happy to know that I've seen Rafa play on clay on Philippe Chatrier, and one of the highlights of my time as a fan.

Although at one set down, and 0-3 down in the tie breaker on that first Monday ... it took all my self control not to whip my top off, don a Phantom mask and go running on that court to kick his famoos ass. :D :D

But seriously ... he's a special man, a special player and I have never in all my life been put through the wringer to watch sport like I have with him. But I will treasure all of these memories - all the highs and the lows - for a very long time. Because on days like today, they become worth it.

But frankly, this tournament has now exhausted me. I don't think I could stand to watch another tennis match right now. From the drama and poor play of the first week, the weather, the scheduling and "that" match ... I'm done in. So let's all have a couple of weeks R and R, look forward to the trophy pictures with Goofy at EuroDisney tomorrow, and get ready to do it all again ...

At Wimbledon.