SEO MIAMI: Potro Sends Rafa Packing

Gangly Kid beat Rafa 64, 36, 76(3).

Who would imagine that when the draw was released that Rafa would be playing some of his hardest match against players we initially thought would not give him any sorts of challenges? Frederico Gil and Roger's BFF gave him a run for his money, and now Potro actually has beaten him.

Kudos to the awesomely gangly kid. I thought he was gonna take more time to mature, much less beating the #1 player on the way, but then again Rafa did the same to Roger just a few short years ago. Potro showed up to the match not only with his cojones, he brought an extra pair. Even if he did not bring the spare, I suspect any number of the Argentinians in the stands would cut theirs off and lend it to him. It certainly felt like a matter of country honor than just a simple tennis match. But really, he played amazing today. Many times it looked like he was gonna roll over and die - but on this day, he didn't. That's what makes a winning tennis player. I hope he will carry it well to the future.

Although, without taking away credit from the three players, Rafa was not himself this week. He was missing forehands (I KNOW! Disaster right?), hitting long shots and short balls. Dare I say this... Okay I'll say it. All week long his matches look like he's just going through the motion. Even in Indian Wells he looked so freaking tired on interviews, and finally it is showing on the courts of Crandon Park. I really do not want to read too much into things, but earlier this year he was asked whether he is tired (before Rotterdam I think) and he answered that he is "always tired". That's not a good thing to say. That's not a good outlook for Dick or Jane, much less a sportsmen, a #1 in the world who's famous for playing so intensely he is out of gas by the last slam. I personally think he must be exhausted - physically and mentally.

To me the match was played in awful conditions - I'm talking about the linejudges, the umpire, the very noisy spectators. I'm fine with noisy spectators but they have to know when to shut up. The linejudges missed some very obvious faults that even I could see from my tiny window of live stream. The umpire even overuled one call which was out, and Rafa did not challenge. Another incident from the linejudge and Rafa again did not challenge. Very disappointing quality of play from the officials. So many wrong calls, so many was let go. It could have changed the tone of the match entirely as some happened on crucial points - but in tennis one point behind is a lightyear away. Water under bridge and all that.

So next up for Rafa is Monte Carlo. I understand that he has a lot of points to defend there, so no hope of him missing it. After that, Barcelona, then Rome, then Madrid. Boy, just envisioning it makes me tired. I wish he would let go one of the three, as After RG he'll go straight for Queen's. We know he'll try his best to win that, and by all rights he should, he had a fantastic run there last year. Not an easy run, but awesome nonetheless. He won over a very in form Nole - if you did not watch it, do get ahold of it somewhere. After Queens it will be Wimby and hell will freeze over before he will allow himself to play badly there. After Wimby he is usually on a decline to the rest of the season. I guess we'll see what happens this year.

One thing I do hope will happen is that he gets some. Freaking. Rest. Rafa, you need it. If you haven't realized it by now I don't know what to think of you.

Did anybody actually read that? One of these days I have to put up some kind of pop quiz for you my fellow Rafanatics. I have to say, I'm very glad I don't get to write any more serious stuff until Monte Carlo. I'm tellin' ya, all this serious stuff sucks a girl's fun juice dry. Lord, how I made that sound dirty I've no idea.

See you in Monte Carlo, Rafa.