He was The King of Clay. The unstoppable Spaniard… but only on the comfort of his lovable clay. Then he started doing well on grass. Could he really win it? Third time was the charm. But there would be no way he would win it on the hard courts, the bounces were too high, unlike clay and grass. Then he won the Australian. But there would be no way he could break through in New York. It was too fast after a tough summer swing.

Haters to the left.

The real hilarity of this story is that those criticisms weren’t hate. In fact, they were entirely fair. And for those who read the post below this, that’s the beauty of it.

Rafa has found a way to alter and improve his game for each surface and each major. The key being improve. Years ago, the idea of Rafa playing aggressively in New York behind the power of 135mph serves down the tee would have been hilarious. “Maybe you’re thinking of Andy Roddick?” Not anymore.

Nine slams, the seventh with the career slam, and the second with the career golden slam, and the most Masters tournament wins to boot. And what will get lost in this? The fact that he only dropped one set all faaaaacking tournament. Insanity.

He’s sealed up the number 1 rank going into 2011 and has over 10,000 points right now, an absolutely mind numbingly large amount. In fact, if Rafa only had RG, Wimby, and USO points… he’d be ranked third.

Well done, son. Take it easy until London, will ya?