And Rafa goes back home ...

Heading back home. See you soon #australianopen and Melbourne. Thanks to @crowntowers for their attention these weeks pic.twitter.com/lytfFHxm7M
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 28, 2015

Rafa's final word ...

Time for me to go to sleep after a tough day. Thanks all for the support. Love being here in Australia. See you next year!
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 27, 2015

... to make the girls wink

Pink. Rafa likes it, he often wears it, and it suits him. But as he folds away his party pants and we admire a shirt change for one last time till the next ... something struck me today and I can't believe I didn't think about it before.

When was the last time he wore that particular shade of shirt? Remember? It was the French Open, during "that" year ... yes indeed.

Rafa ... as much as I like it, don't wear that colour of shirt again honey. But you can get your sleeveless tops out that you were going to wear at the US Open though. Just saying ...

Rafa's presser ...

G'bye ...

So nobody does beat Tomas Berdych 18 times in a row ...

Sadly.

I stirred very early in the morning but decided I wouldn't check on anything till my alarm went off after 6 am. And if I'm being absolutely honest, I didn't expect it to be Rolf's name that I saw in bold as the victor and not by 3-0 and the scoreline of the first two sets. I honestly didn't ...

You see, because Rafa seemed like he was in such a good place, seemed so happy and to be enjoying himself, his team looked relaxed and happy and after that second round scare, to be improving with each match - well, I let that little fairy called Hope into me. And she wrapped her dainty, little arms around my heart and squeezed it a bit. And because I felt her inside, and because we've seen it so many times before when if Rafa can just get to the quarter-final, that's the place from where he kicks on and raises his game and goes on to succeed - well, I started to believe. And after feeling Hope, I then started to visualise a win. I see the pictures in my mind and it's like if you see it hard enough, it will happen. So I felt a little down when I saw what had happened and Hope suddenly left me ... no doubt to return another day.

It didn't last long though, because when the clips from Rafa's presser started to come in, and I caught up with the comments from people who'd actually watched the match, it was obvious that he didn't play well enough to win or even come close in those first two sets. And that happens, and that's the sport. Rafa seemed particularly disappointed that he helped to make it easy for Berdych though ...

"... before I didn’t play with the right confidence, with the right intensity, losing court, playing very short. I make him play very easy. So you cannot expect to win matches in quarterfinals of Grand Slam helping the opponent to play well. That’s what I did."

... which is possibly harder for him to take than knowing he played to the absolute best of his ability, but his opponent was simply just better. He seems sad that he aided Berdych to play well and just by flicking through the pictures of the match, you can see by his body language at how disappointed with it all he was.

But Rafa wouldn't be Rafa without taking away some positives, and he voiced that he knew he played with more character in the third set and with more chances, and that is more like where he needs to be. But it's just time, hard work and luck, and a quarter-final at a Slam is still a good result considering he's barely competed since last summer.

But before I leave and wave goodbye to the Australian Open for another year, Hope has popped her head up again. Because you see, the Happy Slam just has to be that again one day for Rafa ... it just has to be.

So my wish is that his trip to South America - where he will find the sun on his back and the dirt under his feet - will help him to find what he's looking for to improve. That his confidence will return, that he will learn how to win again and where a charm of fairies will squeeze our hearts once more.

Well done Rafa!! See you in Rio ... 

In the wee small hours of the morning ...

Rafa is scheduled to play his quarter final in the day session tomorrow after the ladies' match. So by my estimation (for me here in the UK at least), he'll probably be starting around 3.30 am.  I'm starting to wonder whether that is a blessing in disguise because I'll still be in the land of nod and with any luck, it will be over before I have to properly get up. *unjinx*

At least my work colleagues will be well prepared as to what potential mood I'll be in before I arrive there. That is, if they actually gave one fig about tennis and even noticed that I support a certain Spaniard. Haha.

It has got me thinking though that in order to actually "enjoy" Rafa's matches, it's best not watching them live at all, or torturing yourself watching Livescores at work waiting for the score to flip over. But who am I trying to kid ... Rafa enjoys the suffering, and in a perverse sort of way, I think we do too. Kind of. *snort*

So will nobody beat Tomas Berdych 18 times in a row?? The stats are so weighted in Rafa's favour, part of me wonders why I fret so much ... but I already am.  Because deep down inside, you know there's always a chance that this winning streak could come to an end. Look how close Berdych was to going 2 sets to 0 up in 2012. But one of Rafa's greatest strengths is that he never takes anyone or anything for granted ... and whilst it bores the hatahs and general observers to death, we know all too well about players having "the match of their lives" against him - so he won't under-estimate Tomas at all.

