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!

Go Rafa ... keep it going honey.

Any view why he's gone to ad on both his service games. Is it off today?

Rafa still using the iced towel, wrapping his face in it.

Cilic to serve

Hits wide...0-15

Rafa misses off a good serve...15 all

misses off a good rally from Rafa...15-30

cilic nets..15-40

and cilic hits wide..4-0 Rafa

Think Rafa wants to be a ball kid

Just a bit careless with a few of his shots woofs....nothing to be concerned with.

Aahhh...has just retrieved a ball for the ball kid!

Nothing to unjinx so far cats. Like I said, Cilic is a clay court mug. He just can't live with Rafa in the rallies so far... 4-0

He is looking good today, apart from that drop shot just now

Remiss of me, congrats to Andy on his win today MFC.

Rafa serves

Cilic shot out..15-0

Rafa serve a bit off

Rafa tries a d/s and misses....15 all...boy is he cross!

Cilic nets....30-15

and cilic misses again....it's really windy down there...40-15

Cilic nets again...game Rafa..5-0

So will Cilic win a game today? Will he even get a game point? All a bit one-sided so far. You need to be a far stronger rallier than this to live with Nadal on clay...

Oh this sounds much more positive.

I'm not sick to stomach ... for the first time this week.

Better get back to work - thanks for the updates, Denz. Will have to keep track from the mobile again!
Wish I could WFH!!

Oh me of little faith, Cilic plays some lovely tennis including a brilliant half volley and a nice drop shot to hold serve.

Now will you unjinx?!

MFC - for goodness sake - unjinx pronto!

Been stuck on the phone with someone from Holland - looks to be going ok so far. Maybe Xisca's been feeding him soup to make him feel better.

Sure cats and rafan, 6-1 in the first set, he was in real trouble there

Still if it makes you feel better, unjinx!

Think the wind is having an affect on the play today....but so far Rafa is coping well.....Cilic looks slow at the moment and If Rafa moves him out wide, he cannot cope with it


Cilic serves

Rafa hits long..15-0

Cilic hits long..15 all

just a fabulous Rally finished off by a b/h by Cilic....30-15

Cilic misses....30 all

great pick up by cilic at the net...40-30

and a decent dropshot....game Cilic...5-1, he looked much better in that game.

Rafa serves for the set.....hopefully!!!!!!!

and after a mad rally and a moonball by Cilic...loses the point...0-15

but cilic misses the next..15 all

a long long Rally ends in a dropshot by Cilic...15-30

Cilic is warming up

but a good serve by Rafa and cilic hits long..30 all

the hugest f/h from Rafa!! 40-30

and an Ace!!!...no.....maybe....wide! poo!

but Cilic nets and Rafa gets it..6-1

Well done Rafi !!

Man that feels good using that smilie again, it's been a while.

Another set like that please Rafa and get off court and rest up.

Toni sending words of encouragement....excellent!

Mad for Chelsea wrote:Sure cats and rafan, 6-1 in the first set, he was in real trouble there

Still if it makes you feel better, unjinx!

Now, was that so hard?

Thanks MFC

Keep it going Rafa.

Lucky Xisca feed him soup <envy>

Some stats. Cilic made a remarkable 16 (!) unforced errors in that set (which is more than two per game on average). You just can't afford to be that loose against Rafa. Also he served poorly, first serve percentage was at 50%.

MFC - you have to understand us - we reserve the right to panic. I was worried when Verdasco had a load of deuces when Rafa was serving for the match in MC last year even though he was 6-0 5-1 (or something like that) at the time.

They're speaking now !!

Rightyho..2nd set

Cilic serves....make it quick Rafa.

Rafa hits long..15-0

Ace!..30-0

Rafa hits wide..40-0

Rafa nets...game Cilic..1-0

I understand your concerns, but I can't see Cilic beating Nadal on clay. Nadal will win most of the rallies (prob about 75% or so) so he won't lose...

Rafa serves

Cilic hits wide..15-0

big one-two from Rafa..30-0

and a huge c/c f/h from Rafa...all his weight behind it...40-0

Ace!..game Rafa..1 all

Cilic playing better so far this set, making more first serves which helps. I see this one as being tighter than the first, with Rafa grabbing the important break at maybe 3-3 before closing it out comfortably...

