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!

Womble ... while you're here and I can breathe for a minute, remember we told you we were coming down the weekend before Wimbers starts? Well, do you want to check your gmail tonight cos I'll let you know all the details if you want to come along with our plans.

< un jinx!! >

ah there's that trademark forehand down the line pass.

Looks like Rafa is getting back into it!

Do you think he can just play now ? What's worrying me is him being like this so close to the French. I couldn't care less about the No 1 ranking to be honest, but I hate to think of him going to RG short of confidence (particularly when I don't get there until the middle Saturday).

Thanks Wooffie - will do.

Well MFC ... its that other thing ... confidence !!! He has none. He is sooo typical when things aren't going well. Hiding at the back of the baseline, not using any shot selection, hitting and hoping for his opponent to hit out.

And its a classic sign that something is not right. Whether he lost in IW/Miami or not ... his tennis was good (other than the serve). But since he came back on clay ... where is his game??

Rafa serves

Rafa nets off a good c/c d/shot...0-15

and hits two smashes in a row.....inside the court!!..15 all

oh yes!!!!!!!! Great down the line curved shot...30-15

and a big f/h and Lorenzi missed...40-15

D/F,.....40-30

Ace!!!! Game Rafa...2-0

So what's wrong? Is it the loss against Djokovic? I didn't think he was brilliant in MC against Murray either (though way better than today).

Anyway I think he'll cruise this set, Lorenzi has run his race

Again, I think that's a great poser from Mad for Chelsea. Rafa sometimes hides behind his forehand when his backhand isn't firing but today his forehand clearly isn' t firing and you leave yourself open to being put well and truly on the back foot for the rally if you opt to run-around. It also becomes predictable. He's gone right in to his shell today, which I really don't like to see. His backhand is a terrific shot when firing, and it won't become any better by hiding away from it. I think his forehand is his comfort zone, and has helped him do great things, but he needs to mix it up more and believe in that backhand. It's flatter and harder at times and he needs it to ask different questions of Djoko when they next meet.

I'm also not fussed about the #1 ranking particularly. If someone goes on a streak like Djokovic has then there's little you can do and he'll deserve it if (when?) he takes over. Just like to see Rafa playing well, rankings will look after themselves from there.

Lorenzi serves

he hits long...0-15

but yet another good volley from Lorenzi..15 all

Lorenzi hits long...oops sorry all phone went....but Rafa is now 3-0

I've watched quite a bit of Rafa vs Murray on hard courts, and I'm always puzzled why he runs around it so much as

a) his forehand will go to Murray's strongest wing, whereas his backhand goes to Murray's weakest.
b) It puts him out of position and leaves him wide open to the flat cross court backhand.

It's fine when you're looking for the putaway, but as a rallying shot I don't think it's a great option, particularly against guys with good double-handers.

Now while I believe I can read tennis quite well, I'm hardly coaching the world's top players, so if I (and others here) can see this, why can't he or Toni?

Thanks Denzy - you're doing a sterling job. Can I ask - does Rafa look ok as far as movement, etc ?

To be honest, I'm torn between wanting Rafa to do well or losing so he can go home and regroup for a few extra days.....he's played so much and has had such a battering. He seems so tired.

Rafa serves

sorry phone went again.....Lorenzi nets....game Rafa...4-0

Movement has been fine Womble, but he hasn't really looked himself (if you know what I mean). The fire hasn't been there, he hasn't been hitting through the ball, forehand lacks bite and his serve has been ordinary.

But yeah, physically he seems fine to me (though I'm not an expert on Rafa).

This is going to be a bagel, which is a shame, but great kudos to Lorenzi for the effort; Thought his game plan was spot on...

Oh that's a lovely point, great touch from both players around the net

Oh guys ... thanks for all your comments and stuff. I'm much calmer now, but yes ... do I want him to win rather than re-group for the French Open? ... and yes ... none of us are tennis coaching experts but we can see things so WHY doesn't Toni???

