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!

Fluffed a drop shot there - 0-30.

Couple of good serves brings it back to 30-30.

Hits a forehand out and 30-40

Andu hits out 40-40 (commies going on about the watch, that's so last year!)

Serve called out, Andu said it was in! First serve. He gets his reward and Rafa hits out and breakpoint again. Rafa hits a forehand down the line and back to deuce.

Sorry, engrossed there and missed some points. Break point to Andu. Snuffed out with a cross court f/h.

Another bp as And sends Rafa the wrong way.

Rafa hits out and Andujar breaks back.

Andujar playing really aggressively but hits out and 15-30.

Rafa really playing short and 30-30.

Andu nets a ball - BP Rafa.

Andu sends a forehand to the corner - deuce.

Andu hits long - AD Rafa

Andu nets another and Rafa breaks again.

Did I hear some Come on Rafa shouts there from the crowd!

Muzza through...now maybe they'll show Rafa

Nope...they're showing the Monaco Grand Prix Practice and then Heather Watson's match

Rafa serves for the set.

20 shot rally ending with it being hit long by Rafa 0-15

Drop shot from Andu 0-30

Ace! 15-30

1st serve in, Andu hits wide 30-30

Rafa moves Andu round and ends with a great f/h set point

But he puts a f/h out - deuce

Another longish rally and Rafa goes long. B/P

Excellent defence and Rafa wins the rally Deuce

Double fault and B/P again

And Andu breaks again with one down the line

Right...let's see if this is any better


so it's 5-4 and I assume several breaks....Andju is playing well according to commies

He serves

Rafa was so far back...and addju came in for the easy put away..15-0

d/f...15 all

This guys name is kaikeikoi all over again

Rafa hits really wild...30-15...but the wind is playing a big part

Rafa nets...40-15....Rafa is not a happy bunny

a huge c/c return from rafa...fab...40-30

big overhead smash from Andju..5 all

And 15-0

DF 15-15

Rafa shanks a forehand 30-15

Really windy

Rafa mis-times a f/h into the net 40-15

Great b/h return by Rafa 40-30

Smash by And and game 5-5

Girls, I need to pop out for half an hour but will try and stay for 1st set.

Oh thank God, Denz is back

Just got in for the Rafa match guys and seen the score. How is Rafa doing?

Rafa serves

big serve and put away from Rafa..15-0

andju hits long..30-0

and long again...40-0

Ace from Rafa...game..6-5

Please no tie breaker

hello rafa fans

so waht's up, Is Andujar playing well? Rafa still not quite at his best? Tricky conditions? Was watching Murray so haven't seen any of this one so far. Now watching cricket...

Rafa now 0-30 up

andju nets..0-40...Rafa...turn the screw!!!!

and nets again...set Rafa 7-5

No tie breaker

Andu played well, really windy, Rafa a bit defensive still, but stepped it up in that last game.

Well done to Andy

Wind is playing a big part in this match...but Rafa is still not there just yet and andju just went after him....don't think Rafa's in any real trouble.

yeah the wind kind of messed up Andy's match too, I think rafa will get too many looks at Adujar's service games to be in any real bother today though.

oh stoopid commies on about water bottles and OCD!!!! got guys give it a rest!!!

Rafa 1-0 up

andju serves

Rafa hits out..then andju hits out so it's 15 all

andju nets..15-30

and tries a volley....which he misses...15-40

Rafa keeps his depth and Andju nets...2-0 Rafa!

Rafa fans you will be glad to hear that Davydenko has lost the 2nd set in his clash with Veic 6-2.

Rafa serves

and nets..0-15...oh he's mad!

but andju hits into the corner...0-30

come on Rafa!!

Rafa hits c/c...in...out..in...out...in..out..in....yup in 15-30

fabulous hitting from andju...attacked so so well..15-40...Rafa so negative"

and nets off a let cord from andju...game andju 2-1

back in 5

Hello everyone

I can't look here too much because of being at work - so I'm "pleased" to see that the wind is causing some problems. Otherwise - what on earth is wrong with Rafa's serve?!

Thanks for the update re Davydenko, Legend

It's the wind Rafan...it's affecting everything today...just one more thing to add to Rafa's woes.

BTW....Squirrel has stopped at 8! Thank god

Baggy is out

Just in time to see Rafa break!...5-3

Rafa loses first point..0-15

and hits out off a good return..0-30

and again....all off second serves...0-40

this is a frustrating match

andju hits long...15-40

and again...but it's still off second serves!

and again..deuce.....this is pathetic by both of them!

Andju misses ad Rafa...set point....please god!!

but Rafa hits over the baseline..deuce......the expressions on his face today!!

andju hits out...ad Rafa

and andju nets... set Rafa 6-3

Rafa loses first point..0-15

and hits out off a good return..0-30

and again....all off second serves...0-40

this is a frustrating match

andju hits long...15-40

and again...but it's still off second serves!

and again..deuce.....this is pathetic by both of them!

Andju misses ad Rafa...set point....please god!!

but Rafa hits over the baseline..deuce......the expressions on his face today!!

andju hits out...ad Rafa

and andju nets... set Rafa 6-3

we heard you the first time denz

LOL...I tried to delete it...but cos you replied I couldn't!!!!!

