Not One, Not Two, But Three!

Okay... I did some serious soul searching, and decided that instead of one killer entry, I'd post three normal ones. The story goes something like this.
My original plan (before Nadal won, and when I had a nasty feeling that he would win!) was to post a really huge blog entry about him and the match. Then, my cousins came here for a few days, and I just HAD to put in some Sohumisms. But I decided it would be unfair to both Rafa and Sohum - they both merit their very own blog entry. So it became TWO blog entries. I started writing this earlier this evening, and stopped in the middle, saying I'd put in snippets of the Argentina - Serbia & Montenegro match into one of the blog entries. But, as luck would have it, the Argentinians played SO well that I have to give them their very own blog entry as well! So here goes...
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Rafa is first without a doubt!!!! Rafa won!!! He 'just did it'! (Living up to Nike slogan and all.) After one whole year of waiting, I got to see Rafa magic at Roland Garros again. There's something about Rafa - my darling little cousin was sweet enough to remind me that he's absolutely ugly and I agreed - that just makes me feel all light and happy. He's just... Amazing!
Before I go on to the big one - the finals - let me run through the matches I haven't yet run through on my blog.
Quarterfinals:
Beat Novak Djokovic, an equally adorable 19-year-old from Serbia & Montenegro. Most painful match of Roland Garros for me. Djokovic was down 6-4, 6-4 and 0-15 (I think!) when he retired due to a bad back. I was heartbroken. I wanted it to be a five setter with Rafa winning. Djokovic looks like a player to look out for in the next few years - tons of promise!
Semifinals:
For the first time since 1985 (Not too sure about this), the final four in the Men's singles draw were the top four seeds, and everypone expected an intense match, but it was not to be. Rafa made short work of Ljubicic, beating him 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7). I, for one, thouroughly enjoyed the match. Rafa got through Ljubicic's amazing service and ended up finally winning quite easily. That left Rafa to contend with the Fed-Ex in the finals...
Finals:
Thrilling match, to say the least. One of the only times in my life when I actually said "Food is secondary"! Feddy thrashed Rafa in the first set. 6-1, I believe the score was. One of the most dreadful parts of the French Open (Close second to Djokovic's exit). I think I was close to tears at this point of time. My little cousin Maya was actually quite shocked to see me in that state, and tried to console me by saying that she'd support Rafa as well. I just prayed and prayed that Rafa'd come back. And he did. With a bang. Returning the favour. By taking the second set 6-1. The match was absolutely even at that point of time. I was so thrilled with Rafa's re-entry into the match that I had started yelling "Vamos Rafa!" at the top of my voice. By this time, my aunt was also shocked - I don't think she's ever seen this hooligan side of me before! Third set was quite tight. Rafa won 6-4. My confidence got a boost. Rafa got an early break in the fourth set and hung on to it for quite some time. I was full happy and all. I thought the match was sealed when Rafa was serving for the match at 5-3. But for some reason, (nerves, I guess) Rafa lost his concentration and his service game. The match was back on. I was at the edge of my seat. At 6-all, the tie break began. Feddy got an early mini-break and I was disappointed. (Not that I loved Feddy less, but that I loved Rafa more!) But Rafa being Rafa, he got a double mini-break back and went up one mini-break. On his first match point, he won the tie-breaker 7-4, the set 7-6, and the match [1-6], 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). He collapsed in trademark fashion on court as the entire stadium, nay, the entire world cheered him on. Nadal's record against Federer has now gone up to 6-1, and Nadal's current tally has gone up to 60 consecutive match wins on clay! (More records at http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/articles/2006-06-11/200606111150044467719.html )
Rafa, in spite of his superior record against Feddy, still is completely in awe of him. (Feddy does that to people!) And that is just one of the many things that add to Rafa's charm!