This is what I just don't get !!!

Perhaps playing Barcelona was a bad idea in the greater scheme of things. It's not just the tennis. There's so much other stuff that he has to do there and in Madrid that it must be mentally exhausting.

Lorenzi serves

Hits a lob out..0-15

Hi Womble

and Lorenzi nets off a very long baseline rally....0-30

good volley from Lorenzi...15-30

and another good serve...30 all

great big f/h from Rafa....30-40

but a good little droshot sequence at the net win lorenzi yet another point...deuce

and a s&v from Lorenzi....ad Lorenzi

a fabulous return from Rafa at Lorenzi's feet...deuce

good put away from Rafa at the net....ad Rafa

and a brilliant pass down the line on the run from Rafa...5-0

Womble...Rafa looks fine....moving well no, problems physically...well none he's giving away! Looks better now than he did...he looked so tired. But I cannot understand why he's not using his backhand!

Magnificent running pass from Nadal off the backhand, stroking it up the line for a winner as he breaks for 5-0. I think Lorenzi would have covered that in the first two sets though...

I'm with you Wooffie, why doesn't Toni do something about it? It's hardly a new problem (first noticed it in his US Open defeat to Murray in 2008 - count the number of winners Murray hits to the forehand corner with Rafa out of position, it's staggering!)

All over, Rafa wins!

Rafa serves for the match...hopefully...

Lorenzi nets...15-0

big serve...30-0

and a huge shot from the middle of the court...40-0

and a down the line....GSM Rafa....Big fist pump and looks satisfied...and so he should....that was on hell of a scare!!!!

Ok, I'm about to go and get some lunch as I've been unable to eat for the last two and whatever hours. To think we can do it all again tomorrow - hurray !!

We all use these freds to try and stay positive about Rafa, but right now … I am a bit concerned about the FO because we seem to be waiting and waiting and waiting for some form, and it just isn’t coming. I don’t know what is wrong, but feel something is.

I just don’t know if having no off-season and only four days off before he started again for 2011 has impacted his conditioning. I don’t know if it was all the early stress and pressure of going for the Grand Slam, whether getting sick in January really knocked him off kilter, whether his body breaking down in Oz and some recovery but not quite being there and then facing the new Novak in the US has docked his mental strength and confidence. I just don’t know.

And yes Womble … woo hooo .. we get to do it all again tomorrow. <faint>

Thanks to all our collective support thanks Denz for your hard work in explaining what is going on

I am having wine tonight ….

Wooffie, I would have wine, if I drank it - maybe, I'll just have to eat lots of chocolate instead.

When he was a bit off in MC, I was thinking that he was trying to pace himself through to the French and was looking to peak there. I was fine with that and wouldn't have viewed a loss before then as a disaster (although I would have preferred it not to have been to Novak AGAIN), but his form seems to be getting worse, rather than better. Unless it all suddenly clicks tomorrow, I think I'd almost like him to lose to Feli and get back to Manacor for a bit of a rest and to practice the b/hand and serve.

There's a lot in what you say Woofs....it's a collection of things that have affected him. I do agree that he's been playing catchup for the past few months, and it's just something he's got to work through. The resurgance of Nole has affected him and there is a lack of confidence, which is the last thing you would expect of Rafa as he loves the competition so much.

This guy he played today, played the match of his life and Rafa really had to dig deep as he really was on the back foot. I do wish he'd believe in himself a bit more...you can take humility too far

all round this afternoon...and I hope Cat's <pooch> has a nice new haircut

I've come out of hiding

I went to pick up my pooch at the end of the first set and got back when it was 4-3 to Lorenzi in the 2nd and the commies were talking about him being on the brink of the biggest upset in tennis history. From which point, Lorenzi didn't win another game - talk about jinxing.

Well, that was all a little strange. Rafa definitely looked like his confidence was shot to pieces in the first set. Don't know what he was like start of the second but once he got the 2nd and I could breathe again, I figured he would run away with it. But it has to be said, Lorenzi was playing way better than him in the first set.