Cilic serves

Hit big f/h...15-0

Rafa's high shot is out...30-0

Rafa hits long..40-0

Rafa does fab d/s off of cilic d/s....40-15

Ace! game Cilic...2-1

I've got to work now ...

Good luck Rafa!!!

Gutsy hold from Cilic, Rafa will be disappointed he let that one slip though.

Rafa serves

woo hoo...nice mid court put away from Rafa...15-0

Cilic hits long...30-0

and again..40-0

and again...game Rafa..2 all...much easier when the serve goes well!

Cilic serves

Cilic hits wide..0-15

Rafa hits long..15 all

cilic hits huge f/h....30-15

Rafa nets...40-15

Cilic hits long....40-30

fab b/h from Rafa...deuce

Cilic nets...ad Rafa

Rafa nets off of big cilic f/h....deuce. Rafa looks cross when he misses...good! his confidence looks fine.

Rafa nets...ad Cilic

wow...Rafa hits a shot off his shoelaces and cilic nets....deuce

just the most fabulous lob from Rafa....it was great...magic Rafa...defending at it's best...ad Rafa

poo...Rafa tees off wrongly.....deuce....but he's playing with freedom and confidence!

Rafa missed c/c and he's mad!!!
...just love it!...ad Cilic

Ace.....game cilic

Rafa serves

brilliant Rafa...big f/h and a lovely shot at net...15-0

Cilic misses...30-0

Cilic hits very very wild...40-0

poo! Rafa nets...40-15

and some huge shots from Rafa....game Rafa....3 all


Cilic serves

Xisca looking very summery

over head from Rafa...off some big groundies..0-15

Cilic hits long...0-30

big return from Rafa...0-40...looks like Mad's going to be right!!

yes!! Break Rafa...4-3

Mad for Chelsea wrote:Cilic playing better so far this set, making more first serves which helps. I see this one as being tighter than the first, with Rafa grabbing the important break at maybe 3-3 before closing it out comfortably...

Ahem, I hate to brag, but I feel I've called this one pretty well, no?

MFC - please can you tell me the winning lottery numbers for tonight too? I'll give you a share

You know, Rafa's forehand down the line is a special shot, how did he do that?

GSM Rafa, Cilic battles hard but in the end it was too much for him. Rafa looked very good today I thought, much better than in the first two rounds, and this win means he'll keep his n°1 ranking until after RG at least. He faces Berdych or Gasquet in the semis...

Quite a bit of fist pumping and looking at his team today....everything looks positive.....he seems to be hitting the ball so so well again. admittidly Cilic isn't brilliant, but it gives Rafa some fab practice.

Commies reckon Sod's got a shot later

Rafa serves and missed d/s...0-15...and he's mad again!

Cilic hits wide..15 all

and hits long...30-15

and again..40-15

and again...game Rafa...5-3...Uncle T clappng

Cilic serves

Rafa nets...15-0

Cilic hits long..15 all

huge f/h from cilic..30-15

big f/h corkscrew from Rafa....30 all

Rafa hits long....40-30 and he's disgusted with himself!

but hits through cilic at net...deuce

Cilic misses an overhead....ad Rafa...MP

but cilic smashes away a overhead...deuce

ciic nets...ad Rafa...2nd MP

and cilic misses..GSM Rafa 6-1 6-3

Rafa looks very satisfied...yippee!!!!!

Well done Rafa and thanks a lot again Denzy.

woo hoo shirt change!!! lovely

signed Rafa today!

14 u/e for Rafa
81% 1st serves won
17 winners
2nd serve 64%

just what the doctor ordered after the past few days.

Well done Rafa.

Glad to do it Womble....when he plays like this, it's a total pleasure

<applause> Well done Rafa !!

Big for all here ... come on, MFC ... <squeeze in>

Well done Rafa for keeping going.

And I am soooo proud of you for taking the No. 1 till past RG and for the year.

CHAMPION !!!

alright, I'll anyone

MFC, you should join us more often, you seem to be a lucky charm

Cor....have we got a new <squeeze> on here in Mad ....be careful we'll adopt you

I'm afraid my loyalty shall remain to Andy. Still it was pleasant to see Rafa playing well again...