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!

RAFAN!! Stay <zipped>

Rafabreak

Oh ... I'm going to myself now.

Rafa came back from 15-40 down and had a couple of ads against him, but ended up losing his serve.

<waves>...Yoo Hoo Rafateers

I totally forgot about Barca this week what am I like!!!

Typical tho....Feli win two matches....we must have put him off last week Woofs...dazzled by our beauty

Doesn't take long for the Rafan <jinx> to work

Rightyho...to gain back some Rafateer points...

Rafa is 6-3 3-0 against Giraldo

All the boys are in town

It's 30 all on the Giraldo serve

Rafa misses a F/H...40-30

game Giraldo off a good F/H...3-1 Rafa

Rafa serves

good serve!!!!! 15-0

giraldo hits a great F/h off a short Rafa C/C...15 all

big Rafa F/H... 30-15

and again...40-15

Giraldo hits two huge F/H down the Rafa left hand side...Deuce

Big Rafa serve...Ad

and a big one two from Rafa...game...4-1







































Giraldo hits out...40-15

I totally forgot about Barca this week what am I like!!!

WHOT?? You forgot about Barcelona, Denz??? <shakes head>

You are redeeming yourself only by your commentary. For which you may only have to do for another couple of games.

What other punishments can we think of for our Denz??

I thought Feli was a bit dazzled too, last week. <cough>

Rafan thinks Rafa has had his hair cut. Are YOU responsible??

Rafa wins

6-3, 6-1.

Giraldo serves

He nets...0-15

and nets again...0-30

Rafa nets off a good volley from Giraldo..15-30

Giraldo hits out..15-40

but hits a good c/c off a poor Rafa shot..30-40

Rafa hits long off a second serve...deuce

Giraldo misses a overhead off of some good Rafa scrambling..Ad Rafa

and hits long off of Rafa pressure...game Rafa..5-1

Rafa serves......hopefully for the last time!!

Giraldo hits long..15-0

and again..30-0

Rafa hits long...30-15

Giraldo hits out...40-15

and hits out...GSM Rafa 6-3 6-1

he looks satisfied...so hopefully is warming up nicely for the rest of the week



I see Soderling lost.....he's really not having a good time at the moment

<scissors in hand>....Yes Woofs I am responsible as you know i am powerless to resist any Rafa requests

Just gave a lovely interview...didn't understand a word of it, but he looks lovely anyway

I was reading on some site this lunchtime that Soderling was on a charm offensive and appeared on Spanish TV smiling his way through it. There were several reports on his <dimples>, and I thought I might link it for Rafan to read ... but then I would have turned to stone, so I didn't ... :run2:

Morning everyone Hope everyone is enjoying their Easter break.

I'm loving my new satellite set up. I got to watch Rafa on a 500 tournament On our old set up we only got the Masters and Slams (until they stopped those as well!) so I am very happy and big to Mr C for sorting that out for me. Think he was getting fed up with my moaning at having to watch the tennis on dodgy feeds.

Anyway, think our boy looked good yesterday. Giraldo gave him a good workout in the first set and then normal service was resumed in the second.

So, I need to get all my chores done today, get the shopping in for the long weekend, then settle down for the match today

Good morning Cats and any other Rafateers up at this ungodly hour on a bank holiday

It's an early start for Rafa today, first match on. 11.30 our time, 12.30 Barcelona time and 1.30 Cats time

Monfils was rubbish last week, let's hope he doesn't do that thing of playing the match of his life like they all seem to do against Rafa. Though I think the game of his life might have been against Feds at the Paris Masters last year.

Vamos Rafa!

Morning all my luvverly Rafateers

Looks like we're all up and about early...except for the Dame who doesn't rise from her pit for at least another 3 hours

Am out all day, so won't see Rafa play but if someone would just send me a message with the result, I would be very grateful

Have a good day everyone, enjoy the sunshine.....and Vamos Rafa!

I am now out of bed <tongueout> ... and at 9.46 am on a Bank Holiday ... that is great for me, so ner.

Cats We won't ask how Mr Cats sorted out Sky for you, but enjoy it anyway ...

