Feeling contemplative ...

That's me by the way, and not Rafa.

I've been away for most of the week celebrating my birthday, so last night's match was the first entire match I've seen of the week. Some suck a bit more than others, right? However, there's lots of good things to take out from it though. It's much better tennis than he was playing in South America; still lots of positive things to see in his game; it's still about the process of recovery. The trouble is, when he had all those break points in the second set and held 3 match points, you expect a better outcome. When he never faced a break point in that final set and had bad luck to go points down in the final service game, you still curse what happened. But if I'm being completely honest, his game isn't perhaps quite where it should be to beat the likes of Smugley, and rather he take what he can from this tournament so far than a defeat at the hands of that individual and the media frenzy that would go with it.

If I want for one thing and one thing alone in Miami, it's that he gets his break-through over a top 10 player because I think that's what his confidence needs right now. Close, but not quite there yet.

Anyhow, speaking of the media, I hope they're all very happy today as they got the upset they were looking for and can now cream over the marvel that is Fed as Raonic will no doubt totally roll over for him, and the UK commies can wet their pants like the over-excited schoolboys they are as they watch "multi-Slam winner" Murray play the robotic Djokovic. Sarcastic, me?? 

In the UK, we have the "pleasure" of having individuals occupy the studio and commentate on matches who have never in a million years played the sport at any decent level. Not even close. They might have had the luxury of playing the game as a job for a while - lucky them - but they have no idea what it's like to hold their nerve to win a Slam title, or even a Masters, or even a 250 series for God's sake. They have never known the rigour and stamina that it takes to win match after match to take them to a final. They didn't even win in places like Nottingham. They got wild cards for entry into Wimbledon and usually wilted quickly on outside courts. However, these are the "experts" of the game that our ears are subjected to as we go about following tennis on TV - or more to the point, the player - that we love.

These individuals never made it as top players in their own right, and instead now vicariously live their lives through the tennis players they support whilst eking out a living speaking about the game they have the fortune of still being involved in. Their bias isn't even well hidden. And sadly because Rafa is so often the fly in the ointment that takes out their favourite player, commentary has now become all about what player X or Y needs to do to beat him, rather than calling a match fairly on what both players are doing on the court. Shame that none of them have ever decided to nail their colours to Rafa's mast, but there you go. There's a whole army of Rafa's fans out there watching and the best we can hope for for any non-bias is Peter Fleming - quite.

I'm having my mini-rant because I feel that from the studio to the commentary booth last night, they were all on the edge of their seats hoping to witness some sort of upset. They know Rafa's game isn't where it has been right now, and even when it is, it's always about putting the focus on the other player to defeat Rafa. Before Rafa defeats the favourite that is theirs ...

I say that I would very much like to see Rafa take out that top 10 player in Miami because I'd like him to take that forward to the clay - and the confidence thereof. The clay is all about the tennis media sitting back and talking about who is/can/could/should defeat Rafa on the surface. It's not about revelling in the fantastic victories and extraordinary records that Rafa has/can/could achieve. It's about who beats him. Chris Evert has declared publicly to Novak Djokovic that "we want you to win the French Open". No - you do Chrissie. For obvious reasons. So I think I'd better cheer Rafa on in Miami to do the best he can and gird my loins for what is to come over the Spring months. Because if they're beefing up a potential upset against a guy like Raonic, then there's sure to be a whole host of further annoyance to come ...

Rules is rules ...

“It’s worse to be 5s late than saying bad words or breaking rackets? We’re not going to penalize that but my six seconds yes? Sorry.” - Rafa
— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) March 12, 2015

Interesting Rafa. Do you read my blog?

Haha. But seriously, I was reminded of this tweet by my friend Womble tonight. 

Is there a 25/20 second rule between points? Yes. Does Rafa break it? Yes. Does he get penalised? Yes. Is the tennis world at large totally and utterly obsessed with this rule when Rafa Nadal is fit and playing tennis? Yes. Do we hear one utterance about it when he's out of the game? NO. Is there a rule about breaking tennis racquets? Yes. Is there a rule about audible swearing? Yes. Does the tennis world at large obsess about these rules and cry in their indignation for them to be enforced? No. Is breaking these rules considered as "understandable" and "letting off steam" - particularly when A. Murray, N. Djokovic and R. Federer commit them - absolutely and utterly Yes.

