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!

Brave hold from Isner there.

WOW!! VAMOS and what a return by Rafa 0-15

Another good return, exchange a couple of groundies and Isner out. 0-30

S/V works for Isner. 15-30

Rafa calls a ball good.

Rafa getting him involved in a rally, but Isner thumps a forehand that Rafa can't get.

Oh for god's sake, Rafa hits ONE of those groundies short and we have an inquest.

Good 2nd serve, Rafa nets.

Rafa returns at a rushing Isner and Isner hits in net. Deuce.

Isner back into net and hits his volley in it. Ad for Rafa.

COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Grrrr ... drop shot from Isner which Rafa gets but Isner able to hit in empty court.

Rafa return out. Ad Isner.

Sighs .... baseline encounter with some OK defence by Rafa but he hits in the net.

that's a gutsy hold from Isner, Nadal still being too passive

This will be a good workout for Rafa tho...Isner is so hot and cold with his game, that it means Rafa will have to keep on his toes.

Isner is hitting some good groundies at the moment.....come on Rafa...we don't want Womble weeping

He'll be fine, Womble

Thanks Wooffie. I know you feel differently when you see someone play, but it feels very scary from where I'm sitting.

Rafa punching for all his might, but he's getting an odd lucky break here for 15-15.

Castle ready write Rafa's obiturary.

Time warning for Rafa.

and you know who you are.

Rafa wins the point. 30-15

Isner can't keep up there, 40-15.

ACE .... Rafa!!!

Womble ... I know that. Its so much easier when you can watch everything. At work ... its torture.

Commies are trying to find out what's up with Rafa....there's nothing up with Rafa, he's just playing an akward opponent and it's a first round match....they're always unpredictable.

Provided he comes through, I think it will do him good to be tested. I can just imagine what the crowd is like, though.

Isner tries the drop shot and Rafa like a shot is on it. 0-15.

Funny return by Rafa and Isner punches it away.

Big serve ... 30-15

Sam Smith saying how quick the court is again.

Rafa hits wide. 40-15

Awful return by Rafa and Isner punches away.

2 games all.

Doesn't seem to be much wrong with Rafa, but he's leaving the ball too short on Isner's serve I think. Isner holds for 2-2.

Courts are quick...balls are different, Rafa isn't playing well....anything else commies?????

Are these the same commies who as British Tennis players struggled to get past one match at Wimbledon....or anywhere else for that matter

Fabulous cross court f/h by Rafa. 15-0

Isner hits in net 30-0

<sighs> ......... welre talking him now.

Tremendous hitting by Rafa to get 40-0

Guess what?? If he doesn't win this match then Djokovic is No. 1 !!!

Missed the last point ... but easy by Rafa.

Need a toilet break. Both Rose AND me !!!

KUBOT!!!!!!

two sets all

Rafa surviving a couple of attempted winners by Isner in this game. 30-15

Isner hits in net and is puffing a bit. 40-15

Return out ... game Rafa. 4-3

MFC, are you a big Kubot fan or is that because Almagro is in Murray's quarter ?

Lift it here and take it Rafa!!

Please break, rafa. We don't want another TB.

the latter womble, though I also dislike Almagro's game which I find dull and uninspiring. I would be happy to have him out of the way though as he's a good clay courter...

Chatrier crowd like anybody who could beat Rafa

Isner hits wide and its 30-15.

He's missing by margins now.

Come on Rafa.

Lovely attempted pass by Rafa with Isner at the net, but he made it and killed it. 30-30

Ace 40-30

Oh ... apparently its "extremely" worrying for Nadal. Says Castle.

Volley for Isner for the game.

Yes, I think Robin got a bit carried away with how popular he seemed to be in 2009.

Its a typical Isner / Rafa match to some degree in that its fairly even but Rafa has to take his chances when he gets them. Isner is playing better than normal, but our boy is playing a typical early round Slam match if you know what I mean, girls. Hes doing OK. 40-0 here.

91% first serves for this set. Rafa just has to take his chances on Isner's.

Rafa pumped here for the start of this game. Come on honey!!

I know what you mean, Wooffie. I was at Rafa's 2nd round match in 2008, 1st and 3rd rounds in 2009 and 2nd and 4th rounds in 2010 and his game certainly seems to build during a tournament.

Rafa getting back overhead and in the camera. He lost the point but keeps making Inser play another one.

Damn ... he nearly got a curler down the line, but just out.

He's triyng.

Unlucky there with a netcord that takes it out.

Keep pushing Rafa!!

He was wayward with that one.

Never mind Rafa.

Really, really, really don't wan't another TB.

Snarling Rafa wins first point.

Hits a MASSIVE forehand winner. 30-0

How about this commies. For all you are bigging up John Isner and dissing Rafa ... what sniffs has he had on Rafa in this set, eh??

And ANOTHER massive forehand cross court by Rafa. 40-0

Stunning play by Rafa to take the game.

Fab hold from Rafa there...now we could do with a nice little break here....no T/B please

COME ON RAFA ... TAKE HIM HERE!!

<stop shouting Wooffie>

Rafa first out ... <bounce> <bounce> <bounce>

Kubot breaks back in the fifth 2-3 on serve, Harrison holding his own against Soderling in the second, leads 6-5.

Rafa gets Isner in a rally and Isner hits out ... 0-15

Unlucky Rafa with that return. He got hold of it but hit out. 15-15

Super second serve return by Rafa, cross court angle. 15-30

COME ON RAFAAAAA!!

Rafa buries his forehand. VAMOS BREAK POINTS!!!!

ACE ... rats

Another belting serve.

Deuce

Keep your head up Rafa

A second serve that Rafa can't get hold of and in net.

Come on Rafa.

ooh two B/P...and a Vamos......come on Rafa!!!!!!!

was fab play to get here

poo an ace from Isner....and the crowd cheer

and another big serve....double poo!

Castle likes Isner's clear thinking...fool

Some big serving from Isner gets him out of trouble

and the commies LOVE it!!!!!!

great clutch serving from Isner, but it was good to see Rafa be closer to the baseline in that game to return. TB time again

Go Rafa!!

A bit erratic by both ... and Rafa hits in net.

Castle going on about biggest upset of all time.

Come on Rafa !!

second serve ACE 2-0 Isner.

Toni's out of his seat.....you don't see that very often

0-3 Rafa .... Rafa hits out.

COME ON RAFAAAAAA

Trouble is Isner can just fire down cheap points from that serve.