And breathe ...

I've not long finished watching the match ... and I have to say I had that sick feeling in my tummy in the first set.

We know Rafa has to have things just so when he plays, and it's not like he can't cope or adapt to conditions and it must have been hard for him at first with the cold and the windy, but I think it was Ferrer's tactic of always keeping him on the backhand that was doing for him.

But it was like the second set started, Rafa thought ... "I've had enough of that", and he immediately found a way to move feet his feet, get around to playing the forehand ... and he started to get right back in it.  The third and fourth sets were just super fabulous from Rafa.  I'm glad that particular job was done, business as usual, and Rafa is back in the semi-final.

Straight after Rafa finished, I was astounded to see that Murray and Monfils were about to start a fifth set.  But what I fool Monfils is.  To win a fourth set 6-1 and then play like a clown?  I ask you ...

So Rafa will face Murray on Friday.  I don't like Rafa playing him.  Not because Rafa struggles so much but because those matches always seem to take it out of him.  But ... he's Rafa, and as Murray said back in 2010 - the clay season is Rafa's for the taking - let's just hope he does ...