Oh-My-God ... !!!
source - Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Sunday 29 June 2014
Saturday 28 June 2014
Rafa's daily dose ...
"After my game... It's time for the World Cup!!!"
I don't care about the cushions, if I was the owner of that house I'd be saying ... "GET YOUR FEET OFF THAT TABLE!!!"
Lol
A trip to the bakery ...
Well it started seemingly with [Mikhail Kuckushkin] having "... the tiebreaker of his life!!" didn't it? Where Rafa had been serving so well, he was then getting buried on his second serves and *blink* that first set was gone. "Oh God, please let us not be in for another of "those" matches" was my thought.
I decided I'd clear off to the supermarket seeing as this was at least going to be a 4-setter ... and Rafa decided he'd go to the bakery.
One thing that has been utterly refreshing to us in the UK this Wimbledon, is having the likes of John McEnroe in the commentary booth. You know, someone who shamelessly likes and admires Rafa, and who cuts down those clown co-commentators we are so used to by plain common sense speaking and the fact that unlike them ... he's been at the top of the game, lifted Slams and knows exactly what it's like to experience it. Equally, Peter Fleming is being used really frequently by the BBC - which is also a blessing. I love his laconic wit and his calm, sage words when speaking of Rafa. During the clay season and unlike the usual band of buffoons out there, he didn't see any panic or crisis because Rafa lost at Barcelona, or at Rome ... the eye was on the big prize. And he summed up that tie-breaker succinctly and so no reason to panic. He's great ...
Rafa just went from strength to strength during that match. One game of note for me was the 5th game of the 4th set with Rafa serving. His general play and shot making was simply stunning. Amazing. David Beckham was standing and smiling and clapping Rafa in the Royal Box. I was standing and smiling and clapping David Beckham clapping Rafa in my [not so] Royal front room. And as I've been speaking of commentators, it's a pity that Timmy "pristeen white knickers" Henman wasn't commentating - although I doubt he'd be asking whether Kuckushkin would be paying Rafa for his tennis lesson like he said the other day whilst salivating all over Smugly. :)
Thankfully Rafa does get to play his next match on Monday as his opponent - Nick Kyrgios - was able to play his match in spite of today's bad weather. And as Rafa prepared to leave Centre Court today and do the obligatory signing, he finally disappeared beyond the green doors with the words of a young boy ringing in his ears after he'd signed two caps for him ... "Thank you very much. You're my hero". The manners of that boy and what he said fair old choked me up.
You're my hero ... yes Rafa. You truly are ...
Welcome to the second week, well played ... and VAMOS!!
Thursday 26 June 2014
It's not about revenge ...
Not for Rafa it isn't.
It's about winning a match to progress to the next round of the tournament. Because for him, what's past is past. It happened, it's over, it's gone. It sparked a black period for him physically, but "that match" happened 24 months ago ... and he's over it, and doesn't have to avenge it.
It still fuels endless media copy and banal discussion, and you'd think that a career of 14 Grand Slams and 20+ Masters rendered into nothing other than a second round match finished under the roof one night at Wimbledon. Pah!
Ashol's career - on the other hand - seems to be all about one match. He lives it, he thrives on it and he'll go to his grave dining out on it. Nothing other than that moment defines him. Not as a man, not as a tennis player. And so today he was at pains to replicate it ... Swinging motions on return of serve, shouting out before Rafa's serves, complaints to the umpire about how things are different for "him", bizarre use of Hawkeye, but then - of course - the absolute classic ... he deliberately knocked over one of Rafa's water bottles.
Haha Ashol. Don't worry. The other media fixation is with Rafa's water bottles, so be assured that you will see your picture in the paper and read a few lines about that one. Hey ... you'll even be able to tell your grandchildren (and Tim Henman) that one day, at Wimbledon ... you knocked over Rafa Nadal's water bottle!!! Ha - ha - bloody - ha.
The thing is Ashol, if you spent as much time and energy in your day-to-day tennis career as you do in trying to beat, cajole and get at Rafa Nadal ... you might be a better player, and less of a down right tosser of a man.
Today wasn't about revenge for Rafa - it never is. He's too decent a man and too good and humble a person to bother his famoos ass over that nonsense.
But it is for me ...