So I wish Rafa "good luck" and hope he has a great match. And I sincerely hope it's good new that I'm waking up to tomorrow morning. VAMOS!!

Rafa's ESPN interview ...

Lovely studio interview here as Rafa discusses today's match with Darren Cahill ...

He's so fluent these days, so confident in what he's saying and talks with such wonderful, grounded sense.

I have to say that I kind of lost my Rafa-mojo for a while last year, and I wondered whether I had the energy to get into it again or even continue with this blog with any real gusto. But when you hear Rafa speak in interviews such as this, and you see the wonderful, lovely, fluid play; when you see him reach despair on a tennis court and pull himself back and through it ... it's there.

via Nadal News

On-court interview and lots and lots of smiles ...

Rafa's on court interview today ...

Interview with Prats ...

Rafa had a chat with Mats Wilander following today's match with Anderson ... and more talk about water bottles. *rolls eyes*

But super shorts and super thighs Rafa ...

via @genny_ss

Team Nadal selfie ...

#aoselfie #RLA this one even better! @AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/kVQpBCQ3Rt
— B1PR (@b1pr) January 25, 2015

Oh I love this picture ... so funny.

But more to the point, I love the cheery and relaxed mood that Team Nadal are in ... *unjinx* to Infinity and Beyond - obviously,

Let's hope that it means there's no underlying worries and that all is well with Rafa and all of them. Vamos!!

Shirt change!!

Err ... noh, I don't need help wiv theese package, thank you.

Don't touch the water bottles!!

Rafa is deliciously charming here when the umpire asked the ballkid to line up Rafa's water bottles for him ... loved the crinkly smile and laughter.

But seriously, it's just "stupid" as Rafa calls it, but to listen to the commies over the years and as that twonk Rosol so churlishly knocked them over - you'd think a fallen water bottle was Kryptonite to Rafa.

It's a quirk, we love it - but get over it!!

But as I listened today to Gruesome MacMillan tell us YET AGAIN that Rafa is naturally right-handed yet plays with his left because "Uncle" Toni told him to - le sigh, factually incorrect yet it never stops them - to the water bottle alignment, to calling Uncle Toni, "Uncle" Toni when he's not our Uncle or their Uncle and neither does Rafa even called him "Uncle Toni" - and don't even get me started on time-between-points ... do you ever think there will be a time when they all just MOVE ON!!

No ... me neither.

Second week pumping ...

Happy Rafa. We'll all take that. A few days ago I was absolutely cursing the Australian Open and damning Rafa's luck ... but he dug deep, has kept improving and now he's into the second week.

Vam-bloody-os.

Today's was another match that started in the twilight hours for me, so I pressed by Sky box to "record" and caught some zzzzz's. A funny thing is happening this AO though. In the Smyczek match, I was away in meetings and only came back to see Rafa win on match point.  Against Sela, I again had meetings and just came back to see him serve out for the match.  In the early hours of this morning, my precious little Cavalier - Rose - was snoring so loudly she woke me up. And as it had just gone 6 am, I thought I'd check on Rafa's match to see how he was doing ... only to see him serve it out for victory again.

I think I need to continue to make myself scarce next week when he's playing and choose an appropriate time to pop up again to ensure the win.  Haha ... *unjinx* and all that.

So I spent the afternoon leisurely watching the full match and enjoying and liking what I saw. I think Kevin Anderson's ATP picture makes him look a bit like Camilla Parker Bowles - and I'm not too sure which one of them I feel the most sorry for - and he certainly had his chances to break in that first set and it was pretty tight. But Rafa was playing pretty beautifully in sets two and three and it was a comfortable victory.

Big Berdych next. I'm not so sure Rafa is quite where he would like to be, but he can't be that far off ... can he? Berdych has troubled him here before, seems to be playing well and it's going to be tough. My only saving thought is that in spite of the big, heavy serve, Berdych still tries to play tennis ... so that will give Rafa a chance.

Anyhow, we should be grateful that he's there, seemingly very happy and doing well. Let's hope he can kick on to even greater things next week. Well done Rafa, keep it going ...

Mid-match giggles ...

Haha ... sorry Dudi but Rafa ain't giving nothing away but a smile.

Noh to sleep and mathematics ...

Rafa once again being cuteness and charm personified in his interview.  Le sigh ...

I thought it a bit much for Courier to keep pressing for a number to tag Rafa's level at ... like he's going to admit to his opponents, "Hey, physically I'm only at 60% ... come and get me".  Idiot.

Once upon a time I used to love Courier's interviews at the Australian Open, however, one of our UK channels now employs him to commentate and host the French Open, so I've very quickly changed my mind.

I'm glad Rafa got the better of him today, so funny.

Sleep is for the weak ...

Even though it was a recording, it was mighty fine today to sit myself down to watch Rafa play a competitive match. Largely stress free ... which is always a bonus.

After the fright of the other day, I guess we were all a bit yikesy as to how Rafa was and if he was going to be able to play at a level good enough to win. Thankfully, we didn't have to worry. Rafa played beautifully in those first two sets and for me anyway, it was the first time I'd properly watched him play competitively since last summer ... and what a joy. Whether Rafa dropped his level in the third set or Sela relaxed and just tried to play better tactics against him, it was much more competitive. But when he survived the break points in that 11th game, he just went right for it in the next and the victory was his.

He faces Kevin Anderson next ... yawn. But unfortunately he's one of those heavy servers and hitters and this could be a real test of Rafa's condition. Hopefully over the next 48 hours he will get some sleep *winks* and a bit more recuperation, and let's hope against hope that he's ready and able for the fight.

One match at a time Rafa ... small baby steps. And we're right with you every single step of the way.

There is no happiness without suffering ...

I couldn't post yesterday due to work, but I came across this video tonight and whilst its early footage is tough watching, it sums up Rafa, his indomitable spirit, why we love him so much and why there never has been - nor never will be - anything like him in tennis.

I wish you luck tomorrow Rafa.  Because no-one deserves it more than you ...

Video credit - Grace ( @_phenominadal )

Rafa's daily dose ...

Tarde de descanso después de la primera victoria! Resting this afternoon after my first victory! pic.twitter.com/oMoVGzA0N7
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 19, 2015

Justcansay ... that I'm glad we weren't treated to much more of Papa Nadal and Benito.  #justsaying

Let's have a shirt and bandyanna change ...

Kia Open Drive ...

Just so flirty and funny ...

More on those Party Pants ...

How about Rafa's #ausopen party pants? #Nadal chats fashion - http://t.co/7QmIrZjp1s
— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2015

Oh Rafa ... you're just so lovely.

Here he is giggling his way through a #fashion discussion on his pink, sparkly party pants ...

Party Pants shimmers through the first round ...

Rafa's opening match was in those deep early hours of my morning so I didn't watch it live, but must say I enjoyed watching the above highlights ... notwithstanding the Russian commentary which I found rather soxy.  Grr ...

It was nice to wake up to see a straight sets victory result and a pretty decent scoreline, but then I wasn't too nervous about Youzhny because he's the kind of guy who would have wanted to play tennis and not "the match of his life" by hitting bombs and painting lines and getting spurred on by cocky, arrogant adrenaline.

Two observations spring to mind ... the serve looked good and the forehand was working pretty damn well.  Oh how I've missed those trade down-the-line curlers that Rafa hits so well.

So all in all a more than satisfactory start I think.

Rafa next plays Tim Smyczek.  Quite.  I've never heard of him either.  And that makes me a little bit more nervous because this guy may be one of those that will play "the match of his life" by hitting bombs and painting lines and getting spurred on by cocky, arrogant adrenaline.  But ... we take it as we come.  Bring on the second round!!

Players' Party ...

Looking fit (literally), slim and happy at the Players' Party ...

Good luck Rafa!!

King of Australia ...

Happiness is a purple throne with signage of R.A.F.A. in neon lights, sparkly shorts and a hot pink shirt.

Don't you just love him??

So the 2015 rollercoaster ride starts in earnest tomorrow as Rafa takes to the court to begin his campaign in the Australian Open.  As he's only played 7 matches since Wimbledon - and half of them with a dodgy appendix - Rafa's early season displays were probably to be expected.  Rusty to say the least ... and no, I'm not talking about Lleyton Hewitt.

I was a little disappointed with his early exit in Doha, simply for his sake because I'm sure he would have much preferred getting more match practice, but then perhaps something better than that happened.  Pico, and the doubles win.  You see I think Pico just brings out the joy in Rafa, and that to me just extended over into the tennis.  And so long as Rafa is finding the joy, I think everything else will just follow in its own good time.  

I think Rafa has got a reasonable draw, but I won't dwell on that because draws for me go right out of the window in Slams ... anything can happen, as we all know sadly too well.  And I think I'm amazingly with colm before the start of this tournament because my expectations aren't high - I just hope that he can give it a good go and let's see what the Tennis Gods have in store for him.

I think Rafa has had the worst luck in Australia of any of the tournaments he's played, so perhaps maybe he's due some.  So let's get ready for the ride and ... VAMOS!!