Hope this doesn’t sound bad, but I will say I’m enjoying this rare respite where Rafa isn’t automatically sharing news with the others of the big 3. We got about another 4 to 6 weeks of Rafa playing without the ying yang of his esteemed rivals. Rafa is on a roll, and win or lose, it’s just nice as a fan it’s about him and he can enjoy being on top of the Slam mountain.
For so long Rafa and Federer seemed attached at the hip with all the talk of their vaunted rivalry since Rafa burst on the scene and figuratively chasing the Slam count and of course it’s been a battle with Novak the last 10 years. Rafa’s whole career is sandwiched between his two fellow ATG’s.
Because of Rafa’s injuries, he’s the one whose lost larger chunks of playing time and missed Majors. Every time he’s comeback they are always *there*, a credit to their health & longevity. This year’s AO was the very first Major for Rafa where one of the other 2 weren’t around in what, 18 years?
Competition of course is good, and yes, I know that Federer is attempting one last hurrah , and Novak should possibly be ready to go for the latter half of the clay season (My spec is he will get in at the FO) and Wimbledon. IMO Novak will ultimately retire last and that’s OK. But for now, I’m good with Rafa having this brief lone spotlight.
