Rafatennis Part III - We're all going on a summer holiday

That’s the game: sometimes you win; sometimes you lose

Least said, soonest mended eh?

So we break up for our summer holidays and reflect on Rafa's half-year success that in any other season would be world-beating – a slam, a masters, a 500, another Wimbledon final and 4 other masters finals. Not Wimbledon Champion, not World No 1, but still leading every other player (other than he who must not be named) by a country mile.

Now is the time for mid-season conditioning, running repairs and riding around on a jet-ski in the Mediterranean. While I have used up nearly all my annual leave and have to start putting in the hard work <doom>. I know what I'd rather be doing.

The Montreal Masters starts on 8 August so we can reconvene in a mere 5 weeks and let's hope for more of the same…and Rafa – next time you win the toss against Djokovic – please choose to serve first, noh?

Vamos!

Nothing like leaving it until the last minute eh

I hope Rafa comes out like he did on Wednesday. Nervous, moi? Yes. But he can DO it!

Vamos Rafa - feel the fuego!

Afternoon Rafan. I feel nervous, nervous, nervous.

Womble me too. But I don't feel as bad as I did before Wednesday. I hope the tension (both racket and mental) are good for Rafa today

Here's Rafa! Going through the routine - now I feel more

Just wanted it to get started.

Right my lovelies....let's hope for the best today.....

Big cheer for Rafa on his introduction. I think Rafa won the toss and chose to receive.

Hi Womble....so far so good Rafa breaks...leads 2-1, just settled a bit quicker than Andy, and it's very windy!

Afternoon all

Good start from Rafa - now HOLD

Good first service game from Muzz but Rafa found a way through on his second.

Muzz going for it in Rafa's second service game, but Rafa got a hard ball back and forced the error 30-15
Lucky net cord for Muzz and Rafa nets 30-30
Muzz does the drop shot, and then passes Rafa down the line 30-40
Rafa wins the point with a smash - Deuce
Forehand goes long from Rafa - Ad Muzz
Second serve...thought Rafa ball was going out but dropped on the line, Muzz aggressive with the backhand, but Rafa hits a stunner of his own and wins the point - Deuce
<fast heartbeat>
Another second serve - very aggressive backhand from Muzz then volleys and Rafa nets - Ad Murray
Oh...a second serve - Murray nets <phew> Deuce
First serve and great forehand - Ad Rafa
Murray drop shots, pulls Rafa in and then lobs Rafa - Deuce
Good body serve and Rafa wins with a smash - Ad Rafa
Murray backhand goes wide and Rafa holds at last

3-1 Rafa

Murray serving

Rafa forehand into the net 15-0
Murray doing the dropshot again, but Rafa gets this one and wins the point with a smash which Murray hits back but out 15-15
Good backhand return from Rafa and Murray hits a forehand wide 15-30
Lovely forehand from Rafa, follows it into the net and wallops it away 15-40
A few second serves from Muzz in this game and a few grimaces
And Rafa wins with a backhand - game Rafa

Rafa leads 4-1

A double break - good game from Rafa.

Rafa to serve

It's quite windy out there again today.

Murray backhand into the net 15-0
Good Rafa forehand crosscourt and Murray nets 30-0
Rafa playing with great length but Murray lobs him and Rafa can't get it over the net 30-15
Murray forehand goes wide 40-15
Great backhand from Rafa after a good return from Murray - game Rafa

5-1 to Rafa and Murray serving

Bit of ping pong and Rafa nets 15-0
Muzz hitting to Rafa's backhand and Rafa nets after getting a few back 30-0
Murray nets off the return 30-15
Rafa return just over the net and Murray whips it away for 40-15
DF 40-30
Rafa hits the return long and Muzz gets another game

5-2 Rafa

Rafa serving

Murray backhand goes wide 15-0
Excellent backhand return from Muzz (boo!) 15-15
Lovely out-wide ACE from Rafa 30-15
Oops Rafa backhand down the line goes wide 30-30
Uh oh long forehand from Rafa 30-40
Long rally and Rafa forehand hits the net and jumps out - Murray breaks for 5-3

Murray to serve

Fault called but Rafa wipes it out - first serve
Drop shot from Muzz 15-0 - he's playing a lot better after that slow start
Lucky lucky net cord from Rafa 15-15
Rafa nets off the serve 30-15
Good serve from Muzz and return goes long 40-15
Phewee big hitting rally - is Muzz's ball in or out? Umpire says it's in. Replay the point. Rafa thought out!
And a backhand winner from Muzz 5-4

