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!

And well done MFC!!!

Murray will win in three pretty comfortable sets womble, with maybe the second one being a bit tighter (a 6-4 or 7-5). Gimeno Traver doesn't have the weapons to hurt him IMO. Russell desperately needs this hold here...

Look what we have here!

That's good. I always thought Rafa would start a bit slowly.

Awww some lovely vintage Rafa here.

And LOADS of <fangirls>

Some STUNNING grass court play there from Rafa for the break.

Rafa is playing some lovely tennis here everyone.

He must be ... a [male] hatah is shouting "C'mon Michael" ...

Well done to Feli (Rafa's practice partner again today) as he comes through in 3 sets.

Young Milos has won his match. Fer on against Stepanek later.

Russell diving all over the place but Rafa STILL takes his break point.

Rafa 4-1 ... great stuff!

some good stuff by both players, but Rafa is just too good. Fun match to watch, decent quality too.

Absolutely brilliant point, and Russell takes it with a drop shot to get one of the breaks back!

Rafamad and he should be.

Toni applauds Russell but he was like a terrier chasing everything down and Rafa loses one of his breaks.

too good. Rafa with a searing cross court forehand pass and he gets the break straight back.

VAMOS!! Some rubbish play in there by Russell, but Rafa gets his double break back with another stunning cross court forehand.

Nadal takes the second set, and is well on his way to a comfortable victory.

Rafa wins the second set with his wonderful cross court forehand. Great stuff!

Rafa's shot of the day ... the cross court forehand. Fab!

Now Rafa popping them down the lines. Great!

another very nice looking forehand down the line from Nadal, he's looked very good today after a bit of a slow start.

Another very tidy service game for Rafa. 3-1. He's lost just one point on serve so far this set.

Sounds like he's got it all under control now. Thanks for the updates.

And another break won by ... the cross court forehand!

Oh WOW!! Two fantastic cross court forehands!!

And sets up game point by a fab down the line forehand.

Si!! 33 winners, 13 UEs

ACE wins it. Fab, Rafa. 5-1 ... come on honey!!

good hold from Russell, who will enjoy at least a few more minutes on Wimbledon Centre Court. He's played his part in an entertaining, albeit one-sided, match.

Rafa to serve for the match.

COME ON RAFA!!!

lovely moment on match point. Rafa serves an apparent ace, but Russell rather apologetically says "well actually that was out" and challenges. He's right too. Moments later Nadal is through to the second round, just about the perfect start for him...

Vamos !!!!!!!!!!!!

Lovely match there by Rafa. He was a bit nervy to start, struggling to fine his feet ... but it came through.

Very nice opener and some positive things for Rafa to build on. Great to see him playing so well.

VAMOS!!

to both guys for a very entertaining match, helped by the fact that it wasn't too stressful to watch.

Bless, he looked so lovely at the end acknowledging the crowd, saying thanks and shyly smiling his head off - he knows how much he's loved at Wimbers (sorry, fangirl moment there!).

Cats, you're right about the Wimbers love. He said once that he thought he had more fans in the UK than anywhere else apart from Spain.

Well done Rafa, lovely to see him back at Wimbers, had a bit of a slow start and I had to go and get a wisdom tooth pulled out at 3 4 but came back to see match point! Glad to see he played well and got rid of the nerves, keep up the good work.

I reakon he loves the love he gets when he takes his shirt off now, the shy boy from Mallorca is not so shy now or a boy!

Hi purplerain. Yep, Rafa was sure enjoying the attention when he took his shirt off [again] at the end of the match. But even funnier when Russell took his off to join in too. That was a good match, played in a lovely spirit.

Ouch! about the wisdom tooth.

Hello Cats and Womble Yep .. we love our Rafa here. But it is nice to watch a tournament that is respectful to all players. I'm really enjoying my day off watching all of this.

Rafa

Poor old Fer is in a spot of trouble ... 2 sets down.

COME ON FER !!!!

Good afternoon Wooffie. To think if he loses, we'll have good old Stepanek to look at instead. What a lovely thought.

but really ... I should be

Good afternoon Womble I mean Fer ... COME ON!! ... I know Stepanek is a handy player ... but your once top 8 career is in free fall !!

You're too good looking to lose!!

Not showing Fer on our channels. We've got Roddick, Serena and Delp (not all playing in the same match obviously ).

I think if Fer spent less time worrying about his hair (a la Davydenko perhaps), he'd have had a better career.

Cats, Del-po and Roddick together might be a good match for Serena.

I was having a laugh at Fer's Twitter pics last night. Last week, he took a picture of himself in front of Nando's (the restaurant chain) for a . But as we know ... restaurant chains (except Carluccio's) are the Devil's chains ...

Andy Roddick

It's sweaty, sockless Andy Roddick though Wooffs

The Andy Roddick I met on Saturday, was tall, handsome, with impeccable manners, wearing socks and was completely drip free.

:Brooklyn envy:

Fer is fighting back and has won the 3rd set!! Come on Fer!! Do it for all the beautiful people out there.

I've never much liked Andy from a looks perspective (but then I didn't have the pleasure of meeting the drip free version at the weekend), but I love his interviews and press conferences. I think he'd be great to have dinner with so I'm a bit envious of Brooklyn as well.

Andy did impress on Saturday, but Wooffs told me I've got enough squeezes already and claimed Andy for her own

I'm choosing to ignore any squeezes that are currently playing and instead am watching Serena because I her too, but not in a squeeze kind of way

Me and mum have been ing with Serena after her win, very emotional and I'm happy for her after her terrible year.

Well done Serena!

I should blummin' hope you're not watching Serena in a <squeeze> sort of way, Rafan.

<phones hotel to double check that we do have TWIN beds for this week's visit to London town>

<sighs> I have tons of :Brooklyn envy: Her lovely face, her fabulous new shorter "do", a figure to absolutely die for, and a handsome, millionaire husband who hopefully leaves his dripping and potty mouth on the court (although that is rather soxy in a funny kind of way - the potty mouth, not the dripping, and I'm not going to even mention the "adjusting").

But then again ... she did introduce Fer to his latest <squeeze> ... <shakes fist>

Ooh TB for Fer now