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!!