[SirFozzie]

Game 12: Hewitt to serve to stay in the match

(Volley-endurance) Hewitt +1, 40-30 Hewitt

Chips: 2 each

40-30: Hewitt gets a good serve in, Nadal will try to return.. OUT!

6-6. Thankfully, we are not under the old Wimbledon system, as I have rolled too many dice as is, but we are at a tiebreak.

Chips 2 each

Point 1: Nadal serves, Hewitt can't keep it on the court. 1-0 Nadal

Point 2: Hewitt serves, brief rally, Hewitt puts one into the net from deep behind the baseline. 2-0 Nadal

Point 3: Hewitt Serves, Nadal gets a chip (footwork), so Hewitt decides to spend the chip to go for a winner, rather than let Nadal (who now has 3) go for the winner himself.. gets it! 2-1 Nadal, so Nadal is still up a mini-break, but it's not over yet..

(Chips: Hewitt 1, Nadal 3)

Point 4: Nadal Serves:, long Rally, Nadal would normally get 2 chips for his savvy, but that would put him above four chips, so the second chip is wasted, but that's ok, as that just means he can spend one on the next return to convert it into a winner! 3-1 Nadal (and still the same chip stats)

Point 5: Deja vu all over again, but this time, Hewitt doesn't even wait for Nadal to spend one of the four he has on hand, spending his one chip to try to stay in this tiebreak.. gets it! It still looks bleak for Hewitt, but at least they're back on serve in this tiebreak (3-2 on the tiebreak)

(Chips: Hewitt 0, Nadal 4)

Point 6: Hewitt to serve, brief rally, Hewitt pressured puts one wide (rolled a 9, had no chips to extend the point). 4-2 Nadal, as Rafael Nadal has the mini break again.

(The players change ends at this point)

Point 7: Well executed serve by Hewitt, Nadal.. puts it wide! (4-3. Nadal could have spent two chips to extend the point, but since he'll have the first opportunity to go for winners on his serve, I decided not to spend any of them)

Point 8: Nadal serves, and immediately pressures Hewitt by coming in as if going for a volley, Hewitt tries a lob, and Nadal sets up for a winner and SMASHES it past Hewitt. 5-3 Nadal, and just two points away from finally putting away a game Hewitt

(Chips: Hewitt 0, Nadal 3)

Point 9: Hewitt's not out of this one, getting two chips during the rally due to his endurance, but Nadal's immediately going to try to put away this point (spending a chip to go for a winner).. and.. puts one in the corner. Great confidence to go for that shot under these circumstances! 6-3, and we are at TRIPLE MATCH POINT.

(Chips: Hewitt 2, Nadal 2)

Point 10: Hewitt raises his racket to serve.. first serve.. clips the net and bounces long. The match comes down to one tennis ball, the one in his hand. He bounces it once.. twice.. tosses it up, and slams it.. RIGHT INTO THE NET!

GAME, SET, AND MATCH RAFAEL NADAL!

RESULT: Rafael Nadal beats Lleyton Hewitt 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3)


Safe to call this an instant classic: 59 games, three sets going to a tiebreaker. Lleyton Hewitt's shattered after this one, so close to pulliong off the upset, but truly, there's no shame in this defeat. a weary, battle worn Rafael Nadal advances to the semifinals!