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!

Night night Nore

Fantastic performance by Rafa. Lovely interview by Rafa right now.

Exciting prospect on Sunday. The no. 1 player against the in form player. Bring it on!!

Morning everyone Was out and about yesterday so could only read the posts quickly in the morning (including the drama on NN - what the ? was all that about??). I did watch highlights though and that together with the sane reports on here reassured me that Rafa had not been abducted and replaced with an evil clone!

And what about the Fed match Was it as easy as the scoreline suggests? Was it grumpy Rafa or colm, game face on Rafa? (For the record, I love the Rafascowl).

Few errands to run but will catch you all later. Ooh, and do we know the time for the final? If it's an afternoon match I'll be able to watch it

Good Afternoon all my luvverly Rafateers

Lovely Cats

It was a cracking performance by Rafa.....he was totally focussed and not once did he let up. His serve was good and he literally ran everything down. Feds did not have any answer to anything and at times I thought he looked lost out there.

I think the final is 6pm tomorrow.....but I'm sure the Dame of Rafan will know for sure

Dame of Rafan That'll teach me to check before I post!!!

Denzi Just caught some highlights on youtube and he certainly was looking good. Moving well and good body language. Plus it's a little less stressful watching highlights once you know the score

Good afternoon all lovely Rafateers!!

Tis the Dame of Rafan here ...

Lovely Cats The match is on at 6 pm UK time, so 8 pm yours? Anyway ... looking forward to it very much

Rafa was imperious last night. He was on it from the get go, although I have to say that it was one of the worst Feds performances for a while. He looked totally lost out there. The way he lamely lost serve for the first set and the match was very poor.

So ... BRING ON NOVAK ...

You said you'd seen some highlights, Cats ... but I'll leave this clip anyway ...

Match highlights

And this is Rafa's on-court interview ...

http://dai.ly/dRHhq7

Oh ... but the best thing and one of the funniest things I've seen in ages was this cheeky lady and her placard ... and Toni was brilliant ...

How about a date??

More sport ... I'm watching the mighty Manchester United take on The Hammers.

Come on United you can do it, you can DO it!!

Spoke too soon!!!

The power of the <jinx> ...

Thanks for the highlights Wooffs Better than the ones I saw earlier. Yes, Toni and his fan were excellent

final is indeed 8 my time.

Well ... we'll all be hanging around on the Dark Side.

I'll try and get over there Wooffs, but juggling a Rafa match, chatting on the dark side and pretending to be attentive to Mr C might tip me over the edge. Any suggestions of how to get rid of Mr C for a couple of hours would be appreciated!

Send him down the pub ...

He doesn't like going out without me This trait in a man is usually a good thing, but not when there is Rafatennis on!

Hasn't he got a shed to disappear into....works miracles with mine......or sent him out to work unsocial hours....mine's out all weekend

ooh! Wonder if my friends across the road need a babysitter tonight! They have Sky as well!

That's a very noble thing, Cats

Main thing is ... you know where to find us if it all gets too and you ever feel like a little chat.

But ... the match is on tomorrow you know!

oh Rafa!!!...If you only knew the things we have to do just to watch your lovely bod gallop across a Tennis court

Off to do some housework now....tho I'd rather be out in the Sunshine....could just do with afternoon tea in a lovely little cafe 8)

Tomorrow??!! What a numpty I am - cue scary smiley

I know, I'll keep Mr C up really late tonight, wake him early tomorrow, then he'll be really tired tomorrow and go to bed early

I'm going to watch the end of this match ... cue scary man ... then get a start on my holiday clothes!!

Cats ... you are such a schemer !!

Good afternoon, Rafateers

I'm still tired and a bit hungover (should have listened to Rafa, and enjoyed my wine more responsibly!!) but having re-watched the match, still have a warm glow about me - Rafa played really well last night.

Sorry Cats, my suggestion would have been to send him to the pub, too! Send him to his room with a new computer game? That one sometimes works for me.

Currently round at my Dad's letting the dogs out while he's at the football - I'm sure the dogs and the parrot know i'm a bit delicate - none of them will shut up!



Probably catch up later

Poor Angie

Those squawking birds are a right nuisance. I know ... I've been putting up with Denz for 2 years now ...

Cancelling my MC holiday NOW

See ya!! <wave>

I know when I'm not wanted

Have just been having a <sneaky peek> at some of the oter tennis boards out there....amazing how the same old drivel is being spouted, with the same sarcasam and vitirol......this place is like a breath of fresh air

<begs forgiveness> ...

I have left you a little peace offering on Rafachat ...

denzilsmom wrote:Have just been having a <sneaky peek> at some of the oter tennis boards out there....amazing how the same old drivel is being spouted, with the same sarcasam and vitirol......this place is like a breath of fresh air

Thats credit to you guys

Seen it Woofs.....thankyou

That's kind of you YI......we just like having fun with everybody and I think I can speak for fellow Rafateers when I say we've found a lovely new home

Indeed you can, Denz.

You've been very good to make this little corner for us Rafateers, but its more than that.

