That'll Teach Me

Not to doubt him ever again.

Thank you for proving me wrong, Rafa. What a player. What a champion. What a man.

It is difficult for me to find the words to express exactly how I feel throughout this match. Rafa was playing with one set of limbs. He was conserving energy like he was going to climb the Everest. Balls got past him left and right. His movements were visibly retricted on the 3rd set. By the 4th, the trainer comes almost on every break. But he hit winners. And somehow he held. And broke. And held again. And did it all over again, point by point, game by game, set by set. He took it one step at a time, and he emerged the winner.

I don't know where he finds the strength, mentally and physically. His self-belief is awe-inspiring. I did not dare to hope, and I did not dare to not hope. No one thought of this outcome. Not Roger's fans, not Rafa's fans. Everyone watching that was in total disbelief. Who knew, that the winner after 5 sets, will be our very own Rafael Nadal.

Rafa won  7-5, 3-6, 7-6(7-3), 3-6, 6-2. Roger lost all confidence on the last set, and he knows it. That will bug his mind for some time to come.

But Roger's mistakes,  I hope, will not detract from Rafa's win. A win earned with blood, sweat and tears. And maybe a few bloody tears.

On the stands, both cried. Roger could not speak the first time he had to. After Rafa received the trophy, he asked for a moment to say his piece. 

"I do not want to have the last words, because this guy deserves it."

Rafa, of course, was humble and sensitive as ever.

"I'm sorry Roger. I know how it feels. But you are great, will always be one of the best in history."

I don't know if I will ever see another such great rivalry in my lifetime. And yes, I will say that everytime they have to play against each other.

I will not post pictures of Roger looking so miserable, you can find that somewhere else. It makes for a great impact, but I don't like kicking someone when he's down. Besides, to me that is not what the match was about. 

This is more like it:

 

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But of course, the best image of all:

 

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P.S: Nadal News has a great "As It Happens" commentary. Check it out!

Rafael Nadal wins Australia Open 2009.