On the most beautiful court in the world, the most beautiful player finally triumphed today and finds himself in the semi-finals. Hurrah! Already the improve from last year Rafa. Well done.
I have been watching the tournament, although I've been a bit of a klutz in setting my recorder remotely and have missed the first set of each of Rafa's previous matches; and today I got in from work thinking I'd have bags of time and just turned the TV on for background noise only to see that Rafa's match had already started. Eek.
It's funny how today the Sky commies were waxing utterly lyrical about a player that is barely ever given airtime and who usually finds himself shoved to the side courts and is accessible only by the "red button". But according to Mark Petchy, "you can't love tennis if you don't love David Ferrer". Really? Oh dear ... I mustn't love tennis.
I've felt almost buoyed by Rafa's matches. He's had his moments. He's won sets where he might have lost, and lost sets that he should have won. So it's a mixed bag, but he just seems to have a bit of ... I don't know ... comfort, about what he's doing. He's playing well enough to get himself into those commanding positions such as serving for sets and serving for the match - so the tennis is getting there - but he's still slightly a bit yippish in his execution. Since Rafa openly discussed his issues at Miami, the commies are still full of it - however, even though Rafa had a wobble when first serving for the first set today, and then when serving for the match, I suppose the most positive thing you can say is that unlike what we saw in America, he was still able to come through. He found the mental capacity to do it. In previous stellar times it would just have been a walk in the park; only it's a bit different now from where Rafa is currently at, but he managed to find it today. And that's what Rafa's usually been able to before so I think he'll be pleased he came through. He was good in the third set, and Ferrer did what dogged Ferrer usually does, but Rafa still put him away 6-2.
I won't pretend that I didn't have tummy flips today, and I won't pretend that I didn't swing from still keeping myself positive that he would win to shouting at the TV and wanting to hide behind a cushion ... but that's Rafa. In Miami, all I wanted for him was to get a win against a top 10 player, but it didn't happen. However today it did, and with this match and with finding a way against a tricky player like Isner, surely it's got to give Rafa more of the positive feelings.
And so it's the Prince of Darkness tomorrow. Who apparently was imperious against a player just returning from injury. Wow, stellar. I least I knew who his opponent was today, so that made a change. Djerk may have been exhibiting his prowess on hardcourts this year but this is another surfrace. Do I think Rafa is ready and at a level to beat him? Probably not. But then again he wasn't in 2013 and that clay season didn't turn out to be too shabby. Rafa is just so measured and prepared to take the positive out of whatever comes and accept that these matches are stepping stones to hopefully where he wants to be. So if it's not to be a victory tomorrow, I'd at least like him to come away with something like he did two years ago in that he was able to compete, but accepting that he's not quite at the level where he needs to be but further matches and tournaments can give him the future opportunity to be there.
And now I've got that out of the way ... how f.i.t. tanned and scrumptious does Rafa look right now anyway? And I can't begin to tell you of the joy I feel to have him back in Europe, back in my time-zone and back on his beloved clay. I love this part of the season and I love Rafa in it. Good luck for tomorrow my lovely ... we'll all be vam-bloody-ossing for you!!
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