Out on the tennis forum there is a very concerted effort amongst posters to just discuss the game, make their points, but in a respectful manner ... regardless of who we might support. We are finding the joy of watching tennis again which is what it should be all about. <bubbly>

Good evening Rafateers

Just back from a day out in London - I went to see The Wizard of Oz (remember the Andrew Lloyd-Webber Dorothy programme?) and it was F.A.B.! And Toto is to die for, the cutest little Westie, and so good (though he's mainly being dragged around on his lead hehe). I'd highly recommend it though. Worst thing was the journey home - missed my connection by seconds and had to wait half an hour for the next train

I haven't seen anything else about last night's match so I'm going to have a look round the usual places. For me though, Rafa played really well - kept the focus even after an early set, and Roger didn't play his best. Hopefully the match against Berdych and the one last night will give Rafa the confidence to beat Novak tomorrow. I've got Novak to win in my picks game - pleeeease let that be the final nail in the coffin

I thought Barry Cowan was going to weep during his commentary on the match - and the mood in the Sky studio afterwards was very glum. A lovely interview with Rafa though

Thanks Y-I for the kind comment - and I agree with everything Wooffs and Denz say about our new home

Vamos!

Somewhere over the rainbow...way up high
Rafan missed her train and just wanted to cry
Somewhere over the rainbow, skys are blue
And with any luck MC dreams will come true

Glad you enjoyed it Rafan, I reckon Bailey would do well in Toto's role

<applause>

<curtseys>

LOL - lovely to see a verse here

I kept thinking how brilliant Bailey would be as Toto

Still looking around the sites (friendly and not so friendly). I loved Miri's caption "Good luck Roger" "This guy's already killing me" when they had their photo taken at the net before the match last night

Hehe ... I liked that myself too, Rafan.

Look ... you know that I'm not mad keen on Feds, but ... I was old enough to appreciate the time of McEnroe and Borg, with Connors, Gerulaitis, Vilas and then Lendl thrown into the mix. I remember tennis being brilliant in those days and we didn't even have the benefit of SkyTV (even with the prattish things they say on there ).

And we've said it before, but in 20 years' time ... we will be as hooked on watching Rafa and Feds discuss tennis in the studio as much as we are with Johnny Mac and Bjorn now. I had my flirtation with Andre, but what we've seen over the past 5-6 years has been great. We're moving towards another era I think, but I'm just as excited about it.

We're off to see the wizard
The wonderful wizard of clay
We know he is the king of the court
Whatever the doubters may say
If ever, oh ever, a star there was
Then Rafa of Spain is one because
Because, because, because, because, because
Because of the wonderful shots he does
We're off to Monte Carlo
And next year we might go to Oz

<firstlie>

LOVE IT!!

BRILLIANT!! <applause>

Dang ... we need to learn that off by heart for MC.

I've missed our poems!

I love it with John and Bjorn are on during Wimbledon - and I really hope we get the same with Roger and Rafa in twenty years' time. It just frightens me how old I'll be by then

Comfort yourself with this thought, Rafan.

I'll still be older than you ...

And hurrah! to the re-introduction of our poems!!

<bubbly>

I'm going to turn in now after that late night and early start today. Night night all and sweet drims of Rafa - looking forward to reconvening tomorrow

Night night lovely Rafan

Just been having my usual lurk .......you do make me laugh

What a lovely lot you are

Solerina

A very early good morning to all my luvverly Rafateers

Just having a at Rafan's wondeful ditty....and I've just sat here singing it to myself ..... Luckily only the dogs are here, otherwise it would have been

I agree that the top of Men's tennis is as good as it's been in years......it really is the Borg/Mcenroe/Connors era all over again and I love it!

When Borg retired at such a young age, it was a real blow....I know Mac's been quoted as saying he never felt the same after Bjorn left and I can understand that.

You always think that it'll never happen again and for quite a few years it didn't. I liked Boris and I LOVED Andre, but it wasn't the same as it is now.

Unlike when Sampras and Feds (at the top of his game) were pretty secure at No 1, this isn't the case now. Rafa has his fragilities, and for all his fighting qualities and tennis nous, has to deal with his body breaking down, which always makes him vunerable, which just adds to his charm as it makes him more human and approachable for his fans (not sure if I'm explaining myself very well, but you know what I mean)

There is a depth in the men's game now, which I think is better than it's been in many years....the reason it doesn't always come through is the same old reason, it's between the ears. The one that springs to mind is Gulbis....mega talented, but will not knuckle down to some serious work.

This is why I'm skinting myself at every available oppertunity to see these boys play....they have a short shelf life and the thrill of seeing these guys in front of you and playing their hearts out is truly a wonderful spectacle.

I saw Borg and co play at Wimbers.....I regretted never seeing Andre play live....and I'll be darned if I'm going to let this generation of players pass me by

Good afternoon all lovely Rafateers!!

Doesn't Denz just say the most wonderful things??

Yes, this is a good time to be a tennisss fan and we are so lucky to be able to see all these wonderful players play live. And <screams> ... this time next week, we will be in Nice, probably sitting in a little cafe somewhere having lunch and full of excitement because we have the holiday all before us and with the extra added bonus of being able to see Rafa. When I first started watching Rafa, never in my wildest drims did I think it would lead to all what we are doing now ... and its great!

So as its Mother's Day ... and I know that saucy minx Denz doesn't mother us ... but I would like to raise a toast. As it was she who put together the first Rafateer thread following some chaos in another place, she made it what it is today and created a place where people like me could feel comfortable to come out of the woodwork to post and chat about Rafa.

VAMOS!!

Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers everywhere Are we all ready for tonight? I am making no predictions, just praying really, really hard. Think our boy is feeling pretty confident, likewise Nole for obvious reasons. Someone has to stop the Nole juggernaut so why not Rafa. Not that I'm making any predictions

Afternoon lovely Cats!!

GO RAFA!!!!!! :run1:

This match is so <yikesy>. I want Friday Rafa back! Vamos!

Tie break.

Hi Nore ... this is torture!!

Every serve so far has ben broken in the toe break 2-1 to Rafael tie break.