CAMELOT FANTASIES

Well, TBH, that's a tough ask to play someone with that big of a serve and great volleys in the second round. When I saw the draw I expected it. Rafa usually, and always has worked his way into a tournament. You can't adjust that quickly in tournament play. I listened to Brad Gilbert's analysis, he's the only one that I will listen to, and one the main problems was Rafa not moving back on the first serve. He shouldn't have hugged the baseline so hard. I don't care about rankings and streaks and all of that stuff. While nice, they don't amount to a hill of beans, IMO.

If they look back at this match I think they'll come to the conclusion that some big hitters Rafa needs to move back farther to start the point. The other big hitters he's more used to so he's learned how to deal with them. But, with a mercurial, eclectic player like Dustin, who he's not used to he'll have to make some adjustments.

It's not a tragedy and as he works on what he needs to work on, Rafa will be fine. He's just a human being and he's the only one who can't catch a break. He was #10 coming in, he won't lose too many points since he went out in the fourth round last year. He has the rest of the season to get things back in gear with no points to defend.

Even being off for six months he was still in the Top Ten and had more points than many of the others in the Top Ten. People have to give Rafa a break and quit expecting miracles. He's got to build himself back up, because he's older than he was when he could just spring back. Anyway, it's life and it's sports. You have to take the good with the bad.

Rafa will be fine. I'm fine with the loss and I thought Dustin had a great interview.

Now, Rafa can actually work on some things without all the pressure.