Rafa to serve again for the set

Rafa serving

Return goes long from Murray 15-0
My heart is getting faster and faster!
Rafa playing shorter again - then hits long 15-15
Great forehand down the line from Rafa 30-15
Lovely net play from Rafa 40-15
Rafa happy with that!
Longer rally again and Rafa hits long at the end 40-30
Come on Rafa - don't do this to us
Murray running Rafa side to side and draws the error eventually - deuce

Rafa hits backhand wide again - Ad Murray
Murray playing a lot to Rafa's backhand just now - it's a winning formula at the moment.
Phew - another long rally and this time Murray nets, fist pump from Rafa - deuce
Great return from Murray - Rafa thought his own serve was long! Ad Murray
S&V from Rafa after an outswinger - Deuce
Mats says he's a genius at work!
Backhand from Murray goes wide down the line - a bit of indecision there - Ad Rafa <prays>
Yessssssssss Murray nets and Rafa takes the set

Verrrry tight at the end, with a 6-4 scoreline. Vamos!

I can scarcely breathe!! It was all rosy for Rafa, leading 5-1, serves for the set ... disaster, serves again with break points against him ...

Anyhow ... he scraped it after being so dominant. Can my heart take more of this???

Vamos, Rafa!

Still a wee bit jittery, however now it's a four set match minimum, I am breathing easier!

Nerves plain to see finishing off that set, but it's to be expected. Nadal hasn't won what he's won because he doesn't get nervous, but even though he does, he commits to the task and goes for his shots.

Think he may settle in a little more now and "go to work." Don't believe that Murray's ankle won't be an issue, and I think if he should go down two sets to love, the injury will "reasie it's ugly head." He needs to keep it close and nab the 2nd set, to keep the adrenaline going.

Think it's a little too much to ask now that Nadal has found SOME form, and it's not going to be a tight three setter! Phew!

From twitter, some twitpics:
RolandGarros
Nadal hung tough in 1st set v Murray. Not much separating the two men there. http://yfrog.com/h0ynzooj http://yfrog.com/h8lrmrqj

Here we go with the second set...

Murray playing aggressive and volleys into the corner - 15-0
Very late calls from the lines people again - 30-0
Ace from Muzz 40-0
Better from Rafa - side to side and Murray goes wide 40-15
Murray backhand goes wide after a longer rally 40-30
Murray forehand goes wide - he's still after Rafa's backhand - Deuce
Good serve and return goes long - Ad Murray
Line judge calls serve out but Rafa says no it's in and it's game Murray

Rafa serving at 0-1

Both had 11 winners in first set, Rafa had 13 UEs and Murray had 12 - Rafa took the breakpoints though

Murray return goes long 15-0
Oops Rafa nets 15-15
Murray gets Rafa on the run again and comes into the net with the volley 15-30
Murray hitting to a perfect length and then hits a forehand cross court winner 15-40
The wind swirls and Murray hits long 30-40
A forehand winner from Rafa (vamos!) - commies are saying Murray plays aggressive to get the breakpoints but then backs off. I think they are right! Deuce
Murray's return goes wide - Ad Rafa
Great return from Murray and it's deuce again
Short ball from Murray which Rafa pounces on for a forehand winner - Ad Rafa
Great serve and Murray nets - game Rafa

1-1

Thanks for the excellent commentary, Rafan. It's so nervewracking from here.

Hello ylolpo

I thought it important that Rafa gets the first set. Still a bit yikesy. I wish I could try to enjoy matches like these ...

Hello to everybody by the way - Angie, are you watching or are you working?

Murray serving

Dropshot wins the point, Rafa got there but couldn't get it over 15-0
Wild return from Rafa 30-0
Can't remember what happened but Murray got the point 40-0
And Rafa forehand goes long - game Murray

2-1 to Muzz

Hi Rafan,
I'm watching - been on holiday all week! Would be less nervous at work, though!

Rafa serving

Murray nets 15-0
Good work from Murray and Rafa goes wide down the line 15-15
ACE 30-15
Murray wants the umpire to check - it's good
Murray nets going for the c/c backhand 40-15
Murray nets off his backhand - game Rafa.

Angie I find it way more nerve-wracking with livescores at work

Doing this is keeping me relatively with colm!

I don't think it's ever easy when Rafa's playing, watching or not!
Great commentary btw, Rafan; I couldn't keep track of the match while typing! You've seen some of my typos!!

SUPERB break Rafa!!!

Murray serving at 2-2

DF 0-15
Tries the dropshot again but nets it this time 0-30
He knew as he hit it that it wasn't going over
Wild and loose forehand from Muzz goes long and wide 0-40
Rafa playing a bit short again but then hits just slightly long 15-40
<chants come on Rafa come on Rafa>
Yesssssss, Rafa hits a forehand winner and gets the break - VAMOS!

Bad game there from Murray

3-2 to Rafa

Now HOLD!!

<kicks self>

<HARD>

Rafa serving and the wind and clay are swirling again

Rafa nets off the backhand 0-15
Commentators complimenting both players on the quality of play despite the conditions
Phew Murray lob goes long 15-15
Great play from Murray (poo) - aggressive, with length and then into the net for a backhand volley 15-30
Rafa gives him "the look"
Aargh side to side from Murray again, backhand winner 15-40
Will he back off now?
No but balls are flying so high, and Murray goes long 30-40
Second serve...
DF from Rafa Game Murray

3-3

Goodness. Come on Rafa !!

Aaaaahhh ... Xisca stands to applaud him.

Murray serving

Good play from Rafa but forehand goes long - shame 15-0
Murray forehand goes wide 15-15 Rafa a bit more aggressive again
Rafa having to dig out from the corner but gets it back and Murray nets 15-30
<fast heartbeat>
Yesssss Rafa passes 15-40
Xisca in the house! Standing up applauding and shouting VAMOS!
Great rally and Rafa hit long at the end - how Murray got one of those balls back I don't know 30-40
Rafa slice floats long - deuce
And return goes wide - Ad Murray
Come ON Rafa!
DF - Deuce
Muzz having a shout at himself
Ace! Ad Murray
Great defence from Murray! But Rafa finally gets the winner - he has to hit winners over and over - deuce
Oops Murray nets (soft UE) - Ad Rafa
<chants come on Rafa come on Rafa>
Second serve...
Yessssssss forehand down the line and Rafa BREAKS!

4-3 to Rafa

What an amazing game that was !!!!

Unbelievable from both players. VAMOS RAFA!!!

Oh for goodness sake, Rafa!

Rafa serving

Great defence from Murray again and Rafa nets in the end 0-15
Return goes long 15-15
Some great defence from Rafa this time but final ball goes long 15-30
Come ON Rafa!
Murray well up into the court and Rafa nets 15-40
Good serve 30-40
And a return winner gets Murray the game

Murray serving

Rafa nets the return 15-0
S&V from Murray - Rafa passes 15-15
Good one-two from Murray 30-15
Rafa nets the return again 40-15
Rafa smashes and Murray nearly gets it back (out of camera shot!) but can't 40-30
Rafa's return goes out - game Murray - and is 5-4 up

I'm a bit cross that Rafa is letting breaks slip away.

COME ONNNNNNNNN !!!!

Rafa needs to get his famoos ass in gear here....Come on Rafa!!!!!

The Eurosport commentary is so biased towards Murray. seriously getting on my nerves.

Two hours played and Rafa serving to stay in the second set

Murray return goes wide 15-0
Good first serve again 30-0
Phewee - great point, Murray did the dropshot, Rafa got it back - Murray could have had the point but hit it long 40-0
Seems like the sun has gone in
Woooooooo and a forehand winner from Rafa - game!

So both players can hold serve afer all

Keep going RAAAFFFAAAAAA!!!!!

Don't turn onto BBC then whatever you do, Angie.

<goes to hide behind sofa>

Yesssss! Nice break Rafa -6-5

5-5 Murray serving

Just long from Rafa 15-0
Is it just me or are the linesmen really slow with their calls?!
Ooh just out from Rafa (wide) 30-0
Both players on 24 winners and 30 UEs
Better from Rafa - Murray hits wide crosscourt forehand 30-15
Ace! 40-15
Brilliant forehand from Rafa on the line 40-30
Murray nets the dropshot - deuce
Great rally and Rafa gets the forehand winner - Ad Rafa
<chants come on Rafa come on Rafa>
Ace from Murray - poo! Deuce
Murray has 5 aces in this set
Backhand from Murray goes wide - he's shouting again! Ad Rafa
come on come on come on
Murray deals really well with a passing shot - deuce
Murray nets again, Rafa played a nice swirly ball! Ad Rafa
Yesssssssss! Rafa gets a forehand winner and will serve for the set
Of course that means nothing :run2:

Phew...that was good!! Murray swearing now....

Hold Rafa....Hold!!!

Come on Rafa - HOLD

Oh my word .. it was like a game of chess that set.

WELL DONE RAFA!! Keep going honey.

Rafa serves at 6-5

Long rally and thank goodness Murray hits wide (sorry to the neutral observers ) 15-0
Out! Long by Murray. Seems like he's just hitting the ball back just now, making Rafa go for the bigger shots 30-0
Good serve and forehand by Rafa - Murray nets 40-0
<prays>
And Murray nets!

A big SI from Rafa and he takes the game and the second set 7-5. Just the 73 minutes for that one.

COME ON RAFA! VAMOS! Keep it up!