Take that!!

Not sure I've enjoyed one of Rafa's down-the-line-bendy-out-then-in forehands more than that. :D

What a great match, and what a fantastic victory by Rafa.

To be honest, I thought this match had probably come too soon in Rafa's return and I wasn't expecting the victory. WRONG!! I felt a tad disappointed that when comfortably leading 40-0 in the 8th game of the second set, Rafa allowed himself to get distracted by going to hawkeye for a shot when he could have let it go, and before you knew it, he was broken and the PoD was serving for the set. Then more craziness with the umpire and the set was gone. But I thought Rafa was superb in the third, particularly when facing break points. Sure, the third was pretty even and ended with two emphatic service holds by both players ... but Rafa in the tie-breaker was utterly superb.

I have a long-held theory that if Rafa had managed to win that tie-breaker set in Miami in September 2011, then maybe, just maybe, the PoD wouldn't have then gone on to have the tear he had. Taking two Masters titles from Rafa when he was the No. 1 did loads for Djerk in my opinion, and I'm hoping that Rafa kicks on from his supremely aggressive play shown yesterday.

So the PoD has now lost 5 of the last 6 matches they've played. Good. And he's lost the semi-final here, the Wimbledon final, the French Open semi-final, imploded in Rome when serving for the match and went out early in Madrid. Long may it continue.

And for Rafa ... yet another final and a great chance against Milos Raoniczzzzzzzz tonight. Go get him Tiger!!