Rafa impresses in Aussie Open defeat

I HAVE never been a huge Rafael Nadal fan.

If you had asked me for my “male tennis top five” earlier this week it would’ve been the greatest of all time Roger Federer at number one, followed by Andre Agassai, Marat Safin, Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt.

There’s no doubt that Rafa is a star, and he will be remembered as one the game’s best, but I’ve never been able to really warm to him.

Things change though, and I’m sorry but Lleyton you’re out and Rafa is in, after rocketing up the ranks on my list.

Everything changed for me following Rafa’s four set loss to Austrian Dominic Thiem.

Rafa was the centre of a several controversial flashpoints during the match and was clearly frustrated at points.

Facing the media after the match the Spaniard could’ve easily focused on the negative – after all he’d just lost to a player he’d easily accounted for in the past.

Rafa went in a completely different direction though.

“(It was) a very good match. Good level of tennis, I think,” Nadal told reporters.

“He have been playing very well, I think, no? Playing very aggressive, great shots. Even from difficult positions, he was able to produce amazing shots. So nothing to say. Just well done to him.

“I think he’s playing great. He’s playing with a lot of energy, aggressive, determination. So well done for him.

“I honestly didn’t play a bad match, no, no.

“My attitude was great, I think, during the whole match. Good, positive, fighting spirit all the time, giving me more chances. That’s what I tried, no?”

Too often players talk about how bad they played – even when they didn’t play that bad.

They focus on themselves and give very little credit to their opponents.

A fair share do at least throw a “good game” out there but very few say the type of things Rafa did which is enough to see him go up in my stocks.

There’s also the fact he has had the same Australian Open driver since 2010 – even paying for him to holiday at his home in Spain – what a bloke.