ROME: Semis, Here Comes Rafa.

Rafa won 63, 63 over Nando in Rome. To his credit, The Hawk gave it his all and then some, even causing his knee to go bad again and calling the physio, and made me wish that physio was yours truly. Ah, the wonderful world of ATP trainers. There's nothing else like it, is there?

Not sure what Rafa is so surprised about in this picture. Really, all I can think of is, Eyebrows! and, Chocolate Eyes!

Despite some negative body language from Nando, for most of the match he looked quietly confident, and he made Rafa werq! today. I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I like him as a person and for him to ascend in play and rankings makes me feel good. On the other, there is that something about him that is just difficult for Rafa to shake off. I know, the scoreline doesn't say much, but most of the games in the second set went to deuce many times. One game in particular was more than 8 minutes long. That game probably caused Nando to call the trainer and go "ooh aah ouch" on tv and made me fan myself, and that kinda worried me a bit. This happened at AO - although that one was very understandable, I mean 5 hours? Peel me off the court already - and then the match with Ginge in IW/Miami (can't remember which) he called the trainer too, and I'm not sure if he played badly because of the bad knee or he called the trainer because he was playing badly. Oh boy, I think I just confused myself. My point is, he probably needs to lose a few pounds as whatever the problem is, all those muscles are not helping. I suggest he get himself a Yorkshire Terrier, as it really worked for me in losing weight. Just sayin'.

Other matches of the day results in no upsets. Well, for most people at least. Me, I'm quite upset of my Freaky Tall (tm Miri) losing to the King of Smurfs, but that's just me. Roger needed to scramble up a tiebreak to  put away Mischa Zverev, but after that it went pretty smooth. Shame, as Mischa is preeeeetteeeeh. He also had a beaut of a one handed backhand, and he was rocking that BH volley most of the first set. Shame.

I just don't understand the gangsta necklace. Is it coming back in style? And what is it about Argentines that makes them so hairy:

I'm not sure if it's a turn on or a turn off, but since I'd still hit it, I'm guessing it's more the former than latter.

So tomorrow, Roger vs Djoko starting at 1.30 PM, and Rafa vs Gonzo or Monaco at 4.

How Many Accents Can You Say "Gladiator" In?

ATP rocks. Just sayin'.

The players were asked about their favorite movies, and the answers.. well they're great.

Aside from Rafa's. Honey, how much does it take for you to just name one favorite?

I like the word "gladiator" in French ala Tsonga. But Potro's is not bad too.

His soft voice do me in everytime.

via Down The Line!

SEO MIAMI: Post Quarterfinal Presser

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.805584&w=425&h=350&fv=]

His presser antics are the best. What on earth is he doing? Babe, lemme buy you some cottonbuds.

After Rafa's video, go check Potro's presser.

That "of course" just melted my cold cold heart. Note to self: stop lusting after younger men.

Rafa's presser transcripts here.

Del Potro's presser transcripts here.

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.

Rafa The Great

"What Nadal has done on clay over the past three years is nothing short of remarkable.
To be as dominant as he has been, winning 100 out of 101 matches! That's one of the greatest achievements in the history of tennis,and I don't feel like it is recognized to the extent it deserves." - Pete Sampras

"But it's unbelievable how he puts so much pressure on an opponent. They must think, "What I got to do, hit three lines to win a point?" We can learn from that and put it in our tennis." - Ana Ivanovic

"Actually I walked up to Rafael Nadal. And he is probably my favourite tennis player to watch and I walked up to him and I was like, 'I just want to meet you and don't want to take a picture or anything, I just want to meet you.' And I told him, 'I watch you all the time when you play tennis and I love watching you play tennis.' I told him good luck. That is probably the only person." - Michael Phelps

“He beat me when he was just 14-years-old. I consoled myself
thinking that I had lost to a future Grand Slam winner.” - Pat Cash

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="190" caption="Rafa at 14?"][/caption]

"What he did to (Roger) Federer in the final of Roland Garros, isn't something any other tennis player in the earth would do. Rafa destroyed Roger at France and later earned the Wimbledon title, which is far from his favorite surface. I believe that was an extraordinary effort. Nadal definitely deserves to be #1 in the world." - Lleyton Hewitt

"We feel very proud with having the number one and although it is impossible to reach his level we will try."
- David Ferrer

I remember that when I lost to Fernando González in Australia, having had to retire because of cramp in the fifth set, Nadal came over to me in the locker room. I was shattered, in a very bad way, and he put his hand on my shoulder and said: "Don't worry about it, the same thing happened to me two years ago when I was your age."
Things like that fill me with pride and I really value them." - Juan Martin del Potro 

Holy Shite

Roger steamrolled Potro 63, 60, 60.

Either Rodge was working some really powerful mojo or Potro lost all control of his admittedly very gangly limbs at the start of the second set.

I wish I was home to watch it. Damn this chinese new year thing.

*shakes fist*

********Yeah, yeah, I know this is supposed to be a blog about Rafa and all his fabulous assets, but since this is a grand slam, and he is still very much in the draw, everything and everyone in it has a certain involvement with him, no? Yes? No?