However, it's line drawn. It's finished ... that damned match is over. So I'm moving on and looking forward to the weekend and the rest of the tournament. Well done Rafa for once again finding a way and being the better man. As Marion Bartolli said today, "He's gorgeous and amazing!".
You're damned right he is ... VAMOS!!
Wednesday 25 June 2014
Rafa's daily dose ...
Rafa posted these utterly charming pictures of himself playing with his little cousins on Facebook tonight.
He's a big, fat show off ... Lol.
Tuesday 24 June 2014
*sings* ... "It's just a perfect day ..."
Rafa discusses his perfect day off from Wimbledon. Chocolate cookies, a trip to Cambio de Tercio and was that a party with Pico but he didn't know the way??
He's so adorable ...
Who was nervoos ... ???
*puts hand up*
But although that first set went via a loose volley and a nervy double fault, somehow I didn't quite have that feeling that [insert player name here] was having "... the match of his life!!". Do you know what I mean?
I think we are so tarnished by what has happened these past two years that we are scared half to death and maybe have lost a little faith in how good Rafa is at working things out and finding a way. "Will", "determination" and a heap load of other great adjectives were levelled at Rafa by John McEnroe - who commentated on his match for the BBC today. I know he can be over the top, but to have him and Peter Fleming as the double act for us in the UK just took me back to my youth and I loved it. And I loved the genuine affection the two still hold for each other. *sighs*
But back to Rafa ...
Well, to be honest, I don't have too much to say really. He got through it, he did enough ... and doing enough is good enough right now.
OK, I admit it. I'm holding off having to mention that his next opponent in the second round is that asshole Ashol. It's just a pity that we're going to have endure that twonk on the same court as Rafa and worse still, the pathetic media hype that started before Rafa had even actually won today.
I'm going to hibernate for the next couple of days ... ;)
Monday 23 June 2014
Don't touch the water bottles ...
Let's get the clichés out of the way first, shall we? Are you listening Timmy Henman. Zzzzzzzzzz ... Some of these clowns haven't done any commentating for a year.
I'm more interested in the thigh porn on offer at today's practice though. Lol.
Wimbledon ... Are You Ready!!!
Oh ... I love this place. The colour, the sights, the sounds, the tradition. Everything. After being spoilt for so long, Wimbledon lost it's sparkle this past couple of years. But let's hope for a good tournament for Rafa as he starts on Centre Court tomorrow as the second match.
Play your heart out, Rafa. VAMOS!!!
Friday 20 June 2014
SW19 ...
Through Wimbledon's seeding formula and Rafa's early exits in the past two years, he was given the No. 2 berth as the draw was made.
OK, so in the early rounds he's got the big hitters and big servers, and a potential to play Ashol again in the second round ... but seriously folks, I don't think it's too bad. I know nearly everywhere I've read has said that Rafa has a tough draw, but with perhaps the exception of Murray ... who doesn't?
We've had to have a rude awakening of late, of just how difficult Rafa finds the transition from clay to grass and the impact on his body. And I guess with the exception of 2009, we were spoiled by him in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 where the clay court grinder reached the final of Wimbledon - said with my tongue firmly in my cheek. Didn't he always seem to struggle in the first week? Didn't Borg? So I can't really get caught up in the draw angst.
Anyhow, his potential route starts with Klizan, and then it could be Ashol/Paire, Karlovic, Monfils/Gasquet; Raonic/Nishikori as a potential quarter-finalist and either Smugly or The Hobbit as a semi-finalist, leaving either the Prince of Darkness or Andrew of The Murrays in the final.
It will always be what it will be, Slams always produce their shocks (tell us about that one!), and where you might think a draw is tough, one or two results potentially opens it right up. I may be tempting fate here, but Rafa always seems to hold his own against the serving trees and seems to work it out. And if anything ... I am totally delighted that he wouldn't be facing Murray in the semi's this time because I hate the matches they play against each other. Sure Rafa totally crushed him in Paris and the H2H is totally in his favour, but grass gives Murray such a better chance and I wouldn't want a 5 set slug fest before any potential final. No, give me Smugly any time ... if he even gets there.
All I hope for this Wimbledon, is that Rafa comes away from it feeling like he played his best tennis and that his body allows him to compete. I wish you the very best of luck, Rafa, and I feel confident that you really want to give this year a good shot. Laughing for 10 minutes aside, let's hope all our dreams and wishes for him come true ...
