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!!