CAMELOT FANTASIES

Rafa's achievements are immortalized and we will be celebrating them forever and ever.

But the man is still playing. And still out there on the front lines.


My take is simple:

If he wants to come back stronger next year so he can be competitive then that next year starts now.


He has to start now. Get back on clay after Wimbledon.


Not to qualify for London but to try to come back much stronger next year.

Next year starts today. make plans to practice and play on clay after Wimbledon.


Get back in the game Rafa. Start today.

I can't tell if he wants to play, or did he just come back out of habit? Because it's something he's been doing all his life; because it's his job. There is no love of the game right now, no passion, no motivation. The only loss he seemed to care about was when Fognini got him twice in a row. He was ticked the second time, but all of the other losses he wasn't even bothered when he came to the net, nor in his press conferences. His attitude was flippant. "I played well, the other guy was too good."

What? Rafa? That's not who he is. He's not listening to Toni or his other coaches. He doesn't seem to care. This is a rough time, but he has a lot of questions to ask of himself, and the number one question is does he want to come back? Yes, he has a chance to stare down history, the question is, does he want to? How do you work yourself beyond the point that you're satisfied?

When hasn't Rafa been motivated to improve? He's changed his entire game to adjust to other surfaces. He learned how to win on grass and hard courts.

He can come back next year, and I hope that he does, but if his motivation doesn't change I can see him quitting after the French, not because he's done, but because he simply wants to move on, and the pressure from the fans is probably whats driving him right now. He doesn't want to disappoint us, but it's obvious that his heart and will is not in it. Right now.

Fingers crossed, that will change.