Veic has broken back in the 3rd set against Davydenko and now the Russian is serving to stay in the set.

Rafa fans some good news. Veic has taken the 3rd set. Davydenko needs to win the next 2 sets to stay in it.

The good news that I'd like is that Rafa has found his form !

Oh bloody hell...Rafa is 4-1 down...what is he doing!!!

Rafa 5-1 down

Think Nadal will come out and blast him off the court in the 4th.

oh the commies are loving this!!!!

They'd all love Rafa to lose....then they can say "I told you so"

oh well Rafa will come through this

hello, is this the stunning come-back hour, he's only gone and brought it back to 4-5

Rafa serves 2-5 down

Comes to the net for the put away...15-0

and whips a f/h at andju...30-0

andju get a good f/h reply...30-15

d/f...30 all

andju misses down the line....40-30

Rafa hits long...deuce

and a big return on the Rafa 2nd serve...ad ahdju

big f/h from Rafa...deuce

he needs his 1st serve

andju nets...ad Rafa

Rafa hits long...deuce....too bloody far back

and andju is at the net to put Rafa's shot away...ad

big serve from Rafa..deuce

and a huge f'h down the line from Rafa...ad

but it's back to deuce again

and yet again...andju is inside the court attacking...and Rafa is soooo far back....ad

andju nets..deuce

andju nets again...ad Rafa

andju attempts the d/s but misses...game Rafa 5-3

Andju serves

hits out...0-15

and he hits long again..0-30

looks like he's tiring

but hits a huge f/h..15-30

good hands at the net..30 all

Rafa hits long...40-30...serve is out....yes it is...30 all

second serve

and he nets..30-40

Rafa threads one up the line...game Rafa!

Doctor is out...but not for Rafa

My stream has stuck again....and I had to attend to Squirrel....what's happened????

Well as usual, he put us through it!!!!!!

But he's still in

What a fighter

At 5-1 down I was thinking, just let it go Rafa and regroup for the 4th, but our boy showed again why we love him.

Credit to Andujar, he played great. Why do they all play the game of their life against Rafa??

Denz, hope the puppies are okay

Angie Pups are fine thankyou....all looked contented a while ago. I'm always happy once the first 3 days are behind us

Rafa shouldn't be scrapping for wins like that....I'm glad he did, but he shouldn't have got himself into that position. I just want the old confident Rafa back

I know Denz, but as long as he comes through, I live in hope that he'll have a light bulb moment and realise just how good he is and get that confidence back. Then hopefully it will all click into place :prays:

I didnt see the match, but it sounded a real slug fest by Nadal to regroup and win the 3rd set and match.

But did Adujar fold (stage fright playing nadal?) or was it Nadals fighting that preserved his continuation in the FO ?

Good evening Rafateers. Well, I'm back from Glasgow where it was very cold. I got off the tube to see Rafa was 5-1 down in the 3rd, but by some miracle the 4th set hadn't started by the time I got home. I only got to watch from 3-5 in the 3rd, but for that 15 minutes or whatever Rafa seemed to be playing well, if too far back. Andujar was playing way, way better than what I'd seen in Barcelona (the match of his life, Rafan ?), but was then throwing in the occasional howler. Anyway, given the position he was in, to have got it done in 3 was very good, although he obviously shouldn't have got into that position in the 1st place. Also, glad he won a TB after the Isner horrors.

I think Wooffie is right about having to have a re-think on the clay game, although it's probably too late for this year and he's just going to have to fight it out as far as he can. They've put so much effort into making his grass and h/c games 1st class that clay had become the autopilot option. You could almost see that in MC and Barcelona. He won both tournaments for the loss of one set without really having to get out of 2nd gear. There was no spark and he looked almost bored. Now that everyone's taking it to him and he's having to fight, he actually looks like he's enjoying it more. Not good for the blood pressure of us fans, though.

At least he lives to fight another day so Vamos Rafa and congratulations Denzy on the arrival of the puppies.

Just for you peeps from twitter:

julesdc
Investigative reporting RT @RawUncutTennis: I told you he copped a feel of that Rafabum. And now I have proof. http://tinyurl.com/3m85p2l
http://twitpic.com/52vfnz

Good evening all lovely Rafateers!!

I've got an urgent thing on at work so I couldn't participate this afternoon and could only start having a sneaky peek on livescores when it was 5-1 in the third. So I've caught up on here and read things on a couple of sites.

And I still don't know what to make of it all.

Its hard to comment when you didn't watch the actual match. But I cannot escape this nagging feeling within me that something is not right. I'm getting a bit fed up with telling myself that he didn't play well at last year's FO and that he had those two 5 setters at Wimbers and both times he came through. I know we always do our best to be positive, but there is something not right with this guy and his draw will mean that he's going to face someone who will hit right through him and he's out. Sorry everyone, but that's what I feel.

In spite of his IW/Miami losses, I saw nothing really to disturb me about his play. I'm not buying this "Nole in his head" thing right now either, because I can't be bothered to find the quote now, but someone asked him who his most difficult opponent was and everyone was expecting him to say Feds, but he didn't ... he said Novak. And he faced him in the USO final after having been beaten by him 3 times on the trot on hardcourts, but came through. And I don't buy this pressure of No. 1 thing, because its not the way Rafa looks at it, he views it that it can change hands during the course of the season. Neither do I buy the pressure of this time of year and having to defend his points all the time because he's faced this situation now from 2005 onwards.

He just isn't 100%. He's not fully there mentally, he's not fully there physically, I don't think he's fully motivated, his game, tactics and decision making aren't there at 100%. He's just off. I think he's tired, and tired of it ... and I think its the strain of keeping himself going that's wearing on him.

I take it back to the "off season", ie. read 4 days rest that Rafa had after the amazing exertions of last year. Laudable they may be, but charity matches, and sponsor commitments. Ridiculous! Back into trying to train for 2011 when he'd no rest from 2010. Catching a fever because his body was probably run down, playing AO and his body actually breaking down. Then he finally had what 5-6 weeks off before being back for the US? But he was just lacking in a bit of match play and conditioning, but they are two Masters straight on the bounce with no rest. Then only 1 week off and a lacklustre performance at MC, straight onto Barcelona, just one week off and then Madrid with a ton of personal stuff done before the tournament starts, the emotion of a friend's death at the end of it and then straight away onto Rome and guess what? He's run down and catches a fever which he plays through, then 1 week and its the FO!!

He's not "on it". He's not a 100% and I keep waiting for something to come out about it. I just fear that he doesn't have it to move through the gears now when really, really tested and I think he's been caught unawares that his tried and trusted clay game has to change and evolve and its all come a bit late for this season. I hope with all my heart that he proves me otherwise, but I just fear this boy is struggling. Right ... I'm shutting up now.

Well YI, I'd like to say I'm jealous, but I might be accused of being hormonal

As Wooffs told me after Tuesday's match, watching livescores tells you nothing of how either player is actually playing. I've now watched not all of the match, but from 3-3 in the second. I thought Andujar (very handsome!!) played really well - yes, the match of his life - and Rafa also played a lot better than I've seen him play for a while. I couldn't understand why he kept losing his serve, but Andujar was brilliant - I thought him quite Djokoesque, noh?

So proud of Rafa to come back from 5-1 - and 40-0 - down in that final set, and to save 8 breakpoints in the process. I left work at 5-1 and thought he might as well let the set go, but it seems he got interested when he broke back to go 5-2. Very well done Rafa!

Isn't it weird how I'd heard of Simone Bolelli even though he's 100-something but not Andujar who's 48?!

So next we have Veic...any insider info?!

Vamos Rafa!

Wooffs! You posted while I was typing. I eel much better having watched the second half of the match. Rafa's opponent really played well against him. That's not to say that something isn't troubling Rafa but it's worth catching some of the match if you can

And thanks to all for the updates on here and text messages. Much appreciated as always

Hi Wooffie and Rafan. Wooffie could well be right about the tired thing. In this particular year I can understand why he effectively played through, though because the AO was so big coming on the back of the other 3 slams. I don't think it was even 5-6 weeks before those US tournaments as he played DC the last weekend in February and was back training a good week and a half or so before that. Whatever the causes, there is probably nothing for it, but to just plough on at this stage of the season, though.

Even if Veic (never heard of him) also plays the match of his life, Rafa must be able to beat someone ranked 200 and something on clay, mustn't he ??? I so want him to still be in when I get there. I know this is ridiculous, but I feel that I'm actually doing something concrete, if I'm there and can shout for him as opposed to feeling useless and just shouting at the television.

Good evening Rafateers

Well! Have just watched as much of the match as I could (recorded from 2 channels as they couldn't resist changing mid match), and must agree wth Rafan - I thought Andujar played VERY well - commies said towards the end that if he played like that more often he'd be challenging top 20 (or something like that); but also agree that at times Rafa looked plain tired, and not totally focussed on the match. I was really impressed by the comeback from 1-5, 0-40. Sheer stubborn-ness, and some great play.

Surely to God, he'll have an easier game against Veic (whoever he is), so hopefully you'll see him Womble, and cheer him on for all of us.

Will Rafa's next game be played Saturday? If so, will miss, as out on the batter with friends. Will have to check Live Scores every two minutes again & watch recording when I get home!

Rafan, Womble and Angie Above everything else, I do like that we have somewhere to share all this.

Thanks girls for reminding me of what I said about the Isner match in that watching it eases the torture as opposed to just watching the scores rack up on LiveScores.

Womble ... there's a fan speaking. Yep, doing your bit to cheer him on in an active manner is a great thing.

But ... will there be anyone around on Saturday to keep the Rafafires burning?? Angie is out, I'm out, Rafan is out, Womble is probably traveling or preparing to. And we call ourselves Rafateers!!!

By the way ... Midwife Denz Hope the new babies are doing well tonight, as with their Mum.

Seve will no doubt be flat out through no effort at all. Hope the prospect of a Sussex turns into a good one.