Rafa Rules

Well it was a match for the ages down in Australia. Rafa Vs. Roger, the match we all love to see. Many including myself thought that Roger had a slight edge going into this match due to Rafa's marathon match with Verdasco and also that the match was on hard courts which Roger's game is more suited to. What myself and many people might not have thought about was that Rafa has the heart of a lion and is the most fit player on tour and possibly to ever play the game. Five sets taking 5 hours and 14 minutes? The longest match in Australian Open history with Verdasco just a day and a half ago? No problem, five more sets with one of the greatest players of all time? Not a big problem either. Rafa outlasted Federer in a match Roger should and could have won. After going to 5-5 in the first set, Roger lost serve and the set and had his chances to break Rafa many times throughout the match, his first serve abandoned him and at one point he was serving under 40% of first serves in. That is a death sentence in most matches and against Rafa even more so. After losing the first set, Roger stayed cool and turned his game up a notch, taking the second set easily with some spirited tennis 6-3 after winning four games in a row. The third set was epic, involving some of the greatest shot making I have seen in many years if not my whole tennis life and I have been around. I have watched the greats play, from Connors to Mcenroe to Borg and beyond and I have rarely witnessed more superb shot making than this set and match produced. Angles, 15 shot rallies, 18 shot rallies and more, Roger threw everything but the kitchen sink at Rafa in the third set and had his chances to take it many times. He just could not seem to convert the key break chances he needed and he couldn't hold his serve when he needed it, letting Rafa back into the set and finally losing it in the tiebreaker 7-3. He was never in that tiebreak. Rafa seemed to have no nerves and Roger seemed to feel the moment more than Rafa did he had some key double faults in this match something he rarely does. While he tried in vain to flatten out his backhand and stay away from the slice that has hurt him in the past with Rafa, Rafa played the buggy whip top spin forehand that bounced up high to Roger's backhand and Roger didn't seem to have an answer for it. While Rafa was telegraphing his first and second serves, serving 100% of second serves in the same spot in the deuce court at one point, Roger didn't seem to pick up on it or didn't want to run around the backhand and attack Rafa's second serve which is probably his only weakness still. Roger woke up again in the fourth set playing spirited tennis and coming into net more. Breaking Rafa finally to take a lead which he never relinquished. Both players had some easier games on serve both having love service games. By the fifth set however a change seemed to be occurring, maybe Roger thought Rafa would run out of gas but he never seemed to, while Rafa called for the trainer briefly in the third set, for a massage, his legs held up and carried him to the end. This match was a back and forth battle. If Roger had served better and been able to convert his many break chances the match would have been different. It just seemed that Roger was tentative when he needed to be aggressive and Rafa had a will of iron and played the points the same no matter their importance. Could this be the changing of the guard? It was long the opinion of some that Rafa couldn't win on hard courts. That myth has been dispelled and the question now becomes, can Roger beat Rafa on any surface anymore? While it's true that Roger didn't play his best, he did at times play brilliantly, if he had served up in the sixty percent range he probably would have won the match but that's a big if. If Rafa's body can withstand the pounding of the next few years, he might retire Roger, although Roger is always a threat in any tournament and Rafa has to make sure he doesn't over play and destroy his body, but this could be the changing of the guard in Men's tennis. While many believe Roger has a few good years left in him, it is hard to say if Rafa won't be the spoiler to Roger's destiny. Now we await the French open in a couple of months where Rafa reigns supreme going for his fifth straight title. We shall see what the future holds, but for now, Rafa is still number one and there doesn't seem to be anyone but Roger who even has a shot at beating him. Rafa is 3-0 in the last three meetings of the two and is 13-6 career, a stat no one else even comes close to. Roger was attempting to tie Pete Sampras' record of 14 grand slam titles overall, that will have to wait. Maybe Wimbledon this year will be Roger's best bet, the odds of him taking the French open are not good unless some clay court specialist can oust Rafa from the dirt in France and they will be their waiting. We shall see. After the match, Roger seemed crushed by the defeat, and in a show of support and respect, Nadal put his arm around Roger at the trophy ceremony, a true show of respect and admiration. When have we seen the winner consoling the loser after a final? This shows us all what great champions both these men are and what a great rivalry this is. Rafa said to Federer, “Roger, sorry for today. I really know how you feel right now. Remember, you’re a great champion, you’re one of the best in history. You’re going to improve on the 14 of Sampras.” That says it all doesn't it? More soon.