Rafatennis Part II - Roland Garros 22 May - 5 June 2011

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!

So today Rafa is first up on Court Centrale. I hope he has got his head and rhythm back after yesterday's . I actually sat through the whole recording to try and understand what had happened, but all I could see was that Lorenzi played well and Rafa didn't, for the first set and 8 games of the second - though I thought in the game which drew the score level at 4-4 in the second Rafa was already stepping it up, and Lorenzi dropped off, started making mistakes etc. The commentators mentioned that there wasn't the usual eye contact between Rafa and his team. Who knows what has happened, but Rafa will need to make sure he "leaves it in the hotel" today - Feli has been playing well recently!

I noticed when Rafa signed the camera at the end of the match he wrote "Seve" over the top of it. And on his Facebook he mentions the earthquake in Spain. Do any of the players come from Lorca? I recognise the name for some reason.

Good luck today Rafa! VAMOS!

Hmmm...just having a quick look round the various sites and it seems it might be that it was his motivation that was left at the hotel. Remember to put that in your bag today Rafa!

Right...now for work - get as much done as possible before 11 am :run2:

Morning all my luvverly Rafateers

Lovely Rafan ......Haddie mentioned yesterday that Lorca is Nico Almagro's home town, so it must be very difficult for him to deal with that at the moment.

As I'm not working until 1pm, I shall be here as yesterday......it's a double edged sword for me. I shall enjoy the spectacle in front of me but of course I want Rafa to win......sorry Feli

If Rafa hasn't got his act together today and does lose this match....then losing to Feli will be easier to bear....oh boy I wish I knew what was going on. I have a feeling he won't be signing many autographs after practice this morning

Morning Rafan and Denzy. Yes, motivation, serve and forehand in the bag, please Rafa.

Who remembers our discussions after the USO about how much more "with colm" we'd be watching Rafa in the future as he'd achieved the career grand slam, etc, etc ? Yep, that one's worked out.

Wooffie, I saw your email last night when I got back from football and I'll reply this evening.

AFCWomble42 wrote:Who remembers our discussions after the USO about how much more "with colm" we'd be watching Rafa in the future as he'd achieved the career grand slam, etc, etc ? Yep, that one's worked out.

Good morning all lovely Rafateers!!

When I watched the lovely - but frustrating - Feli Lopez 4 weeks ago, never would I have believed that he'd start to play some good tennis. The thing is, this is not going to be a straight-forward match for Rafa today. Feli is playing well. He got to the Serbian Open final, he had break point against Djokovic at 5-5 where he would have served for the set if he had made it. (That time, he did hit a super smash, only Novak guessed right, stuck his racquet out and got lucky with a mad winner ). And we all know he was probably a smash away from winning last week. So it will be tough.

We'll all be hollering for Rafa, but if he doesn't make it, well ... he gets some probable needed rest before the FO, and we still have a hottie to cheer on for a little while longer.

But come on Rafa ... you can DO it!!

Hello ladies

That's so funny Womble - I can't believe that we imagined we'd be with colm watching Rafa . It does make you realise though that really anything now is a bonus.

It's just...we want him to WIN don't we?!

Ladies

Womble....as usual we spoke too soon Still he's done us proud...it's just that cos we think he's so great we want him to win everything and blow the opposition out of the water

So keep going Rafa....but if it's this or the FO......I know which one I'd sacrifice (remembers 2009....<shudder> >

I want Rafa to win of course.. but win prettyu Rafa not like yesterday.
But, OMG spare the thought if you do lose to Feli Longlegs I would rather it be to him than anyone else... but Vamos Rafa and Good Luck Feli

Ok my lovelies.....am now in place....here's hoping for a better day than yesterday

Now I want this over and done with before 1pm Rafa

VAMOS RAFA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STILL LOVE YOU FELI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Denzy ... why has it not started?? Is it true the commies are saying something is wrong with Rafa??

They're trying to decipher what Rafa meant yesterday.....reckon there was a bit of a disagreement with his team.

oh god it's Andy Andy Andy!!!!!

What about Andy??

Rafan... not heard that there's anything wrong with Rafa....physically anyway

Just discussing Andy...giving him the big build up

Denz ... is he even on court yet?

I hate to say this, but a disagreement with his team normally means Uncle T thinks he should pull out and Rafa won't.

Denz ... I'm stealing Rafan's thunder here ... but there is a load of talk on VB that Rafa is sick and just coming out here to give it a go.

If the commies can stop talking Andy, Novak, Feds for one second ... let us know if they are saying anything.

They're both out on court.....just warming up. Neil Harman has tweeted to say Rafa is not feeling very well, and I did see him take something with his water in the warm up. Probably a virus rather than anything else

I think that's the true Womble. On VB they said the commentators said he's "sick" but coming out to give it a go.

I wish he'd listen to Uncle Toni on this occasion - there are far bigger fish to fry in the next 6 weeks not to mention Rafateers who are desperate to see him again.

I agree with what you say, Womble.

Oh for god's sake Rafa ... just quit you fool.

Neil's tweet ...

"Suggestions that Rafa isn't feeling too well. Match delayed 15 mins. Very wan wave to the crowd."

I could kick his @ss.

This all sounds horribly familiar...now Petchy is saying the same......as I say He looks physically well, but I wonder if it's just a carry on from that flu he had earlier on in the year.....Virus's can really debilitate you.

