Rafatennis - Rome Masters 1000 - 8-15 May 2011

First topic message reminder :

"Obviously I didn't play at my best. I didn't play badly, just normal. But that is not enough against Djokovic." That's the true Rafa! Well, one of them had to lose their streak and it wasn't third time lucky for Rafa against Djokovic.

With a quick turnaround, we are straight off to Rome, with Rafa in a battle to keep his No 1 ranking and take it into the French. The tournament has already started and the draw could prove tough for him, depending on whether potential opponents can take their good form from Madrid onto Rome.

Rafa's first match will be on Wednesday.

Good luck Rafa - dust yourself down and come roaring back. Vamos!

Rafa returns to court to play his first doubles match today

He's second up on the main court following a ladies singles match. Soooooo .... (and I won't ask Rafan to try and work out the time difference cos she is <pants> at doing that ) ... if the wimmin finish about 12pm local time, that will be about 8 pm our time.

I'm just wondering if it will be televised as they are on a main court, but the next problem is trying to find a stream.

Anyone any ideas??

Hola :hugs:

I noticed that also playing in the doubles today are the Olympic doubles champions – step forward Mr Roger Federer and Stan the Man

Of course, we all know that the Olympic tennis is little more than an exhibition event…

For new people to the thread – that is a bit of sarcasm on my part so please don't be cross with me :run2:

How's everybody's picks doing? I got 8 points – but already lost one of my next round players in Istomin. Dammit!

Novak and The Murrays are also playing doubles today, so its a big day for this event.

Wonder what Paes thinks of it all. I bet he despises them. :run2:

Hope he does despise them, and I hope if they meet that he gets twonked. Never witnessed such arrogance in my life

Well ... after I've stopped my hysterical at Rafan's outburst ... he was also a complete horror with Feli & Pico at the AO.

My personal view is that he has a massive chip on his shoulder. I think his outburst in Rome was because he wasn't being granted the respect he thinks he deserves. But no-one knows who you are, Paes. FACT.

I also think he has a beef with singles players teaming up at doubles, when he's a "specialist" and come along and think its all so easy. Especially when they are so easy on the eye like Feli and Pico are ... so he used whatever other tactics to get under their skin ... hence shouting Vamos! at every given opportunity. I'm glad they didn't shake hands.

He enjoys it when he's being given all sorts of plaudits for harmonising Indian/Pakistani relationships, but for me ... its what you do when the cameras aren't there that counts equally as much. And the man has no manners.

<fallsoffsoapbox>

Feli is going to be WASPING about this ...

The RafaFer bromance is hurtling along at a tremendous pace. They have been practising together at IW ... and their tans look great!!

RafaFer

Wowzers, lovely picture. Poor old Feli. He's playing today so let's hope he can put his wasping energy into defeating his opponent <unjinx>

Vamos!

Feli is now <doomed> because <Jinxy> has spoken.

He's about third up on a more outside court and is playing Benneteau, so there's every chance of another first round exit.

Rafan has <jixed> him already so my comment doesn't count.

Good evening lovely Rafateers!!

Jankovic is pressing on with her match, so Rafa and Marc! should be on shortly. Not that I can find a stream, but hey ho ...

There's some lovely stories floating around about an impromptu footie match featuring Nole and Andy ... some gratuitous pictures here. There's some more on Facebook, and it seems like a number of the European boys joined in on the fun. But where is our footie fan, Rafa?

It seems that as he was walking to practice, he spotted the game and couldn't keep his eyes off it as he went past ... more likely dying to join in. But when he spotted Nole, he dropped his racquets and went over to greet his pal in a warm embrace ... awwww and awwww.

I actually like seeing this side of the guys. Just young men, being pals, enjoying themselves away from the one-on-one combat that tennis is ... and with some obvious genuine friendships along the way.

Good evening lovely Wooffs and anyone else that's about!

Love those Facebook pictures - they look like they're having such fun in the Californian sunshine <envy>. And how cute, Rafa racing to Nole for a big . Wooffs, how do you do the <links> in that clever way?

Team Cuteness are on court now - it's currently on serve but I think Rafa's serving as they are 0-40 down . I don't know if there is any streaming, I'm just following on livescores. Vamos Equipo Guapo(s)

And they held

Good evening lovely Rafan!!

Doing the links is really easy. You click on the <link> icon, and as you've done before, you paste your link in the top box. If you notice, there is a box underneath. If you type something in there, then the <link> will appear in the post as the words you have just typed. It keeps the post all nice and tidy.

One thing I've found though (for any Admins quiety watching) is that I need to also change the link text to a colour before I post it. Otherwise, its not very distinguishable in the post itself.

It still going on serve with Team Cuteness.

First set TB!

... <yikes>

Good evening all my luvverly Rafateers Just checking in to see how our lovely boy is doing....and did Feli lose

Love those pics of Rafa going to embrace Nole....I like the way young guys these days aren't frightened to show their feelings, unlike their older counterparts who just used to give a manly handshake


Off to bed soon....am getting up at stupid o clock...a time that our dear Dame knows nothing about

Good evening our lovely Denzy!!

I'm still waiting to see what comes in on Live Scores for the first set with Rafa and Marc!! <prays>

The very best of luck tomorrow Denz with your <doggies> Which ones are you showing again??

