Hip, Good. Brain, Bad.

If Rafa's happy, I'm happy.

Rafa was given quite the test by a resurgent post-hip-surgery Nalby, but in the end he came through, wearing Nalby down not physically but mentally to take it in three.

To Fat Dave's credit, he was striking the ball beautifully for a set and a half.  But after he failed to convert a number of break points in the second he completely fell away.  His footwork was non-existent and he kept slapping the ball for winners that weren't.  Well, they would have been winners if they were playing on a football field.

 

Oh, Rafa.  I love many things about you but when it comes down to it, it's your heart I love the most.  It just won't quit.

Afterwards, Rafa had nothing but good things to say about his good buddy (you know they eat cookies together) Dave:

Q. What makes him so good? He's beaten Roger eight times. Is it the backhand? Just the whole package?
RAFAEL NADAL: Everything, I think. He's very complete player.
Anyway, look, I'm very happy to see him back after important surgery. He's a close friend of mine. He is talent, no? He can play very easy. He can make very difficult things very easy.
So, you know, when he's playing at his best level he makes you feel like you are nothing in the middle of the court, no?
So I think it's strange that one player like David don't have a Grand Slam victory, because he has everything to win.

Go get it.