Rafa at Hurlingham ...
Rafa played an exhibition match against Tommy Robredo today as he heads towards final practice before Wimbledon starts proper on Monday.
He won the match in straight sets and if you were following tweets, he seemed fine. It all gets serious from here on though ... VAMOS RAFA!!
Look what we found lurking in the freezer aisle ...
Hello peeps!
It's Wimbledon - and that means only one thing. Rafa's been sent out to the supermarket to get the week's supplies. Haha. It always makes me smile so much to think of him carrying his little basket in the hunt for some gambas.
Happy to have you on my shores, Rafa. I hope that this time you enjoy your stay.
Tuesday 10 June 2014
Immortalised in clay ...
Nine titles on this special clay. Honored @NikeTennis have made me from the same stuff. #endlesstennis #RG14! pic.twitter.com/fdXL6zeaq7
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 10, 2014
This is just great ...
Call an ambulance!!!
I'm sure we all wondered what Rafa whispered to Toni after his 9th French Open final triumph. You probably all know now that basically he was telling him that he'd been cramping since the 3rd set, that he needed saline solution and that he needed to see a doctor ... but I'm not sure about an ambulance!! I did, however, lurk on a Rafa-hatah's site today which is something I've not done for absolutely ages, and laughed my socks off to see that superbitch fan NoleIsTheBest actually travelled to Paris and saw Rafa win ... well, maybe the ambulance was needed for her. ROFL
I spent last night and some time tonight watching the final again without all the stress, and the third set did have better quality than I remember, but Rafa had stopped going for some of the PoD's serves from 3-1 up. He's obviously described that he was very empty and very tired, and didn't know from where he'd have been able to draw the strength if it had gone to a 5th set, so I'm so glad it wasn't needed. I did read Djokovic's presser but it's gone from my mind if he was as open as Rafa as to how bad he felt, because I'm sure he must.
Anyhow, I suppose the good news is that it wasn't Rafa's back that was giving him the issues on Sunday, but cramps. He did manage a physical examination with a doctor between press conferences and was passed as OK.
And so he arrived in Halle yesterday. I rather wish he'd not gone, and whilst it only really came out last year after his shock first round defeat at Wimbledon that the transition from clay to grass now comes just too soon for Rafa to sometimes make the necessary adjustments, I suppose him going to Halle means that he's a least going to give it a try.
Forgetting how shot at with injury he was in 2012 and 2009, for me it was really sad what happened last year because he'd enjoyed success in reaching the final for 5 years. And whilst it's always a rollercoaster, I loved seeing him progress to the final of what is essentially, my home tournament. Happy days of listening to his footwork on the grass and an even happier one when I "met" him outside the All England Club before the tournament started in 2010. Le sigh. He seemed as tall as a tree and as a skinny as a rake in the flesh, but the colour of his skin ... wowsers!!
So let's see what happens in Halle, and I hope just for a couple of matches to help him find his grass feet before a little break back home in Mallorca.
Are we ready to do all this again for another 2 weeks??? *straps self in and prepares for another bumpy ride*
VAMOS!!
Monday 9 June 2014
The kiss ...
Poignant moment in a day full of such mental and physical emotion for him. Rafa and his trophy ...
The Apprentice now turned Master ...
Rafa being congratulated and handed the trophy by Bjorn Borg ...
Sunday 8 June 2014
Rafa's daily dose ...
Thanks to all!!!! pic.twitter.com/GZuH6Fng7a
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 8, 2014
Our Champion ... and suffering ...
Hello.
At this precise moment, I am almost as spent as Rafa. That match today was a lesson in suffering. For Rafa and for us ...
Scarcely have I ever watched a Grand Slam final and just willed it to be over, and even now, I can barely remember any moments of the match. I'm just glad it's done. There was sooooo much #blah #blah #blah over the weather today and the hot conditions it just set my teeth on edge. Forgetting Barcelona (as all the other top players do), Rafa has preciously 4 big tournaments where he faces the best of the World on his best surface. Four. And even then they are praying for some sort of meteorological intervention to disadvantage him and give his opponents a better chance - not that it isn't perfectly acceptable for him to be disadvantaged for the rest of the damned tennis schedule. But what they fail to consider is the fact that hot, humid conditions against a gruelling opponent take their toll on Rafa too. As it was plain to see today.