<cough> to <stupid o'clock>

Yay Denzy! I was just having wonderment about you on our "Ahoy" thread - is it tomorrow you're showing Seve? I'll be keeping everything crossed for you!

RafaMarc won their TB - Vamos! I

Rafa and Marc! win the first set TB by 7-5.

Lovely Woofs and lovely Rafan

I'm showing young Seve and Crumble tomorrow. Judging starts at 9am. Am also on Discover Dogs with the Sussex, so a very full day and being Saturday it'll be extra busy, but as always fun, which is what it's all about

Go Team Cuteness

Sounds brill Denzy! Feli is up next after Giraldo/Gimeno-Traver. I'm sure he'll do us proud

RafaMarc facing BPs in the first game, but I don't know which one of them is serving...

Broken!

My live stream score has just caught up. Typical !!

Ten bob says it was Rafa serving ... :run2:

Probably Woofs...we know how dodgy the serve can be

Will catch up soon my loves......night night and speaks soon

Night night lovely Denzy, and <goodluck> for tomorrow <unjinx>

Ooh shame they had break back points then but no luck. Keep going Team Cuteness!

Night night lovely Denz

Hope you have great success tomorrow. <bubbly>

Which livescores are you on, Rafan?

The ones on the ATP website

livescores

And a good way to see if I can do the <link> in a nice way!

Thank you.

And you did the link beautifully.

<curtsey>

I've got to take the dog out for his last run round the block - will be back for the Champions Tie-Break

I must admit that I don't know the rules of doubles these days. Rafa/Marc! 5-3 down.

So if their opponents win the set ... do we then have a TB ..

Rafa and Marc! break to level 5-5 !!

Well done chicos!

Wooffs - that's right re the TB - if it's one set each they play first up to 10 points (with a 2 point gap as usual). Plus when it's deuce they play next point wins the game. I like it - much more exciting than deuce-advantage-deuce-advantage-deuce-advantage.

that sounds like a Rafa service game

Rafa and Marc! 6-5 up!

<break><break><break>

Oops lost you for a while there! But I'm back - looking like a good TB so far (4 MPs)

And Rafa and Marc! win the TB!!



Well done boys!!

And a win

Hopefully there will be some good pics doing the rounds tomorrow. For now I wish Wooffs and any friendly lurkers a very good night, let's reconvene tomorrow for some more fun

:sleep:

Well done Rafa fans I see you have exceeded 500 posts on your joint threads already.

I guess Rogers fans have either disappeared or have gone elsewhere as there is very little activity on his board.

Mind you early days yet with 606 still running but there's not much activity there.

Thanks sportslover

We're just enjoying ourselves here and are happy that we've found a good place so far, to do so.

I think Roger fans went to other places long ago and perhaps for some of them, a fan forum is not quite their thing. At least they have the option though.

Rafa's playing today!!!!

OK ... now this is all ifs and buts and maybes. But he's fourth up on Stadium court. 2 ladies singles and JMDP vs. Looby before him (that could be a good match ).

So maybe 4-5 hours to get that lot completed and they start at 11 am local time. Andy is playing today, but he's on third on the second court, so Sky will probably show him but he may be playing before Rafa gets on court.

Confused?? I am

So .... Rafa could be on around 11pm or midnight our time. Sky stops broadcasting tonight at midnight, but ... we may be able to see some Rafa!!!

If I go easy on the <redwine> of course.

VAMOS RAFA!!

A quick check on yesterday's results and I see Feli went out round 1 ... AGAIN! And I trusted him with a pick.

A pretty poor day for the lesser Armadas ... and NICOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO and Daveed lost in their doubles.

Fer is up first on Staduim 2 tonight which will be about 7pm. Maybe he's on Sky?? But ... I also have a footie match to watch.

You get <nowt> for weeks and then it all comes along at once!!

I trusted Feli with a pick too - must have had a blonde moment :huh:

I am shocked to see Rafa is playing in the singles today - he's usually the last player to play the round! We've got a feast tonight in the form of lovely Nando in pink and then Delpo later. Shame Rafa isn't one of the earlier matches...but it is the weekend...could I do it? Stay up late?!

I'm already :sleep:y <oldtimer>

Poor Berankis had to retire so Nando eases through his first match after a scare in the first. Vamos!

Good evening lovely Rafan ... what the hell was Fer wearing??

Oh great ... Croft is here.

And Dimples is on Stadium 2.. Ooooo just spotted Daveeed ... will watch that. :run2:

Oh they aren't showing Stadium 2 are they? I can't watch Karlovic/Ferrer, it's too yawnsome (lo siento Daveeeed). Instead I'm watching the Masters Finals from 2010 on the red button.

Hopefully Safina will win in 2 so Delpo won't be too long in coming.

I liked Fer's outfit - neon is very now! Neo would back me up if he were here

Ahh yes. Neo knew everything about being on trend.

I can tell I am out of practise. Following the freds, flicking on the matches, and Take Me Out has started ... I am dizzy!!

Chat fred that way >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Delpo warming up! Will be brill if he can get through this and Dolgo can get through against Hanescu and we get a Delgo match up. Mind you, I think most Delpo match-ups are exciting just now to see how he's progressing.

Tennissssssssss

Delpo, Dolgo, Delgo FeliFer RafaFer BobCat Dimples ...

My head hurts!!