Rafatennis Part II - Roland Garros 22 May - 5 June 2011

First topic message reminder :

So here we are then folks...the second slam of the year, with so much riding on it.

Will Novak get that No 1 that he so craves? Will Rafa get title No 6 to equal Bjorn Borg's records? Will Roger step back up and prove a threat and will Murray follow up his good form on the clay of Monte Carlo and Rome with a good run here?

The draw is out and Rafa faces John Isner in Round 1. Robin Soderling is in Rafa's quarter and Andy Murray in the same half.

Rafa has been in Paris for a couple of days already on the promotion trail with appearances at Armani and the Nike store. He's also been at the tournament site practising with Gilles Simon.

Good luck Rafa and vamos!

I didn't see anything of Murray yesterday, MFC. How's he doing? Do you think he can mount a challenge here? A semi-final berth would still be good, wouldn't it, so close to the FO?

Angie and

Denz and I had the horror of <Dimples> and <Davy> at the O2 in 2009. We got <blotto> on wine beforehand, but then one of us was in the Gods thereafter ...

I think Denz started chatting up other blokes and sharing around her <sucky sweets>

He looked good yesterday Woofs, played some lovely stuff. Think he'll struggle to beat Djokovic but you never know...

Oh...<dimples> and <davy>....I still wake up in a cold sweat

I did share my sweeties around the various young chaps who were sitting around me, and the lovely guy on the door, who said his mum had never told him to accept sweeties from strange ladies

I then got comfy in my chair, and because of the wine the Dame had forced me to drink, i started dozing off to sleep

But it was a boooooorrrrrrriiiiiinnnnnnnggggggg match

Morning all

Well Angie...you should feel sorry for Denzy and Wooffs - who in 2009 had to sit through Sod v Davydenko! Though they did down a bottle of red each beforehand (and while I typed out that story so did Wooffs and Denzy hehe)

I can understand MFC's mantra of anyone but Soderling over the last few months, with that 4th place being up for grabs. And that's one of the reasons now for cheering him on against Djokovic now with Rafa's No 1 teetering in the balance

Well I just saw Andy get MP!...well done Muzza.

Well done to Andy - that was a very good turnaround!

Come on Rafa! VAMOS!

Aha rafandready, but it's also morally right to support anyone playing soderling (except Karlovic of course, but thankfully that never happened). Whereas you people have quite the dilemna...

Anyway, Murray wins quite comfortably in the end, despite a rubbish first set. He plays Djokovic or Soderling in the semi final.

Does this mean Rafa is on next? Any news on his illness?

Apparently Rafa is feeling much better MFC

Good afternoon Rafateers. I'm very glad Andy won that. I'm sort of thinking that he'll relish having another go at Novak, but on the clay when there'll be no real pressure on him.

How confident are we ?

Great recovery and final scoreline from Murray <applause>

I've been scouring the sites and haven't seen anything on Rafa's illness, but guess who has a meeting at 1.30 pm

<the pressures of keeping the wheels of industry turning ... >

Rafa has posted on his Facebook page: "On my way to the tournament. Had fever yesterday and also in the afternoon but I hope things go better today. Thanks once more for your support."

I struggle with the moral aspect of supporting the Sod, but when he wins he has a lovely <dimply> smile.

Other Rafateers don't appreciate it

Hello Womble

Confident?? I would rather take nothing for granted these days ...

Sounds like Rafa still wasn't good later in the day. I suppose I won't be cross if he tries today.

<Dimples> looks evil when he

Hello again to our visitors

Okeydokey folks...here we goooooooooooo

Just waiting for the players......(Rafa)

Stadium is nearly empty...and it's hot but breezy.

There's a potty looking Rafa fan in the crowd.....painted face, blond hair, flag and hollering their head off......Rafan, are you sure you're in London

I'm a bit torn. Having played yesterday, it would obviously be good if he could take the No 1 into RG, but the last thing I want is a long match. Hopefully, he wins or loses in straight sets.

I'm not sure that "I hope things go better today" sounds like he's feeling on top of the world exactly.

