Honestly, Rafael Nadal, I don't know what to do with you. You win when I want you to lose, and then you lose when I want you to win. I feel a bit betrayed. Of all the people to lose to, did it have to be Novak Djokovic?
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What I'm now faced with is a final between two of my most disliked players on the circuit, including the #1 on that list, and with Rafa certain to become #1 in the world. Could things really get much blacker for me?
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No, not really. And so the only way is up. The victory over Lapentti yesterday meant that Rafa will become #1 sometime in the next few weeks - I think after the Olympics, no matter how he and Roger perform there. That means that the glorious reign of Federer comes to an end after 237 weeks. Not a bad run. No one else has ever done better. And perhaps, in order to appreciate this streak, it had to come to an end.
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And it might just a herald a renaissance. This is 1996, and Federer, like Sampras, is a champion. The first Golden Age of Roger Federer is coming to an end. The second might just be about to begin.
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And how is this for a symbolic turning point? On the 8th of August, 2008, his 27th birthday, Roger Federer will carry the Swiss flag in the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic. He might lose the #1 spot, but I think an Olympic gold medal would alleviate the pain of that considerably. And hey, he can always get it back. How about a US Open victory? That'd be nice. And the Masters Cup. For so long, Roger has been maintaining. Now he'll be chasing, hunting - and if that doesn't put some fire in his veins, I don't know what will.
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Watch out, Rafa. Roger's coming home, and he ain't pleased. This is not game over. This is game on.
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Today's Results
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Western and Southern Financial Group Masters (Cincinatti)
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Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal, 6-1 7-5
Andy Murray def. Ivo Karlovic, 6-4 6-4
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Rogers Cup (Montreal)
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Dinara Safina def. Victoria Azarenka, 6-0 2-6 6-3
Dominika Cibulkova def. Marion Bartoli, 4-6 6-4 6-3
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PS. Go Dinara!
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