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!

we know...

Frankly I dont think Rafa gave a toss... he didn´t look like he was even trying.... hey ho.... fishing is good in Manacor al a momento Rafa

Nah ... I think after he lost that second set then the skip went out of him.

I can't remember whether Feli won in three last year or not. He needs to get home, have the weekend off and the just some practice for the bigger things to come.

Well done Rafa for what you have done over the past 3 weeks You've been through despair and triumph and as ever ... you have done us proud!

VAMOS!!

Hello all

Rafa and Marc have retired from the doubles so I expect they'll be off home tonight. Good for them. I thought it was nice at the net from JWT and Rafa, perhaps the needle that was once there is no more?

I'm just loading up my Queens pictures onto Flickr, will share them shortly.

I'm having a nice glass of vino

Evening Rafateers, having fought my way home via the vagaries of the London transport system to find Rafa has unsurprisingly lost and James Ward has surprisingly won after squandering a clutch of match points in the 2nd set. Well done James W. I wonder what the odds were for two Brits in the SFs.

Good to see they've retired from the doubles. Safe journey home, Rafa. We'll see you in a week. I'm also very much looking forward to seeing Rafan's photos.

Hehe Womble ... for a moment there I thought you were going to say that you were very much looking forward to seeing all of us.

Cos now that's it only a week away ... I am.

That as well, Wooffie, of course. I'm just hoping that the good old British weather improves a tad by next weekend.

So do I Womble. Cos I'm a right miserable git if my hair gets wet.

Oh boy...is she evah

Good afternoon all my luvverly Rafateers

Just heard a lovely story from Queens.....Late last night Chris Kermode got a call from Rafa, just before he got on his plane to apologise for the fact he lost yesterday, as he thought he'd let Chris and the fans down.

Chris told him it was total nonsense, and said to John Inverdale that he think Rafa is just the greatest...both on and off court

Can't see any reason to disagree with that!!

Denzie what can we say about him that hasn´t been said a million times before... I think he must be the most selfless person Ive heard of.

Hi everyone

Quick visit to catch up. What a wonderful story from Denzi. Just when you think you can't him any more than you already do

Rafan, fab photos on the on Tour thread. I know I should post that over there but seeing as I'm here.

Have a lovely evening everyone, and hope Rafa is on a sandy beach with his mates and having fun.

Well cats I can give you a weather update for him... its an absolutely gorgeous evening here in Sunny Spain.. hot no wind.. clear blue sky...

Vamos Rafa have a wonderful rest with your pals... come back refreshed ready to take the Wimbers crown once more

Hi Hads Cats

Lovely to hear the weather is so good over there Hads...I just hope Rafa has been lazing on the beach and swimming, or fishing.

Please god he didn't take it into his head to go off and do some promo work

He really is one class act...and the more the public at large hear how wonderful he is, the better

He worries me Denz he seems that "he is the boy who can´t say no"
I just hope he has found himself a little corner of Manacor where nobody but his friends and family can find him

Evening ladies

I think perhaps for this weekend, he will have.

Lovely story you've reported there, Denz. But how did I know that "tanking" would be mentioned in some quarters? The guy played to the best of his ability this week and pushed himself as far as he was prepared to go in terms of his physical and mental effort ... but that wasn't all the way. And why should he? Considering that he's been to all the finals in the clay court season and won 3 titles, the last one being on Sunday, he still honoured his commitment by turning up at Queen's and pleased the tournament and the crowds by his singles and doubles appearances.

A class act our Rafa. And we appreciate him.

Wooffs

I think everyone realises Rafa tried his best under the circumstances, just very unfortunate circumstances. And even if he did tank it, (not suggesting that he did) so what? Let he who has never pulled a 'sickie' cast the first stone.

I'm bored and missing Mr C now But he's back tomorrow Wish he'd planned his trip when Wimbers was on

Poor Cats

As quick as you wanted him out of the door, you want him back. Awwww

I'm not missing Mr Denz

There are always some who judge people by their own low standards, so we won't bother with them

Evening Woofs .....how is the lovely < >

Evening Denz

She is currently laid on the settee next to me having a snooze, with rubber chicken by her side and two socks that she has pinched from the wash basket. She also brought a pair of my Bridgets down but I don't know what she's done with those.

How are the puppies??

Hello Rafateers and respective pets. I just love that Chris Kermode story as well. I wouldn't describe it as tanking, more not killing himself. That probably goes so much against the grain that he maybe feels a bit guilty. At least he turned up and played.

Hope it's nice and sunny in Mallorca and he's having a good rest.

Good evening, Rafateers

Lovely story, Denz. Just so - Rafa! Although I hate for Rafa to lose, I'm sort of glad he's home & relaxing (I hope).