I hear you Rafa. A capital crime to take extra seconds even after a 40 stroke rally in 38 degree heat but showing "character" when you yell at the crowd [in Serbian] to s*ck my d*ck you mother f*ck*ng wh*re whilst knocking seven shades of sh*t out of a seating bench is "releasing frustration".

Hurry up between points Rafa then they have nothing to throw at you. But injustice with application of rules? YES.

Antithesis ...

Lol.  I know you've probably all seen these pictures by now.  Press day with Smugley's attention one way whilst Rafa's is another and it makes them look like you could drive a truck between them and that they're blatantly ignoring each other ...

A picture says more than a thousand words, eh??  Even if it's staged.

But whatever the angle, the first picture totally sums it up for me. I first copped onto Rafa as he shocked the hell out of Smugs in the semi-final of the French Open in 2005 - I've told you that a million times. And besides the Rafa victoreee, what I loved the most was that he was just the total opposite of what Federer was and what he's portrayed as being.  So on the one hand we have the stiff-as-a-board, preppy toff, seemingly quaffing from a champagne glass ... whilst on the other, we have a relaxed, happy bunny in his short shorts, flashing the thigh porn and snorting with laughter with his buddy as he chats on the phone.

Love you Rafa. Thanks for saving us from that ... and never, ever change.

Happy as Larry ...

Lovely Rafa interview ahead of the tournament ...

Press day ...

How utterly fit and splendid did Rafa look at press day? Short shorts, tanned ... *sigh* just lovely ...

SLEEVELESS!!!

Thank you Rafa. You've made an old fangirl very, VERY happy. *mwah*

Thigh porn, calf porn ...

... and a Prats. Hehe.

Tics and twitches and twanging oh my!!!

Commies are obsessed by them, we get a run-down on them before, during and after matches; Rafa will implode if a water bottle is touched, he needs to buy new underwear, it's an outrage that he leaves players waiting at the net whilst he ponces about with his energy sachet and facing the labels outward of said infamous bottles before then jumping up and down in their face then doing the Rafarun to the end of the court ...

Rafa's rituals ... I just love 'em.

Victorious!!

Sometimes all it's about is lifting the trophy ...

Biting it ...

And the smile ...

Progress!!

Now THAT dear readers ... was Rafa Nadal.

If I came across over-critical in my thoughts over Rafa's quarter-final, I was much impressed by his real change of attitude from the start of his semi-final. OK, he struggled to find a first serve in his opening game, but there was a marked difference evident in the second game as Rafa stood up and attempted to be aggressive. Shame he couldn't convert all the break points he had in the 6th game, and shame still that he didn't take the set on a break point, but I was liking what I was seeing.

But even when he was 1-6 down in that tie-break, I was sitting there thinking that it didn't matter if he went a set down, he was doing so much of what was "right" - if you know what I mean. He was pushing hard, he was trying to be on the front front, and to see him actually hitting those forehand down-the-line shots was a joy. He's got to be feeling more confident in himself if he's going for those.

But then Fighter Rafa came back.

That's the guy we know and love, that's why we continue to do this after all this time and that's why we hang in there when he's having those dips in the rollercoaster. It came off ... and he took that opening set. But the thing is, even if he goes down, I much prefer it to be when he's trying and he's looking to make things work, rather than that backboard defensive stuff. There was so much to cheer about in that opening set. Well done Rafa.

I suppose Berlocq's attitude then became "hit harder" - not an uncommon tactic against Rafa - and he was rewarded by a break, but again, Rafa responded and Berlocq didn't win another game, in spite of what he threw at him. Great job Rafa.

There were occasions last night where I shouted out "C'mon Rafa" from my sofa. I fist-pumped a Yesssssssss, I was animated for his win ... and I can honestly say that I've not been moved in a match of Rafa's like that for a long time. Keep building on the good work Rafa, keep pushing.

He plays his great friend Pico in today's final. Here's hoping for a good match and a great Rafa. VAMOS!!