I watched Rafa's match yesterday and I seriously thought he was playing much, much better than he did last week.

Giraldo was a different sort of player who hit flat and tried to hit through him which he did on occasion, but Rafa coped with it. I don't know whether its because just watching him on the telly again, you don't get quite as absorbed or taken in by what's going on around you, but I thought some of Rafa's play was superb.

It seems the boys are out in force this week at Barcelona, with Dad, Franciso Roing AND Tuts being there. That's a pity Rafan, cos if Tuts had been around last week, you could have had a pop at him about Nike's ridiculous marketing of Rafa in Europe and how they don't make ladies clothes here representing him.

When as we all know ... females with a passing interest in tennis are one of Rafa's BIGGEST demographics.

I'm supposed to be painting outside walls today, but Rafa and Feli are on the telly. I might find myself sitting here with a paintbrush in my hand. (Makes a change from a gin glass )

Enjoy the start of the Easter break, Rafateers!!

How good was our boy today! I have to say after MC I was a little concerned as although he won I didn't think he was playing that great, but looks like he was just getting warmed up :unjinx:

Good afternoon, Rafateers

Hi Cats; I totally agree. Rafa looked realy good today - very confident, I thought. I think that winning MC NOT playing his best has given him a wee boost. Looking forward to the rest of the clay season!

Afternoon Ladies

Agree with what you are saying. Rafa was totally stupendous today. Fabulous, fabulous play from him. He looks like he's warming up nicely.

VAMOS!!

Good evening from Barcelona where it's............been raining most of the day !!

I don't have a laptop and this is the 1st chance I've had to get to a computer so I haven't been able to do daily reports like Wooffie from MC. I've been to the tournament every day since Monday so that's 3 Rafa matches. He didn't have to get out of 2nd gear on Wednesday, yesterday was a bit hit and miss, but today he was GREAT. Best I've seen him on clay this year, I think.

I didn't want him to play here initially (before I booked to come, of course), but it seems to be doing him a load of good and he looks so happy all the time when he's not actually playing. He seems to really like it here and everyone just loves him to bits. You can just feel it raining down from the stands.

I thought we were all mad keen fans, but yesterday I met a Danish couple who were in Barcelona for 6 hours just for Rafa's match. They were in MC and are going to Madarid as well - that's dedication.

Fingers crossed for Rafa and the weather tomorrow.

Womble !!

Thanks so much for the report and glad you're enjoying Barcelona and that you've managed to give us a little report. Thank you.

Its really nice to hear how well he is being received, great stuff. And I agree with you ... today he was absolutely fantastic. And maybe he has needed this tournament after all to find some form. He's got a week's rest after it and although Nole has had 3 weeks off ... he's about to embark on 3 solid weeks play including the stress of two Masters with only a week off before the FO. Telling times.

I cannot begin to say how disappointed I am that Rafa is not playing Feli. I couldn't find a stream for his match yesterday and was willing him to win so that we could see him play today. And then the rain came and his match got switched!! And then of course, he loses in the third. Poor Feli.

Anyhow Womble ... here's hoping for a good day tomorrow and I really hope you enjoy your day and the tennis.

VAMOS RAFA !!!!!!!

Good Afternoon all my luvverly Rafateers

How lovely to hear from Womble am so pleased you're enjoying your time watching all those lovely boys

Am trying to watch Rafa at the moment, but it's a bit of a dodgy stream so am only seeing every other point .....Rafa looks a bit unsettled, unless that's cos i can't see it properly. After hearing yesterday's reports on how well he played, I thought he may have gone through easier than he seems to be at the moment.

Well done Rafi.....another final against Daveed....now do it for Womble

Hi everyone

Denzi, you're right, he did look a bit unsettled at times today but he got the job done and Dodig I think played okay (was it their first match against each other? Thought I heard the commies say so. Need to look that up).

Anyway, 500 win Hopefully 501 by this time tomorrow. Hope the match is on late-ish or I will miss it as we are out for lunch.

Happy Easter lovelies

Good evening Rafateers

Lovely to hear from Womble, and hear hear, let's hope Rafa can bite the trophy for her tomorrow. After the imperious performance yesterday, todays' was a bit more in and out - but Dodig played well, and it was the first time they'd met so always a bit different, noh?

I think both Giraldo and Dodig gave Rafa a much better match than Monfils yesterday. Rafa was fantatstic but Gael was pants - again!

Wouldn't it have been lovely if Rafa had got his 500th win winning a 500 tournament? Still, I'll be more than happy with the 501st being another W. Vamos Rafa - the final's on at 3 pm UK time so hopefully you'll be back from lunch Cats. Is Cyprus as hot as the UK just now?!

Hello again. Rafa wasn't as good as he was yesterday, but I always felt there was plenty more there in reserve if he needed it. He'd never played Dodig before and he always seems to find those situations a little disconcerting. He'll have to play better tomorrow, but he'll know that and I'm sure he will. I've never seen Rafa bite a trophy "live" before so I'm very much hoping that he can do it for me tomorrow.

Vamos !!

Hi Womble we'll be keeping everything crossed for you (and Rafa!).

Vamos!

Rafa celebrates his 500th victory

Lovely pic

Womble ... oh, I so hope you get to see a Rafa victoree. I think most times Daveed just doesn't believe in himself against Rafa. I hope he brings his A game tomorrow, but it wouldn't surprise me if Daveed gets a set as he's been playing well all week.

Come on Rafa!!!

rafandready wrote:Rafa celebrates his 500th victory

what a lovely pic! Good today but will have to be be better tomorrow. Using my mobile to post so forgive typos.
Hope that Womble sees a Rafa win tomorrow. Must be a wonderful experience to see him lift (and bite) a trophy.
VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!!

Morning all my luvverly Rafateers

What a great pic of Rafa with his cake....500 wins, the second youngest ever to do it, only bettered by Bjorn Borg.....well done Rafa

Am glad Uncle T wasn't too near....anyone remember the time he pushed that cake into Rafa's face

SOS...again......I'm out for Easter Sunday Lunch today at the Parents, so a text would be much appreciated

Have a lovely day everyone.....don't eat too many choccy eggs!!

PS...Womble....have a lovely afternoon, and I hope you see Rafa biting his trophy

Congratulations to Rafael for another irresistible performance on his way to his sixth Barcelona title and collecting another record:

"Nadal became the first player to win two tournaments six or more times - he has won Monte Carlo seven times - in the tour's Open era"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/13182613.stm

Missed him again...but never mind. Well done Rafa on yet another title

Am so pleased that Womble was there to see him bite that trophy

Now Rafa....you keep this up and I want to see you beating Nole the next time you meet.....and the next and the next.........Vamos!!!!

Really pleased that Rafa made sure he won for Womble

You Rafateers certainly get around.......I'm very impressed.

Hope you're all having a lovely Easter

Solerina

Evening all lovely Rafateers!!

Yes, congratulations to Rafa. His 501st victory, and another repeat win at a tournament.

Dare I say it was one of the most unimpressive victories I've seen from Rafa :run2: Some shots of vintage Rafa, but a lot of lapse concentration and little Daveed helping to beat himselt as he usually does. The persistant loss of serve isn't good. I hope all is well behind the scenes. He was utterly imperious against Monfils and sometimes perhaps he just plays at the level of his opponent. But enough of the gloom from me.

I am thrilled that Womble has had the opportunity to see Rafa bite a trophy and he needed those biceps to lift it.

I think he needs his week off back in Mallorca and Rafa ... after seeing the shirtless shots today, you seriously need to work on matching up that tan. Denz and Rafan can give you a couple of numbers.

Hope you've all had a lovely day and hurrah to another day off tomorrow.

Good evening from Barcelona. It was lovely to see Rafa win and lift the (can I say ?) perhaps overly large trophy, although I couldn't actually see him bite it from where I was sitting.

It was a somewhat strange match. Rafa was certainly unimpressive in parts. He seemed to have it completely under control and then at 2-0 in the 2nd set and with a break point had some sort of brain fade and played a few big shots on the trot to lose the game and then played a really awful game to lose his serve to love. He then refocused and battled through to win helped by little Daveed as Wooffie says. Rafa had his stomach taped up earlier in the week and there's some stuff on NN that he took some sort of tablet at 5-2 in the 1st set so maybe something was bothering him physically. I read something somewhere (NN again probably) that players can get stomach strains when they move from h/c to clay so hopefully nothing serious and he has a week off now which is good.

Now that Rafa is finished, I've now got 4 days to see the other sights that Barcelona has to offer.

Evening lovely Womble

Thanks as ever for taking time to do the report. Well, the news of the stomach is new and perhaps is a reason for the serving. I too have been reading on NN about him taking a pill although I didn't notice it at the time as I was too busy gasing to Rafan. Simply for research purposes (of course) I've just checked back on the video when Rafa took his shirt off and there was no tape to be seen. I just can't help feeling that he's not fizzing at the moment, and I can't fathom why.

Anyhow Womble, I hope you have a stupendous 4 days sight-seeing in Barcelona. Its nearly 20 years since I visited and yet it still remains one of my favourite ever cities. We've discussed it as potential option for next year and I have already warned that if we do it, I will have the bossiest of bossy itineraries if we go there. Enjoy every minute, and thanks so much again for popping in and letting us share your experience.

Hi Wooffie. Not fizzing certainly, but I like to think he's pacing himself through to RG and doing what he needs to do to win. He probably knows he's got Daveed's number all things being equal, particularly on clay. The one match he went full throttle was against Gael, who was as Rafan so rightly says pants, but does have the potential to be a problem. Andy at MC was a bit of a curve ball because his form had been so awful until that tournament, there was all that elbow injury stuff and then he comes out and plays great against Rafa as he always does.

I'm pretty sure that the poor lamb has had more treatment on his knees - there were red marks on both a few days ago and a couple of clear scabs on a photo in today's paper from the s/final. It seemed to work wonders last year, though so I'm sure he thinks it's worth it.

The knees!!

There was a lot of talk on VB about it. The general consensus was that after he won MC he went back on the court and onto his knees in celebration and scuffed them. Last year he tended to wear a gauze pad thing when he'd had that treatment and he did it in his down time.

Who knows Womble? He must have to keep that treatment up as they can't heal overnight. I feel sick at the thought of what I'm going to say, but in 2009 he was winning on the clay and ugly, and we know what ultimately happened there.

I tell you ... I am never, ever, ever supporting one single player again. I thought I was obsessed as a teenager over JMac. That was nothing compared to this ...

Good morning all my luvverly Rafateers ....although it will be afternoon by the time some rise from their pit

What to make of Rafa? Well yes he's winning, but it's not Rafa is it? I'm so pleased that he's getting through these tourneys, and it's his experience and the fact he so darned tough to beat on this red stuff that helps him no end.

Interesting to read what Womble has reported, and I suppose it's possible that more treatment has been needed. The trouble is that we know Rafa's beautiful bod is creaky and that the H/C really do take their toll on him....it's something he has to put up with, and probably always will....trouble is it doesn't do my old nerves much good when he plays :Zombie:

This part of the season is full on, I know there's a break this week, but it really isn't enough for any of them to really recharge their batteries, they just have to deal with it the best they can.

You're right tho Woofs......I am never ever ever going to support a player like this again

Good morning Denzy and to other Rafateers when they arise on Easter Monday. I'm just doing my usual Rafa morning news check before heading down to the Barcelona sea front to see Barceloneta and the Olympic area. Rafa's back in Mallorca already so presumably went back last night.

I'm not quite so nervous about it looking like 2009 all over again as Wooffie. There's lots of good stuff in with the ugly stuff, where as from memory 2009 was pretty much all ugly. To be honest, I'm not even sure that last year he was that crash hot after MC until he got to the RG final against the Sod. It was almost as though his reputation (career ?)was on the line at MC 2010 and he threw everything at it. Once he got that 1st win after 11 months, he pulled back until he needed to lift again.

Off to explore now. Have a good day off everyone.

Thanks for the reports Womble and pleased you got to see Rafa win again! I saw those marks on Rafa's knees and thought they looked more like something specific rather than scuffed knees - was it in Barcelona that he had his platelets replaced (or whatever it is they do) last year?

He certainly won ugly yesterday, especially that second set. What was the atmosphere like Womble? It seemed flat on the TV but maybe because (as Sky commentators said) it was a bit of a procession, particularly the first set. Still, happy for the victory, noh? Sometimes I think Rafa raises his game to match his opponent - and therefore plays better against the better players. Daveed wasn't so good yesterday, that's for sure.

I spent part of the weekend watching a bit of the MC Murray match, and Rafa didn't look so bad watching it on TV. I think it was just saw awful being there with so many people cheering for Muzza and us being so desperate for Rafa to win that I was getting frustrated with Rafa during that match. In fact even in the final game of the first set, where I thought Murray lost it rather than Rafa won it, watching it on TV makes me think differently.

Well, hopefully a few days at home will do Rafa the power of good. Onwards and upwards...and I'll try and do a report for the next tournament .

Enjoy your sightseeing Womble, and hopefully we'll be able to catch up in a few weeks to swap stories

Evening Rafateers on the end of my 1st day in Barcelona without getting to see Rafa. I agree with Wooffie, though - it's a lovely city and well worth considering for a clay court swing visit.

I think Rafa playing another Spaniard in Spain makes for a bit of a flat atmosphere during the actual match. The crowd was definitely pro Rafa at the beginning, but then when DF was getting hammered in the 1st set, they swung more behind him. It must be difficult to get really fired up against an opponent you know you can beat and on top of everything else is a good friend and somewhat injured. How good and focused, etc he was against Gael makes me think he'll really bring it when he has to. A challenge brings out the warrior best in him. I wouldn't be betting on another clay court sweep, but if fully fit, Novak will have the fight of his life on his hands if he wants RG.

I think it was in Barcelona that he got the knee treatment, Rafan but I've been staring at the pictures long and hard again and I'm not so sure about the marks on a 4th or so viewing. I guess we won't know for sure unless he says something.

Good morning all lovely Rafateers!!

Well ... after a week's rest, it all starts again. Good luck and Vamos! today to Fer and another big Vamos! to Feli, as its now Raonic's turn to face the other half of the FeliFer duo. I hope last week's experience in Serbia gives Feli some confidence ... and boy was he soxy to watch in his runner's-up speech I didn't hang around for Nole's. I'd had enough of the Djokovic family in that event as his uncle would just not shut up ...

Also <good luck> to my <squeeze> Micky Youzhny in his match with JMDP. Sorry JMPD and all that ... but I love Rafi more.

Rafan has reminded me that this evening, FeliFer take on NICOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO and new NBT Raonic in the doubles.

Could FeliFer give Raonic another tonking???

<unjinx><unjinx><unjinx>

Well ... I have blinkin' <jinxed> so far ... haven't I??

Fer got his break back and it went to a TB ... but he's lost that 9-7. Feli is a set down and its on serve and looking like a TB.

It seems its difficult to appear in a final, then travel the next day, then pick up your racquet the day after that.

I wonder how Rafa does it???

Woah!!! Feli has taken the second set on a breaker.

Come on Fer ... you do it too ...

Good on ya Feli what a win ... atta boy ... eat your heart out Raonic

Well done Feli

You keep going my lovely

Good afternoon lovely Rafateers

Well done Feli <applause> but I also spare a thought for young Milos Feli is showing some battling spirit these days!

My picks have gone to rats, but I see Angie is doing fabulously again.

Rafa is on "not before 16:00" which is 3 pm in UK time. Hopefully he'll get on at the right time and finish before hometime. Good luck Rafi! Vamos!

Good afternoon all lovely Rafateers!!

Rafa up from 3 pm. Good luck Rafa!!

But does anyone think Feli can do it against Feds???

Finally there will be someone on court who has nicer hair than Feds ... :run2:

Wooffie wrote:But does anyone think Feli can do it against Feds???

no I don't! But Feli does have lovely hair