For those wondering here's the 5 day forecast for Mallorca. Looking good for some serious fishing & beach partying! Much better than here, anyway - rained most of the day!!

<looks for Rafan>

Rafachat ...

:run2:

Rafachat....sorry Rafan :run1: follow meeeeeeeee

Good afternoon all my luvverly Rafateers

For the first time evah, I can say I'm so pleased not to see Rafa playing in a final ....They'll be lucky to get any play today, and the thought of him havng to hang around yet another dressing room feeling tired, and waiting for our blessed weather to clear....well it would have even tested his temper

Hi Denzy and in south London it's...........still raining, although not hard at the moment. It looks dismal round and about, though and they're saying that if there's no play by 6pm, it will be played tomorrow. What a nightmare so I too am pleased that Rafa isn't still hanging around in this neck of the woods.

Vamos Rafa!!

As soon as one Slam finishes, I feel sick with nerves for the next.

Come on Rafa ... good luck ... and you can DO it!!

Well yey!! ... Rafa is back with The Times and I've had a comment posted already so here we are ... can't link it (obviously) cos of how its all set up now, but I wrote this comment and this is it ...
==================================================

Wooffs

June 20, 2011 12:07 AM

Hey Rafa,

The very best of luck for this Championships. How PROUD are we going to be to watch you walk out as Champion on Center Court tomorrow to open the tournament.

Good luck Rafa. You deserve the best!

Love,
Wooffs, Rafan, Denzy, Womble, Angie, Cats, Haddie, Pearl, MrsL, and all the Rafateers of 606v2

Morning everyone

Loved reading the reports and am happy you got to see Rafa up close. I am so excited but also very nervous

And you got us into the Times Wooffs!!

Good thing is that we will see Rafa today even if it does rain. Later Lovelies...

Wooffie wrote:Well yey!! ... Rafa is back with The Times and I've had a comment posted already so here we are ... can't link it (obviously) cos of how its all set up now, but I wrote this comment and this is it ...
==================================================

Wooffs

June 20, 2011 12:07 AM

Hey Rafa,

The very best of luck for this Championships. How PROUD are we going to be to watch you walk out as Champion on Center Court tomorrow to open the tournament.

Good luck Rafa. You deserve the best!

Love,
Wooffs, Rafan, Denzy, Womble, Angie, Cats, Haddie, Pearl, MrsL, and all the Rafateers of 606v2

Oh WOW Wooffie thats absolutely brill Thank you so much for including me Just get and have a super da y

Hmm break point for Russell, but Rafa finds a couple of big serves, and some great scrambling allow him to hold for 1-1

Tense opening game from Rafa, but a couple of good serves got him through. He's still finding his feet yet.

Hello MFC

hello woofs

isn't it nice to see some grass court tennis?

Fabulous!! Love this tournie.

Well ... Rafa had some break points there, but credit to Russell for some good play to get back in it.

Come on Rafa!!

yep credit to Russell, he's going for his shots and doesn't seem oveawed by the occsion at all so far. BOOM! First signs of Rafa hitting his straps with a huge forehand down the line.

so far so good for Russell, but I expect Rafa to up his game towards the business end of this set, and take it 6-4 or so. Just feeling his way into this match at the moment...

He's holding his own is Russell and is not over awed by anything. Rafa is still finding his feet, but he's doing ok.

Hmm Rafa a bit tentative and double faults on break point! Didn't see that one coming...

Usual thing here. Russell playing with total freedom (and well), and Rafa still a bit tight.

A d/f to hand him the break. He's still got some vintage Rafa in him though.

COME ON RAFA!!

DELIGHTFUL rally there by Rafa for 30-0 on Russell's serve.

Fabulous cross court forehand for break point.

Come on Rafa!!

A break straight back with a lovely bendy forehand down the line and VAMOS!

Nadal come roaring back though and a brilliant forehand bender down the line means we're back on serve. Hardly a bad game from Russell but Nadal just upped his game a bit there.

Oh how lovely!!! Rafa's Mum and Dad have been given front row seats in the Royal Box and were just chatting friendly to each other.

Mum looks lovely!!

BOSH! huge forehand, 4-4

Oh dear. Two d/fs in a row gave Rafa the break point and a loose shot out gives Rafa the break!!

that's a really horrible game from Russell I'm afraid, thre forehand errors, two double faults and Nadal will serve for the set. Not being a show-off or anything, but can I refer you to my above post?

Mad for Chelsea wrote:so far so good for Russell, but I expect Rafa to up his game towards the business end of this set, and take it 6-4 or so. Just feeling his way into this match at the moment...

If I recall rightly MFC, you were very good at score predictions for RG as well. How's Andy going to go ?

And there we go!! First set to Rafa who ups his game when he needs too.

Well done honey.