CAMELOT FANTASIES

IMO both Federer and Nadal have successfully produced some of the worst fans ever. These fans deserve each other. It's just a human jungle out there. I have no sympathy for the majority of the fans. Not that some of the Nole and Murray fans are any better to be truthful, but they are only a handful.

Now on to the match, and if I am to be honest, Nadal had a lot at stake. A lot. He was supposed tie with Sampras and equal his record and to lose to a player like Wawrinka who is not his caliber yet, would have been a great shame - doesn't matter if the loss had come in 3 or 4 or 5 sets. And why not a loss. The likes of Nadal, Nole, Federer, Murray etc. might be the top players and are constantly on the watch, but in this particular tournament, Wawrinka became the man to beat when he took out  the 4 times AO champion - Novak Djokovic. Earlier on, he beat one of his old time nemesis Robredo in straight sets and just when people thought, he might have not had much left after the long match against Nole, he came out strong and beat Berdych in 4 sets. Wawrinka looked like a man on a mission from the get go. Considering all that, the injury comes off as damage control for future sake as so much is still at stake - Nadal is chasing history after all and not just Sampras' but also Federer's, so I am sure he doesn't want set a precedent here by losing to a player he shouldn't be losing to, especially when the new year has just begun. 

Now I am not a fan of Wawrinka at all but credit should be given where credit is due. He was steamrolling from the start of the match and took the 1st set in fashion and went quickly 2-0 in the 2nd set. This tells me he was by no means either nervous or overwhelmed by the fact that he had just won his very first set against Nadal in a GS match no less. He most definitely showed up last night not just to play the game but also to win it. He's turning 29 soon and he may never win a Slam again, so why waste such a golden opportunity. Thanks to Norman who must have instilled all this into Stan and kept him highly motivated.

Congrats to Stan and Li Na. Despite all the controversies throughout the tournament, these two definitely deserved to win 2014 AO.

Unfortunate for Nadal no doubt that he had to lose it here in the final when he came so close to win it but sometimes some of the players become too competitive for their own good and consequences leave no one alone. Had he not had a history of a number of things in the past including the injuries, this would have been more believable, but it's hard to trust a guy who has no respect for the rules. He's a repeated offender of the rules after all and that makes it hard to feel sorry for him. I'd rather he cleans up his acts and play like a normal human being. Once he does that I am sure people will have no problem accepting him as one of the true greats, but right now, that's not the case. As they say, what goes around comes around.

I am sorry that I couldn't write a more constructive post to cheer you up and the fact that, I used to like him one time back in 2008 and prior, makes it even harder for me to write this, but over the years, after seeing a few things I have stopped being a fan. But my mind is not made up about him. He can always change and I am perfectly willing to change my mind about him as well.

Anyway, best of luck to all the players going forward. First Slam to Wawrinka and Li Na.