"Next round for me ... the beach."

Don't you just love him ... ???

And here we are again ... [insert player name here] had "the match of his life!!!!" 

Hailed as tennis's "Next Big Thing" - just like so many others before him - only time will tell if 19-year-old Nick Kyrgios actually turns into it. The thing is, if that's the future of tennis, I don't want a part of it. 

I don't find anything remotely appealing about a serve dominated player. And he was most certainly that. Because of the emotion I have vested in Rafa and because as a fan, I am totally unable to watch his matches objectively, I didn't find anything mind numbingly remarkable in that player today. Too soon to tell if a massive serve and some hard hit backhands will develop into what a top talent needs to be. It will be interesting to see though, if after having "the match of his life!!!" Kyrgios FOR ONCE actually goes on and beats his next opponent. Kyrgios vs. Raonic. Now there's a match the tennis aficionados will want to see. Be careful what you wish for folks. You want nice, short points? Maybe you're about to get them ...

I think what upsets me the most about matches like today and the players that have their red-line success is the total lack of respect due to Rafa. It's as if it turns into a total macho thing; that they become neanderthals. It's like because Rafa is such a warrior, a fighter, the whole thing is a prize fight and they have to be the bigger man, and deliver the heavier blows, as they puff out their chests and scream and yell their delight at gaining a 0-30 point. It's like they're bellowing, "Look at me!! Look what a man I am!! I am blasting the greatest fighter there ever was in tennis - nay in sport! - off the court. Woo hoo!!" As opposed to taking it to someone who knits doilies and embroiders initials on his scented hankies like Smugly does. Doesn't make them feel like a man when they take him down - does it? So young Nick ... I don't know what sort of player you're going to turn into. But a number of years ago I watched a 19-year-old take down the current World Number #1 at a Grand Slam. Only he did it with humility. And that's what you need to learn too ... in spades.

I felt that Rafa played an excellent set of tennis in the third today. He held serve comfortably and confidently and his stats in general for the whole match were very good. He knocked, knocked, knocked on Kyrgios's serve and had that set point ... but just couldn't take it. The story of Rafa's game today was that he didn't take his scant chance, didn't impose in the tie-breakers, and his timing and rhythm were off on some of what you would think were his routine shots. I think the loss of the third set was a body blow to him. When you've played well (or better in Rafa's opinion), and yet have nothing to show for it; when your body and your mind know that you're going to have to better your level for another two sets if you're going to win ... even when you're Rafael Nadal, sometimes it's too tall an order. For Rafa to lose his serve so early in the 4th after playing it so well reflected his mind set of that 3rd set loss ... and sadly, he was gone.

It's been a tough season. Rafa only revealed at the French Open just what a mental impact Australia had on him. Maintaining clay court brilliance proved a step too far this year as he wrestled with his spirit. He timed it all perfectly though, for the one that counts - his 9th French Open - and sometimes, just sometimes stress, fatigue, pressure ... well, it all adds up and Rafa ends up running on fumes. He doesn't have the freedom of youth any more, that his opponent today now enjoys. Miles on the clock, head space taken up ... lots of things. For the first time in many a while I actually had a tear after that match today, such was my disappointment. It's back to that fan thing again. We saw what the clay season was, we saw his exit in Halle, we now know just how difficult Rafa finds the transition onto grass, and when you have to face big servers and flat hard hitters one after the other after the other in your draw ... sometimes, something gives. However, it still didn't stop me from having "that feeling" that because his body language was so good, that because he seemed like he really wanted to give it a right old go, that if he got to the second week, he could somehow do it. Le sigh ...

And if I'm being frank, I haven't really enjoyed this year's Wimbledon so far and it hasn't lit a spark for me. I find it distasteful that a man so threatened by his potential semi-final opponent should make his nasty indirectly aggressive allegations that the bore-fest subject of time between points will have fans leaving the sport of tennis knowing full well that his mere utterings will hone an entirely negative focus on Rafa and also in a roundabout way, try to influence umpires. I must say that I did love Rafa's barbed retort. That he was the one speaking now, that other players promote things to their advantage too. That the fan numbers in 2012 proved that tennis was actually more popular than ever and that there was a reason that he left the Players Council. Pity he had the need to reply in the first place. I'm sure you found the quick tennis of today a delight Smugly ... maybe you were able to find it within you to actually even watch that match. I also had the misfortune of watching The Prince of Darkness's behaviour in the 3rd set tie breaker yesterday. The man has such a need to be loved that time and again he turns on the crowd who don't seemingly adore him and have the temerity to cheer on his opponent. How do you think Rafa copes at RG Novak? To watch a so-called professional of the game clutch his shoulder and grimace in fake pain because his opponent won a point with a lucky drop shot? Pur-leeeease. And then to hold out his arms, flare his nostrils and nod and sneer at the crowd when he won - an antic stopped only because there was a challenge on the match point. Ugly. And it's not what I want this great tournament to be about ...

"I am not upset that I lost today ..." was what Rafa said in his press conference. I'm happy to hear that my lovely. And "... when you have nothing to lose, you can play the way he did today ..." Quite right. You can.

He still remains for me, the greatest thing I will ever see on a tennis court. And looking around to see the antics of his so-called peers this tournament ... always, the better man.

Enjoy your holidays Rafa. This tournament is now officially ... over.