Ooh Rafa!!!!!

here he comes!!!!!

Looks ok...but not much of a wave again.

Commies going on about how Cilic has beaten Rafa.....and how good he was. Maybe he could do it again Honestly.....give this boy a chance!!!

Aaagh, still showing commercials here. I wanted to see him walk on.

I heard he dedicated his win yesterday to Seve. Wonder if he thinks he might go out today and won't get another chance to do so for a while. Crikey, I really need to stop over analysing everything

Cilic won't beat Rafa on clay, unless Rafa is really below par. Cilic is a clay court mug...

"GOOD LUCK, RAFA" !!

But don't kill yourself ... are he and Toni speaking??

Cilic won the toss and will receive

Oh they're on about Murray again......

Just going through the usual stuff.

Any tweets from Neil Harman?

Yeah ... we watched even FELI beat him in Rome last year

<showing off>

Not seen Toni yet.....but will have a look at the body language.

I'm defo in London Denzy, unfortunately.

Let's make this a quick two sets victory Rafa - vamos!

Cilic's victory over Rafa was when he was coming back from the knees in 2009. We watched Feli beat Cilic in Rome last year from a set down. Rafa can DO this!

Wooffs - you keep beating me to telling all my stories!!!

Only tweet from Neil is about diving in the Trevi Fountain as Andy is the first Brit in the Rome semi-final ....

I passed a typing test of 120 wpm

Nice lot of Rafa fans in.....wonder how many from VB and NN?

<gets ready for meeting>

Good luck to them !! Lucky, lucky ladies ... the pictures this week have reminded me how good Rome is.

Woofs, not to make you jealous or anything, but I've seen Rafa live three times you know (at RG when he beat Hewitt, and twice at Bercy where he beat Tsonga and Robredo).

How's that for showing off?

Toni looking stocial behind hat and glasses


BTW...Cilic Destroyed Rafa that day

<has a brief reprieve from meeting>

MFC ... Denz has had tea with Andy ...

Gah! I HATE YOU DENZ!!!!!!

I've only ever seen Andy live once (they kept scheduling him for the other courts)

rafandready wrote:I struggle with the moral aspect of supporting the Sod, but when he wins he has a lovely <dimply> smile.

<Rushes off for sick bag>

How's Rafa looking?

Well...Rafa and Cilic have only played twice before

Cilic of course destroyed Rafa in Beijing in 2009 but that is asterisked because of the return from injury

Then Rafa thumped him at the Australian this year in straight sets.

Let's turn this into a positive H2H Rafa!

Think he's looking a little more animated today. Couple of mini fist pumps already.

ok here we go

Rafa to serve...good luck honey bun!

Cilic hits wide...15-0

good serve...30-0

Xisca is in!!

Rafa misses c/c..30-15....seems to be hitting the ball well

Ace!..40-15

Rafa hits long..40-30

big hitting from Cilic...deuce...kept Rafa pegged back

too many missed first serves

Cilic nets. off a low slice...ad Rafa

and nets again....game Rafa

Oh the serve was really good yesterday - I'd like him to do whatever he did (take something off it?) for today. Don't go giving him the second serve Rafa!

Phew ... long first game.

Xisca is there ...

Must have heard about all the female support ...

Cilic to serve

hits out..0-15

Rafa hits out off big serve..15 all

Cilic nets off a good Rafa return..15-30

mis-cues off a good rally..15-40

and a fab f/h down the line from Rafa...game Rafa 2-0

Rafa looking fine so far, moving much better than yesterday. Leads 2-0. Can't see Cilic troubling him on clay...

Well done, Rafa - early break. I was surprised that Xisca didn't show for the Madrid fianl, actually.

Madrid FINAL I meant to say

MFC Unjinx, quick!!

Rafa serves

Cilic nets...15-0

ooh fabulous Rafa B/h down the line.....30-0 a Rafa special

then misses the next one!...30-15

poo Rafa...nets it!!...30 all

Cilic hits well long...40-30

Rafa hits long...deuce

Ciic nets...ad Rafa

and cilic hits long...game Rafa..3-0