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!

Castle's a plank Woofs, forget about him. Rafa into the net, sticks it away, 1-3

Yesssssssss Rafa gets an overhead smash. 1-3

Hang in tight, girls.

Isner wins at net. 1-4

Rafa nervy.

Isner hits in net.

Breathes out. 2-4

Someone in crowds sets up "Rafa!!" "Rafa!!"

Massive serves gets Rafa out wide, he hits his return but Isner buries it at net.

I want to be <sick> 6-2

Not speaking.

credit to isner, he's taken his chances well, while Rafa's game ha been a bit off, his passing has been poor I think. Tough ask for him now, but I still think he'll come back and win...

Right. I am pulling myself together.

Isner cannot play any better than this. Rafa can. Its no different than those 2 x 5 setters at Wimbers. He will tire this bloke out and lets not forget that Rafa had break points in that last set.

He can do this. Vamos Rafa!!

Updates:

Kubot has broken Almagro again and leads 4-3 in the fifth with his own service game to follow. Ryan Harrison has taken the second set tie-break against Robin Soderling. What is going on today?

Just come back from a meeting.

What the......?

And Isner fires straight out wide down the line under pressure from Rafa in a rally. 0-15.

to the Rafateers that can't watch. It must be so hard.

Isner hits another lose one out. Vamos! from Rafa. 0-30

Crowd behaving like twonks and making stupid noises.

Ace from Isner. 15-30

Isner at net to put away a volley. 30-30

You can see Rafa's brain on overdrive.

Didn't get a net cord. 1-0 to Isner.

Rafa looks focused as he takes the first two points from a couple of wild forehands from Isner, but the giant's serve just keeps helping him out, and he comes through to hold.

Isner had no break points in that last set. Less winners and more errors than Rafa and an inferior service %.

Rafa HAS to take his chances.

Easy service hold by Rafa. Just like the last set. He HAS to make some inroads on this bloke. Keep pushing Rafa. Keep going.

Massive return and VAMOS by Rafa ... 15-15

Rafa buries him with a cross court forehand whilst standing in the court. 15-30.

Toni applauds.

Come on!!

Yessssssssss!!!!! Gets a return back at Isner's feet there is nothing he can do.

COME ON RAFAAAAA!!! 15-40

That serve saves him for one. 30-40

DF !!!!!!!!!!!!

COME ON RAFAAAAAAAAA

Kubot wins That's a remarkable turnaround and an equally remarkable result. And Rafa at last breaks, now just needs to stay focused...

Some determined serving here by Rafa. 30-15

Yesssssssss lovely forehand cross court. Rafa moving this big guy from side to side. Isner doing nothing but slice off his shots. 40-15

Tut ... Rafa in net.

Big hit out by Isner so he holds.

<breathes out>

Marvellous. Great defense by Rafa then one shot gives him the attack and Isner hits out. 15-15

Big serve and Rafa nets. 30-15

Rafa gets the umpire down for a serve out. So 30-30

Tut .. Rafa misses out with some net exchanges.

Ace from Isner so 3-2 Rafa

Couple of aces in that game so Rafa now 4-2.

Commies now going through the stats. has he ever been 2-1 down, has he ever gone to 5 sets?

Do you think this would never, ever happen in his career???

Oh .. now Murray is favourite to get to the final if Rafa goes out.

Aggressive play by Rafa brings on the mistakes. 30-30 in this game.

And Rafa has a break point with another Isner mistake.

COME ON RAFAAAA!!

well he would be Woofs wouldn't he? anyway Rafa breaks again and this is surely going to five sets...

1st serve waaaaaaaaaaay wide.

And he hits another volley wide.

2 breaks for Rafa. Come one honey.!!

It annoys me, MFC, when there is still so much tennis to play in this match that commentators come out with utter twaddle.

SETTTTTTTTTT RAAAAAAAAFFFFFFFFFFFFFAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

ZERO unforced errors in that one girls.

Come on Rafa. Do this!!!!

Rafa's double break means he's serving second in the fifth.

Maximum gusto Rafa!!

Tidy opening service game from Isner.

Rafa trying though. Keep going honey.

fifth set, you'd have to back Nadal to come through this one IMO. From a Brit perspective, Baltacha has started her match

I went out to get something to eat (not that I'm going to be able to eat while this is going on). Maybe I should go out again and just keep walking round the block.

Phew ... from 40-0 up and playing well, Isner gets it back to 30, but Rafa wins out.

Womble

Rafa hits a ripper of a return. 0-15

and another !!!!

and a VAMOS from Uncle Toni!!

Rafa return!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 BREAK POINTS !!

VAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!

Back....in time to see Rafa with BP....and he converts!!!! YES!!!!!!!!

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Oh that's an absolutely brilliant returning game by Rafa. Two winning returns pass a stranded Isner at the net. The third gets right into his feet and he can't get it over the net. He then stays back but Rafa's groundstrokes are too much for him. Brilliant from Rafa!

It's a long time since I've seen Toni so animated.....or Rafa for that matter

Didn't see any of the 4th set, but by the scoreline I hope Rafa upped his game.

I thought as usual a bit of both denz, Isner had been playing as well as he could really in the first three sets, so it was inevitable that his level would drop a little at some stage, and Rafa upped his level too. He's still playing a bit short at times, but he's found his passing range so is getting through Isner much easier.

Yesss!! Some stunning Rafa play for a hold.

Keep going!!!

How DARE Castle call Rafa, Djoko's Pidgeon

Some RIPPERs!! by here Rafa to lead 30-15 on the Isner serve.

Thanks Mad....am so pleased he's just found a bit of form...but we always knew Isner was no pushover.

He's a Bandwagoner, Denz.

Did the same with Rafa in 2008.

Rafa made one mistake to not get 40-30 ... but keep going lovely boy.