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!

Morning Rafateers

Hurray - Live Rafa-tennis at last . Although, not sure if nerves will stand it. Glad I knew the result of Karlovic match before I watched it last night!! Went to bed smiling at Rafa's bouncing around the court.

Hi Rafan. My picks are looking much better than they were, but not as good as yours. I've got three ot the last 4 as well, but as you say, probably a good few people will.

I'm not so sure about Nole - although Gasquet had those breaks against him, I thought Gasquet lost, more than Nole won. Mind you, it's hard to say about Fed as well, cos Stan did his usual roll over!!

Glad Rafa is up first - the other half can watch something of his choice, and I'll Sky+ Fed/Nole for later.

Have a good day Rafateers. VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!!!!!

Oh that's interesting about the Djoko Gasquet match Angie (I might start calling you "my Luvverrr" in a Bristolian accent ). I didn't see it and thought from the score that it was another flying Novak performance. I hope Feds doesn't roll over against him like he did in Dubai - their matches at the USO Open and Cinci (or Toronto can never remember which one) were amazing last year, and then the last few haven't been a patch. Maybe those two in the US were the meeting of levels (Nole on the way up, Feds on the way down?). Could be a good one anyway.

Too nervous to even think about the Rafa SF

Just been perusing the VB website forum - they've got a few people at IW this week and SW828 has posted some gorgeous training pictures - here's one of them. Sweaty fuego

<swoon> and <faint> I love it that Rafa isn't wearing his silly reversed cap at training. Keep the headband at Monte Carlo, Rafa!!!

Good morning all lovely Rafateers!!

A couple of <cracker>s ahead of us tonight, eh? I'm glad Rafa is on first because waiting around is too Lets hope Rafa can steal a number on JMDP here. I think so, and as we know ... he's always ready for a scrap.

I watched both the other quarters last night, and agree with what Angie has to say about the Nole/Gasquet encounter. Reeshard had bp's for 3-0 at the start, but lost them and the next 6 games. Then he did lead 3-0 in the second, but let Nole off the hook again. So it proves that Nole can be broken and I can't see him being let off lightly like that against Feds/Rafa. Nole also had a racquet smashing incident, so he was getting riled.

Stan & Fed was very disappointing. Come on Stan ... where's your hmmm hmmm's ?? Where's the in-yer-face allez's eh? Or is that saved for everyone else bar Feds??

And it was a shame to see that Team Cuteness have now bowed out. But then maybe this year its to be a loss in the doubles but a <win> in the singles?? Maybe??

Anyway, here's hoping Rafa's doing a bit of this later this evening ...

He's bouncy, bouncy
bouncy, bouncy
fun, fun
fun, fun

... the wonderful thing about Rafa is that heeeeeeeeee's the only one!

VAMOS!!!!!!

Hi everyone Are we all excited/nervous about the match? I might even get to watch this one if I find a decent stream. Fromsport has been pretty rubbish lately (still can't get over Eurosport not showing this ). Let's hope it's a good one and that Rafa comes through without giving us too many grey hairs!

The Nole/Fed match is quite an exciting prospect as well seeing as the no. 2 spot is at stake.

Good evening all

Cats. Have you tried Bet365? They've got both matches tonight. Thing is, you have to make a deposit, but they show all the tennis and its worth depositing £5.00 to get it.

Thanks Wooffs I'll give that a go as it's peanuts and would be to watch tennis on a decent stream.

No probs lovely Cats Its only a small screen, but its fairly good quality. Obviously I've got Sky, but I think Denz uses it a lot and if you need streams, its probably worth it.

Can't do anything about the rollercoaster though ...

Maybe it won't be so :yikesy: on a small screen

COME ON RAFA!! YOU CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!

Hola everyone

COME ON RAFA!!!!

Looking forward to a good couple of hours of tennis here. Vamos!

Evening Rafan Cats

Croft

I've got it on bet 365.....will be popping in and out to see how he's doing.......come on Rafa!!

Solerina

I've got a Sky Sports stream! Think I might have to close this thread though as it seems to not like 3 windows open. So for now, Vamos Rafa. Catch you lovelies later :run2:

Cats!!! Go to googlemail and join on the Dark Side!!!

Well ... he had a break point, and now has his own serve broken.

Nervy start from Rafa.

Well ... Rafa has had an awful start and is 3-0 down. Forehand has gone haywire.

Blow the cobwebs away and come on Rafa!!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Rafa is finding his rhythm and breaks back. Come on Rafa!!!

SETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Marvellous, Rafa. He's pulled himself together and won 5 straight games with some great play.

Keep it going lovely ...

It's very quiet on here seeing's Rafa's just won........you all fainted or something

Solerina

Congratulations Rafa!!

He played a pretty good match there and Delpo is obviously not quite there yet, and I would guess he's pleased to have got to the semi of a 1000 Masters.

I'm pleased to see Rafa think about it and recover from 4-1 down. Excellent play there.

He's in the final, Rafateers!! So he's picked up points to boot. Well done Rafa. <applause>

Solerina

We've been chatting on the Dark Side and neglecting the fred. <naughty>

Off to :sleep: now.

Wooffie wrote:Solerina

We've been chatting on the Dark Side and neglecting the fred. <naughty>

Lol.

Well I'm really pleased your boy has won

night all

Solerina

Evening Rafatereers

Gods, I'd forgotten how nerve-wracking it is to watch live tennis!!!

Apart from the first 3 games, thought he played like the Rafa we all know & .

Now trying to decide between Fed/Nole, or Barca/Getafe. Tricky one!!

Playing much better now and got the break back. It has been but looks like Rafa getting into it now. COME ON RAFA!

just realised I hadn't posted that message above

So that turned out to be an excellent match by Rafa, once he got over his nervous he played really well.

Evening lovely Angie

Yes ... Rafa does make us a bit but the thing you can't help love about him is that he thinks, and finds a way. He played some beautiful shots and I don't even think he's playing at the top of his own game.

Very positive result though. Through to a final which is always good news and hopefully setting himself up the right way for Spring/summer season.

Vamos!!

Wowzers Rafateers!!

So it is a Rafa / Nole final. Excited?? I am ... <clunk> <click>

Rafan told us earlier that the match is on at 8 pm our time, so a nice time for us.

It should be a <cracker>. Can our nerves stand it??

COME ON RAFA, YOU CAN DO IT YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Hi again Rafateers

Good match betwen Fed & Nole; looks like being a real nerve-wracking final tomorrow. Should be home from dog-sitting duties, and nicely settled in with a large glass of <red wine> to help me through it!

VAMOS RAFA - I KNOW you can do it.

By the way - did I miss Rafa's on-court interview, or did he race off to watch the Real Madrid game

Hi Angie

There was no Rafainterview. Although he went straight to his mobile phone and the commies were speculating that he was just checking up on the footie scores.

Oh ... it will be a <clunk><click> spectacular tomorrow ... but I actually think Rafa will be more confident as he knows a bit more what he's going to get against Novak. And I think he will LOVE the battle with him.

Some great pics from today ...

I am R.A.F.A.

I had a GREAT win today

Good morning all lovely Rafateers!!

Lets hope there's a few more of these Sundays, where Rafa is in the final and we've a good match to look forward to.

Just trawling the sites and Angie, you asked about an interview. This clip has some match highlights, then his TennisTV interview, but then at the end Croft, yes, Croft gets to interview him. But ... he did this massive <yawn> before they started (good on yer Rafa), but he looks truly Rafadorable throughout it. Then it ends with him walking dorkily along scoffing biscuits.

Happy Sunday everyone

Thanks for the link Wooffs. Got to love Nadalnews, someone posted a video of the last game so I was able to eventually watch it this morning

Good afternoon Rafateers

Thanks for the link, Wooffie - Rafa was indeed adorable throughout the interview. I think I feel sorry for Croft. It must be a terrible strain, all that jetting around the world, watching top class tennis, interviewing Rafa - nightmare. I think I'll offer to take her place in Miami! I promise not to wear a short skirt. Rafa might need a bodyguard or two, though

Hope you enjoyed the match Cats - aren't Nadalnews great. They're very quick to get videos/pics/presser transcripts etc on their site. Very professional.

Nerves already jangling for tonight - hoping for a great match, and more points in the bag for my Picks.

+++++++VAMOS RAFA++++++++

Hi Angie. I was watching the match on what I thought was a live stream and chatting to Wooffie and Rafan and realised that their comments weren't matching what I was seeing. Turns out I was watching a video which was about 10 minutes behind the live action And then to rub salt in the wound it went offline at 5-4 in the 2nd set

:goodluck: Rafa :goodluck:

Cheers Marcus

Still a good result for your boy Delpo to get through to the semi's. I know its early days yet back from injury, but he needs to starting breaking through in the 1000 series now. But its a good start.

