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

First topic message reminder :

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!

Crisis on Centre Court at Queens.

Rafan has forgotten her spare battery for her camera !!!

She's only be able to 23,917 <flicks> on the way home now. :run2:

Oh Wooffs, I would do a commentary but I'm rubbish at them. Where is our Commentary Queen? Denz, come out of hiding.....

I'm still at work as well, Wooffie. I'm looking across the Thames towards south London and it looks reasonably bright so I should think they'll be ok for at least the next hour.

Well Womble ... we shall keep Britain the nation it is with our fine toil. I'm looking across a load of hangars towards the Ribble estuary and there's lovely bright, blue sky poking through.

Lovely Cats No bother. A little update every now and then will be fine.

Okay, that I can do. He's bending over now waiting to return and I think I saw a slight wiggle there of the famoos behind.

Anyway I digress, 2-1 Stepanek, going with serve.

Rafa breaks with a lovely cross court shot.

Ladies, not to :jinx: or anything, but he's looking good. Looks comfortable, moving well and playing pretty aggressively.

Thanks Cats!!

I can't hear Rafan though!

2 b/ps against him..

She'll be the one saying "Rafa, YOU CAN DO IT !!"

One saved when Step hits long and another when Step netted a forehand. Deuce...

Rudey poo, Rafa tried a lob type shot which went out, b/p again.

Saved with a volley :mops brow:

Rafa holds 4-2

Looking in good shape against Turbot so far

Thanks cats, you're doing a sterling job.

Missed that game as I am getting my dinner ready (starving!) but it's not 5-3.

Lovely passing shot gives Rafa 2 set points....

Noooo! Hits long on the first.....

nets a return - deuce.

Good serve and Rafa can't return it and it's Ad Step.

Step drop shots but Rafa is onto it and passes. Deuce.

(Note to self, you have water on the boil don't forget).

Cross court whipped forehand from Rafa gives him another set point.

and he takes the set with a forehand down the line.

Going to check my water, having spag bol

Breaks again to leave Turbot (sorry Radek) floundering...6-3!

Well done Rafa!!

I see JMDP is a set down. Is that match not being televised cos its on the other court??

Sorry, missed start of 2nd set.

Scrunchy face and looks like Rafa had a couple of break points there that he didn't convert. Got another one but lost it on a lob that went just long. Anyway, upshot, Step holds. 1-1, Rafa to serve.

Rafa holds with his 3rd ace. 2-1.

I can hear cheering from the other court, but not being televised here. Rafa's court is quiet. Rafan needs to start a Mexican wave or something.

The Queens crowd tends to be pretty quiet - a lot of corporate hospitality types.

Banana shot gives Rafa b/p, then Rafa cracks his racket on last shot and put Step off who nets and Rafa breaks.

Well done, Rafa. We don't want any 3 set thrillers at this stage.

chomp, chomp, but can tell you match point against Delpo

btw, chomp chomp denotes me eating. Yes, I'm loud, sorry about that.

Rafa holds with a super cross court forehand. 4-1

Delpo out

Thanks for the reporting, cats. I'm about to leave the office now so hopefully Rafa can keep it going.

Safe journey home Womble

I'm still here

Thanks for the updates though, Cats.

Hi Hon, thought you would be on your way home. Why are you working so late? Anyway, Rafa making a bit of a meal of this game but he now has AD.....

Yes, he holds saving 2 b/p. 5-2.

Come on Rafi, my dogs want their walkies.

Steps holds and Rafa needs to serve it out. Come on Rafa, you can DO IT.

Come on Rafa!!!

Yes another ace. 30-15

Good first serve, Step hits it out, 2 MP....

2nd serve, returned and Rafa nets it. 40-30

Rudey poo, deuce, Step returns and Rafa can't get it over the net.

Deuce.

An even bigger rudey poo, Rafa double faults. B/P

Pretty wild shot from Step and back to deuce.

Oh Rafa, hits wide. Ad Step.

Ouch indeed Mr Commie. Rafa double faults again and Steps breaks

Fear not though Rafateers. I reckon he thinks he hasn't put us through the wringer this match and wants to add a bit of spice. He'll break now.....

He better had. Come on Rafa!! Off in 2 sets please!!

He wasnt happy losing that break...he'll be all guns blazing this game to get off court quick.

cats_r_cool wrote:Fear not though Rafateers. I reckon he thinks he hasn't put us through the wringer this match and wants to add a bit of spice. He'll break now.....

Or maybe not..... Step holds, 5-5 and my dogs are seriously unimpressed.

Rafa slips into the net and loses the point. Steps comes to help him up, bless.

As am I ... nothing for it, I'm off home.

Lovely Cats ... thanks for your work

And blummin' VAM quickly OS Rafa!!

Step breaks again!

What's going on with Rafa...did he just slow down or getting tired? Weird.
Stepanek is a fighter but Rafa is handing him the games at the moment.