The Australian Open - one week down and it’s still all good, mate!

Amidst all the hype about this tournament having the possibility to be where Rafa could take the number one slot the man himself was far more low key about it all - "It's gonna be interesting. I gonna try my best, no? I think I am prepared." So how has it gone so far?



Round one:
We worried a bit over his inability to serve out the first set but that was just a small flicker in a solid match. He ran out the victor against Viktor Troicki 7-6 7-5 6-1 Interviewed on court Rafa said "He played very, very aggressively. Today I was struggling at some times in the match. I couldn't get the rhythm in the beginning but in the third set I think I played a bit better."

Round two:
Rafa had asked the tournament organisers to let him play during the day. As he said in his post match interview "Well, last year I have some night matches and it's tough, especially for the next day. Because if you play very long match in night session you can go to sleep 5:00, 6:00. Last year I was sleeping two times with the sun, so it's difficult later, no, be at 100 percent. For sure if it's possible I prefer play day session." This is something that had bugged the Vamos Brigade last year when the poor guy only played outdoors in daylight once all tournament.
This match, against Florent Serra, proved to be a bit more of a walk in the park. Rafa won the first 8 games and finished an easy win in just over an hour and a half 6-0 6-2 6-2. He only dropped two points on serve in the first set and served an almost unprecedented 9 aces. "I am very happy. I hit the ball well, especially since it was only my second match of the tournament. I'm happy about my improvement after first round, especially my serve and forehand - I'm trying to play a bit more aggressive and definitely serving better, which is good."

Round three:
Another day match - hoorah! (Though it's not that great if you are in Europe and have to drag yourself out of bed in the wee small hours to watch it.) It was another slow start but Rafa came back brilliantly from 2-5 down in the first to beat Gilles Simon 7-5 6-2 6-3. "He started playing very good, very aggressive. I had some difficult moments, he had some set points. I served very well on the big points -- it is not normal that I serve two aces (on set points) but it's good."

Round four:
After the horrific time that Hewitt and Bagdhatis finished their match on Saturday we were more than a little nervous about this one. Paul-Henri Mathieu has proved a tricky opponent in the past and we feared for a long match. Rafa obviously did as well since he wrote his daily blog before the match just in case. All fears were unfounded, though. Rafa came out really strong this time and it was all too much for Matthieu who took an injury time-out in the first set and then retired in the second. A win for Rafa 6-4 3-0.
"I was enjoying the match. I was playing my best tennis since arriving in Australia. I'm happy to be in the quarter-final, but not like this way. I feel very good and I will have extra practice tomorrow to make up for my lost match time."

On to week two - Vamos Rafa!