Rafa team, especially Uncle T look very very fed up

Neil Harman is very close to the Rafa camp so he'd know. Ferrer pulled out sick didn't he ? It's stupid playing, if Rafa's sick. He should go home and rest before the French. Otherwise it's going to end up like Aus.

Oh well....we'll see how far this goes. If Rafa is poorly, then for god's sake, just quit....let Feli go through another round....he's the one playing well. Just go home Rafa and rest

He just drives me sometimes. Really

I best <huff> off for a bit. No more news from Neil yet.

They're just about to start

Idiot, isn't he ? I guess a bug, fever or whatever is a lot better than an injury, but........ Let Novak have the No 1 and let's move on.

Sorry if I cause offense but if Rafa is playing when he is sick it's stupid. Back in 2009 Murray picked up a virus at the AO, went on to play (and win) Rotterdam but then had to pull out of Dubai and was out for a while I think.

Rafa should just pull out and concentrate on the FO...

Rafa serves

Feli nets...15-0

big serve from Rafa...30-0

Feli hits long....40-0

Ace!...game Rafa.

4 1st serves in!!

No offence at all MFC. He drives us MAD with his stuborness and stupidity at times.

Do you think it would make Feli feel any better to get a win under such circumstances?? No! Do you think your opposition will be laughing their socks off when you arrive in Paris under par. Yes!

FOOL !! So ...

Having said that, Rafa has started much better than he did yesterday...

Feli serves

Rafa nets..15-0

fab b/h pass from Rafa..15 all

Feli nets off some great Rafa groundies...15-30

Rafa nets off good Feli Volley....30 all

Feli hits long...30-40...loose f/h

Rafa hits long off a very good 2nd serve...deuce

Too casual a drop shot from feli...and Rafa puts it down the line..ad Rafa

Feli puts ball over baseline...game Rafa..2-0

Rafa serves

Huge...huge groundies from Rafa...15-0

big serve and feli hits long...30-0

Feli hits wide...40-0

Feli nets...game Rafa..3-0

Well if he's poorly, he's showing no signs of it so far!

I actually do think Rafa's movement looks a bit sluggish, but he's hitting it much better than yesterday

Neil Harmon also tweeted before the "sick" message that Rafa was hitting hard 15 minutes before his match.

It doesn't mean to say that he isn't well. I'm sorry to go on but why can't he just pull out like the others do? Why? Why?

Feli serves

Rafa hits long....15-0.....he hitting the ball sooooo much better than yesterday!

Rafa hits wide.....now Feli is getting into his stride....30-0

Feli nets...30-15

Rafa nets...40-15

Feli hits out....careless...40-30

and nets off topspin from Rafa....deuce

much better feli....comes into the net...ad

and Rafa nets...3-1

Rafa serves

Feli hits long...15-0

and again...30-0

and again...40-0

Rafa's serve is a weapon today!

and again...game Rafa 4-1

Because he's stubborn as hell Wooffie and that's the flip side of the never say die attitude we love.

So true, Womble <sighs>

Feli hasn't really got going yet, errors spewing left right and centre from his racquet, but I'm not sure this helps Rafa at all, as if he does get going the match could get long, and I think that's the last thing Rafa needs...

I reckon if Feli starts playing well and this goes to 3...then it may tell on Rafa.

Feli serves

fab d/shot...15-0

Rafa hits long..30-0

and again..40-0

and again..game Feli..4-2

Rafa serves

Nets off a good feli pass..0-15

feli just misses a down the line b/h....15 all

and Rafa misses a volley....15-30

and misses again....15-40

no encouragement from Toni at all

huge serve...30-40

Rafa nets....game Feli 4-3 Rafa

was a bad game from Rafa....very tentative....balls too shot...wonder if he's running out of steam

You can tell Rafa is a bit under the weather in the way he missed those two volleys: he didn't really move through the ball, which suggests his legs aren't quite working properly. And a tennis player with imprecise footwork is a far less good tennis player.

Feli breaks back without doing too much except cutting back on the errors.

I fear for Rafa, I really do...

Well its break back. And of course now that this match has started, against a compatriot, against his friend ... he'll keep on going to the end.

It really sounds as though Toni has told him not to play.

Feli serves....looking goooood


Big serve...15-0

Rafa nets...nope he's not well at all...30-0

Ace...40-0

fab c/c from feli....game Feli..4 all

HE CAN'T MOVE!!!

Alright maybe an exaggeration, but not by much. He didn't even bother chasing that last Feli shot down, when the real Rafa would have fired it back down the line for a winner.

Get out of there Rafa please, it's sad watching this (and I'm not even a fan of his, though I did once get called a Rafa fanboy (or was it fangirl) back on 606 )

Rafa serves

better groundies there...15-0

feli hits long...30-0

and hits wide....40-0

ace...Game Rafa....5-4.

His footwork isn't as good as normal...half a step slower than usual

I'm now supporting Feli - want Rafa to go home and get better.

The thing is ... do you think Feli would want any of this?? Do you think he would wish him to jeopardise all that is to come in the next weeks just for the sake of finishing this match??

Feli serves

but misses a volley...0-15

and hits long..0-30....he's just got a little tight

nets again...0-40...this is terrible from Feli

and Rafa wins it...6-4

He did nothing there except keep the ball in play!!!