Just don't know what to make of it. I think he's hurting (mentally that is) and that makes me

Oh dear I only managed to see that first set and I was horrified... I thought Oh NO Rafa not again.... friends arrived and I was scared to turn the tv back on ... thank God he managed to pull that out of the bag otherwise Novak would have had his bags packed ready for RG. He must have been on his knees praying in the locker room. VAMOS RAFA

Pooch looks very sweet Denz, like a little lamb Although I have to say I prefer him with his corkscrew curls but it's too hot for him in the summer.

Another group required and thanks to all visitors for kind words! It's one way to make the afternoon whiz by . I have to say, I thought Rafa was going to get beaten for sure. Will be interesting to read the presser later.

Vamos!

We're going to need a new thread aren't we Wooffs. Isn't 20 pages maximum?

Am now watching Deliciano.....he's doing pretty well here.....It's a set apiece and they've both had a break in the 3rd.....come on Feli....then we can see you play Rafa....always a treat

Good spot, Cats!!

I'll alert Rafan. I mean ... we need to share all the delights of Rafa's matches ...

I'm watching Feli on LiveScores, Denz ... for some reason I haven't got through all I needed to today, so I'm still here.

He was a set up ... come on Feli !!!

Sorry, forgot Rafan did the Rafatennis. I'm really not with it lately. That's 3 times now I've addressed the wrong person

Yay!!! Well done Feli.....6-4 3-6 6-3.....now for Rafa...ooh this could be fun. Feli was very confident out there

Well done Feli.. what a boy

Thrilled for Feli !! Well done, honey!!

<pass on a bit of what you're doing to Rafa >

Just a snippet of Rafa's presser

"I played very badly" a non-plussed Nadal said. "I was anxious, I felt slow and I was short all the time. I missed easy balls. I finished the match better and in the last game I played well"

" There is a big difference between Rome and Madrid. There you are playing at altitude and the ball is quicker.

"Losing the final also makes it more difficult because you arrive sadder. All these facts made it tough today".

So it's got to him...and it's hurting him, plus the fact it was Seve's funeral today has made for a difficult day at work. Oh well we all have those!

Good evening Rafateers

Just watching the match - didn't know the result til I got home - was watchig the Live Scoires on the mobile til one-set-all when my battery went flat! Very little work done after that!!

I've been amazed at how poorly Rafa played in the 1st set, and for parts of the 2nd. Looked like confidence was very low, and not too much energy about him.

Hope he plays better against Feli in the next round, but I suppose if he goes out early, he'll have a few extra days rest.

VAMOS Rafa

Good evening lovely Rafateers

I've haven't found Rafa's presser yet and I've seen a TennisTV interview (don't know if you was the same as yours, Denz) and he said something like about things not working "But the reason for that stays in the hotel". You know its hard to understand his turn of phrase sometimes, and I don't want to speculate.

Its obviously not been a good day because his thoughts will be elsewhere ... we can't forget these guys are human too. There's a tiredness though ... and I know you did Barcelona Womble and we're thinking of that for next year too ... but doesn't it benefit him really for not playing it??

Anyhow ... there's some breaking news. Daveed has pulled out with a fever so there is a lucky loser in his place. This might help Rafa, but he's got to get past Feli yet ... and he's been playing really well these past couple of weeks.

We can't take anything for granted at the moment.

Maybe we should all use Rafachat to talk for the moment until Rafan can do a new Rafatennis.

I disagree with what was said on the other thread - I thought the cool cat was way on line with her comment. There's always a few posters who have obnoxious hearts.

Morning everyone

Nore, thanks for your comment above. I try not to bite but sometimes it's hard.

I'm out today as this is my one day in the office day so I won't see the match, which is probably good for my health. Vamos Rafa, shake off the blues.

Catch you all later on Rafachat.

New thread now created :run1: