Rafa Nadal vs Mina at Roland Garros

What a match! I love pro-tennis and I've seen plenty of good, intense matches on clay but this match between Mina up against Rafa has to be a best of... Ups, downs, strengths, weaknesses but this is a match, an introduction or initiation to the games of the big boys. Mina played every point except for his "trainer" moment. Rafa moved Mina all over the court and wore him out. The interesting thing for me was that Rafa showed no mercy, gave away no points, and Mina fought back with some very good returns and vollies. Rafa, from my observation, hammered Mina and gave Mina a good initiation into the "majors"with the big boys. Rafa of course is favored to win and outmatched the young 18 year old Mina. I think Mina at 18 up against Rafa at 23/24 and his gazillion wins found himself in a brutal match. It was good to see Mina fighting hard and to see Rafa brutal and concise in his shots. He worked at giving Mina a drubbing but Mina can be nothing but pleased with his introduction by Rafa to what you have to have to play against the best King of Clay. If Mina takes this match as a time of a lifetime, I believe that he has the potential to rise quickly in the standings - why - because he fought and often gave as good as he got. He hung in there to the bitter end. As much as I admire Rafa Nadal and am glad to see his health much improved, I admire him more today for treating Mina as an equal on the court. If he wants it, Mina has a career cut out for himself. Also, considering that Rafa may be playing Mina again in a few years to come and probably wants Mina to remember his initiation today. I enjoy watching the pros on the tennis tour and now to begin to see the players of the future coming along in the early days of their pro careers. I don't think anyone can take away from Mina his effort and his willingness to take risks and to get out there and take the punishment that Rafa gives out, relentless, crushing expert, almost miraculous consistency.