Roma: Rafa vs. Moya -- Rafa wins 6-1, 2-6, 6-2

Okay, we're getting things ready. If I don't wake up in time, Lopy has my number (so to speak) and he will call me and wake up the whole family. But that's okay -- we all have to get up at some point anyway, no? May as well get the kids off to school a bit early, I always say.

This match is making us all a bit nervous, but we have to remember that notwithstanding Miami, Rafa has a great record against Carlos overall, especially on clay. They have played a number of exhibitions which Rafa has won.

Vamos, Rafa!!! See you all in the a.m. or p.m., depending on your time zone!!! (Remember, three exclamation points are necessary. Sorry, ATP!!!)

GOOD MORNING!!! Henman did manage to win in two. Wonders never cease. So I don't get to sleep for another set. Off to the TV I go . . .

They are showing the end of Gaudio/Malisse now.

Malisse won, and now Rafa and Moya are on court. Rafa won the toss, and I think he elected to receive. He is wearing the lime green shirt, white piratas and white headband. They are warming up now. John Barratt (JB) is one of the commentators.

The blogger function went out right before the match, and came back right after the match. What timing!!! *rollseyes*

But we fans are nothing if not resourceful, so we moved the blog to the Messageboard. Check there for the full play-by-play, as well as some serious nerves on the part of fans.

I really was worried in the second set. I didn't see the Miami match, but if I had a nickel for every time the commentators started mentioning Miami, I'd be rich.

That's why I decided to start a new thread and not mention Miami at all. It seemed to work.

I was so proud of Rafa. He looked a bit lost in the second set, as Moya could do nothing wrong, and it seemed Rafa could do nothing right. I was about to send cincimini into the loo. And tell Jama to put on some more Nike apparel.

But Moya can be a streaky player, and Rafa settled down in the third set.

What really impressed me, though, is that he saved those two breakpoints at 4-2. One was a Moya miss, but then Rafa had the composure to hit an ace. That seemed to give him a lot of confidence. Once he held there, you could tell that he believed he could win the match.

Of course, he probably always believed that. He was just making us fans sweat a little.

Vamos, Rafa!!!