He had to get that second set, didn't he? And thank God he did. I don't even remember now how it happened, but he had his break points and took them. Rafa subsequently said (with much shaking of the head) that to come back from two sets down would have been too tall an order. He would have tried, but ...
I don't remember now when he broke in the third, if he was broken back or what, but I do remember the sick feeling I had if the games had been levelled and we were facing a tie-breaker. Thankfully, that didn't happen. But it was becoming increasingly obvious that Rafa was suffering. As was his opponent, and I feel it became less of a tennis match and more one of endurance. When Rafa had a break in the fourth set I just prayed for a quick conclusion. But he failed to go after so many of Djokovic's serves and the stretching out of his back was something he didn't try to hide. It was torture. But one advantage he did manage to have in sets 2, 3 and 4 was that he was serving first, and this came to pass in the end. With Djokovic serving at 4-5 down - did he have game points? I think so but again, I can't entirely remember - but Rafa "kept him honest" as the saying goes, and he fought his way to match point. Did I feel a bit sorry for Djokovic with the crowd shouting out before his second serve? Yes I did. But don't get yourself in that position anyway I say, and it's not like he doesn't have a history of losing on double faults - the 2012 French Open final and Rome of the same year. He's even failed to serve out sets in this year's FO Championships too.
Rafa won ...
I find it interesting that besides the weather, another theme of the commentary I listened to was the constant reference to their hypothesis that Boris Becker was brought in to help Djokovic on the big points. The assumption being that having a former Champion in the camp meant that he could whisper those words in his ear and tell him how to hold it all together and to motivate him to do so. It's not working, is it? Because really, all the talking to in the world and all the motivational speeches you can listen to all fade away to nothing because at the end of the day ... it's just something that you have to deal with yourself. It is something that simply just has to come from within.
And so whilst I didn't enjoy today's match as a tennis spectacle and willed it to be over, and I didn't particularly feel massive joy or elation at the the end of it and in some respects, I'm feeling a tad guilty for that ... what I am now feeling after it's taken a little bit of time to sink in is just God Almighty massive respect for what Rafael Parrera Nadal is. You see, he doesn't have some fancy multi-Grand Slam winner in his box. He has a coach that played ping pong. He has a coach that never played a professional tennis match in his life, never mind win any sort of championship. And so when it comes to playing those big points and taking those opportunities that are crafted which Rafa did so much better than Djokovic did today, it comes not from what words or speeches are delivered by someone else, it comes from within. It comes from himself, and his fearless desire, and his mental strength and his heart and his will. And that's what makes him so special. That's what makes him so unique not just in tennis but in sport; that's what makes him a Champion, and that's why he won today. And no I can't remember much of the match, and no I don't really remember those big points ... but you suffered Rafa. You took your weary, painful body to the brink and by sheer will, heart and desire you played those big points better and you won that match. And that, is what I shall remember ...
I'm not the biggest fan of Toni, but there was no mistaking that heartfelt hug they had when Rafa climbed to the stands. And there was no mistaking Toni's pride. Rafa spoke animatedly to Toni and mostly behind his hand following their embrace ... and I'd give anything to know what he said. Rafa knows he barely made it, and Toni does too. And over on Eurosport Rafa gave - what was for me - a very telling interview. He brought the Australian Open final up again, and it doesn't seem that he gives a rat's behind how his success was brought today because he feels that the Tennis Gods owe him one. And interesting that Rafa said how fit he was in Australia and how good he was feeling, only for his back to go so early in the match and that the defeat affected him so badly that it was only a couple of weeks ago that he had started to recover from it. A couple of weeks ... says it all, doesn't it?
And so the French Open Championships is over. And the bastion that is Rafa Nadal is once again it's Champion for an amazing 9th time. I am immensely relieved, and immensely proud. I think over the next couple of days when I start to leaf through the pictures to post and read the accolades and recover from all the stress of it ... I'll start to revel in Rafa's victory a bit more than I am right now.
Big points take a big man, with a big heart and a big spirit. I salute you Rafael Nadal. There was never a moment's "inevitability" in it. *wink*
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