For all the pre-match jockeying among a subset of fans wanting a Nadal-Berdych final, this is the one that true tennis fans wanted, nay, *needed*. Sod was able to withstand a solid challenge from Tomas before the brave Czech ran out of gas under the hot Paris sun (huh? Where's that been?) and Sod was able to turn it up a notch and take the last two sets. Rafa overcame a DoucheStamp who left it all out there in the third-set to make his return to the final.
And so, this is the way it should be. In order to reclaim his crown, Rafa needs to avenge his loss to Sod. And in order to claim his maiden Slam and have no asterisk whatsoever in the vicinity of his name in the books, Sod's gotta go through Fed and Rafa. It's hard not to see the parallels between Sam's run and Sod's. No one will question them if they raise the Coupe this weekend and they will have rightfully earned their place in the conversation.
I'll be rooting for Rafa, obviously. But I have to say, I'll be the first to stand and do a slow clap for Evil if he pulls this off. Because aside from being a fan of any particular player, a fan of the sport of tennis, or a fan of storylines, I am first and foremost a fan of sport. And seriously, this would be an even more impressive feat than DelPo beating Fed at USO 09.
And it makes me hate Sod even more for making me say that.
Go Tennis.
