It's not about the quality of the match today, or that once again Rafa put us through the wringer ... he got done what he needed to do. Win the second of two matches that secured him the Year End No. 1, and that's massive.
Do you remember at the beginning of the year, Neil Harman published an article in The Times with Rafa's face pictured on a black background and it was lit in a way to show the dark circles under his eyes, his unshaven skin, and it did it's best to present him as sick and wan. Well, he had been sick. Sick enough to debilitate him and so the comeback wasn't made in Abu Dhabi, and indeed, he still wasn't fit enough to appear in the Australian Open. But since his comeback finally started in South America, he's gone from wan to WIN!! 10 victories - 2 Slams, 5 Masters and 3 x 500 series. Amazing. And with those results and other final and semi-final appearances he finally made it back to Number 1 ... and now he's reached the accolade of being the Year End No. 1. And it's fully deserved.
In some ways I feel too exhausted to perhaps feel it like I should, probably because in spite of Rafa's success, it still feels like a rollercoaster - as it always does. But the stand out parts of it all for me was that semi-final victory in the French Open in Paris, that fabulous (and largely unexpected) win in Indian Wells, and the way he attacked the US hardcourt season with that ultimate, magnificent victory in New York. The style and standard of tennis Rafa played in those hardcourt tournaments was better and of a higher quality than anything I saw on the clay. He was amazing.
And I wish to emphasise that Rafa has won all he has ... because he really is that good. Yes really. He IS that good. That's why he's a winner, that's why he's a Champion, that's why he is the best player in the world and that's why he is the Year End No. 1 player. Bravo Rafa. Very, very well deserved.
Great post, love it!
ReplyDeleteAs expected, alwyas a great post Wooffie. Was looking forward to reading it. I was exhausted from the Stan match. Thru the wringer is an understatement. Rafa tasked me, but, as we have come to expect, he came thru in the end. The sheer joy on his face expressed how much this meant to him. Now I am being greedy, and wanting him to up his game, and take the Championship!!
ReplyDeleteMe too Catherine. I thought I would be happy with him just winning the 2 matches to seal No. 1, but now that's in the bag I want him to get to bite that trophy!
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