Come on Rafa!!!

Hello Wooffs!

To be honest I wasn't expecting Potro to win more than 3 or 4 matches, so getting to the semi vastly exceeded expectations. His performance bodes well for the coming months.

C'mon Rafa!!!!!

Good evening all

Hope everyone's had a nice day - I've been counting down the hours, nearly there now! I'm sure the neutrals will be hoping for a good match. I'll be happy with a repeat of Rafa's victory over Muzza two years ago

Good luck Rafa, you can do it, you can DO it! :run1:

Good evening lovely Rafateers!!



Blinkin' wimmin's tennis. Get off and let us have the main event!!

<colm>

Looking forward to this, but with some nerves which is good. This is what we want for the next few months. Finals!

COME ON RAFA!!!

Croft has just been on Sky saying that unlike yesterday, Rafa had a fantastic practice session today. Hitting the ball really hard and he seems well up for this match.

Vamos!!

The players are here ....

COME ON RAFAAAAAA!!!!!

FIRST SET TO RAAAFFFFFFAAAA!!

Great first set by both players. What a fine set of tennis to watch. Brilliant stuff by Rafa. Just keep on going Rafa.

Come on ... you can DO it !!!!

Oh what a fight this is.

Terrible, terrible stats on Rafa's serve.

My nerves are shattered but he's still very much in this.

COME ON RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For God's sake Rafa, sort out the serve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Angie

I still think this is in Rafa's hands. Believe it or not.

Time for the "smiley" to come out.

Novak was good but Rafa was poor from middle of second set too. Next competitive match is Miami - next Saturday night.

Vamos Rafa

I'm a bit disappointed with Rafa here.

Stunning first set, and even with the breaks of serve in the second, he was still very much in it. He had point(s) to break when Nole was serving and was fighting all the way. Totally disasterous start to the 3rd set because Rafa's head was shot with the abmissal serving he was doing. He lost his confidence, when he does that, he stands further back and makes himself vulnerable. Rafa ... you are better than that, and were in the first set.

I have a funny feeling that Miami's is his this year.

Good Morning Rafa fans
Yes disappointing wasn´t it ??? .. Not often we have seen Rafa fall apart but he did in that last set. He had no answers to Nole.. though we know he had the weapons to do it.. he didn´t try to adapt his game . I was expecting him to come out after that first service break and see him try a different approach. He was way too defensive. Did he not notice that every time he came to the net he won the point. :huh: Taking nothing away from Nole who played out of his skin.
Ahh well fans take Our boy comes "home" on clay.. he is Rafa Nadal after all ... and he is the

There's no official post-match presser out yet, but these are quotes from Rafa as they appear on website ...

"The first set I think I played really good, having the control of most of the points, and I felt well. After that, at the end of the first set, I started to serve really bad; and in the second set it was the same in the beginning, even if I won some games and he had more mistakes than usual with the second serve return. I just played less aggressive and I think my serve didn't work that well, no?"

"I was thinking too much about my serve instead of concentrating in the moment. That's what made the difference today in my opinion," he explained. "At the same time however, It's too early to know what happened. I would have to watch the video to know what went wrong in my serve today, and work to improve. There are no secrets to this, I just have to make sure I work hard and learn from my mistakes".

"To me, It's always better to learn when you are winning than when you lose. That's much better of course," he said with a smile. "But for me, at the same time, this has been a very positive tournament, with a very positive result. So the only thing left to say is that I want to congratulate him. I think he has started the season better than what is possible. He's playing well. He's in the right place at the right moment. So I just want to wish him all the best for the rest of the season".

To be honest, yet again Rafa says it better than any of us can, and for me, he's capturing what we've generally been saying. I'm glad to think he'll study videos of the serve, but I hope he doesn't generally just get hung up on that one stroke. Its the last hardcourt tournie coming up Rafa (thank GOD!!), so look to the future too.

Here's some pics ...

DISCLAIMER

Rafan ... I haven't tested these out elsewhere, so just a word of warning as you're in the middle of the office.

Shucks ... I got the small one. Wooffs likes the design of thees trophy, noh?

Lovely Rafa

Yummy Rafa

Cookies and thigh action

Smiley Rafa in the presser ... he's getting over it

Didn't see the match as I was too tired (animal problems again but won't go into that here), and was very disappointed to see the result this morning.

Still onward and upward and well done to Nole - must pop over to the Nole thread and offer congrats :run2: