I am just...so not looking forward to this. I just feel like this is destiny for Fed. It already hurts.
Rafa took care of a very game Andy Murray on Friday. I'm proud of Andy. He chipped his tooth, he tore his ankle, and he's Andy Murray. He really could have just thrown in the towel against Rafa and saved his body for the grass season (which is already in jeopardy because of his ankle). But my boy competed and he competed well. He did everything he could against Rafa and can walk away from this match with a "too good" racquet clap. Because seriously, Rafa was just too good.
Tough luck, Charlie Brown. Next time wear a collar.
As for Fed, first of all, I told you so. I just need to get that off my chest because I've spent the week being laughed at because I told people I thought Fed was going to stop the streak. Why would he stop the streak? Because Fed takes pleasure in doing things like that to me. It's like he KNOWS.
But in all seriousness, he played the best match I've seen from him in a long-ass time. And I haven't seen him that fired up and intense since Crazy-Eyed Fed made an appearance in 2008. And we know what happened there....
And so The Streak endeth. It's been fun and I'm bummed it had to end at the hands of Smuggy McSmuggerson. Then again, I mean, if you're going to lose to someone I guess it doesn't suck that it took the GOAT to end your ridiculous streak. But...yeah. I still don't like it. AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!
So...Fedal. An emotional letdown from Fed wouldn't be surprising. And I mean, this IS Rafa on clay. He's just that much better than everyone else. But if Fed is able to serve the way he did on Friday, he's got one hell of a chance. And you know he knows that we all kinda gave him sideways glare when he won Roland Garros without beating Rafa. The guy gets hard for a challenge. This is The Challenge of All Challenges.
So...shit. Seriously. I think he can do it. Then again, I thought Frank would win in straights, so...here's hoping I'm still off with my final predictions.
(Pics: Getty, Reuters)
