Rafan went to Queens on Thursday ... and boy, did she have the best of times. So here's her report for us all to enjoy. All the photos in this post were also taken by her, and I've linked her Queens 2011 pictures on the Links section to the right ...
Good morning lovely Rafateers and friendly visitors from a very pink faced Rafan! Here's my report of yesterday. Be warned…it is long
Well, yesterday was a mixed bag! I left home at 7.15 am and was so concerned about the cold at Queens and making sure that I had enough warm stuff with me that I completely forgot all those other essentials – sunglasses, sunhat and suntan lotion, so had to make a rapid purchase at Victoria. I met my friends at Barons Court tube station at 10 and we went straight to Queens to see the players arrive. Amongst those we saw – Kevin Anderson (humungous!), Ivo Karlovic (ditto), Leander Paes (arrogant), blah blah blah…THEN Feli. Yahoo. I got all quivery (when don't I?!) and we ran across and I asked Feli if I could have my picture with him. He said yes. I thought that our Royal Rafateers would be spitting feathers. Then Fer! So back across and another photo, he was very nice and said "de nada" when we thanked him. I remember his hand touching my back. I don't think I was Feli's type.
And then finally Rafaaaaaa! Only this time my friends (who had seen him mobbed when he left last night) got all moral on my ass and wouldn't take my picture with him because they didn't want to bother him. So I had to settle for just looking at him and wishing him good luck.
After that it was straight to the practice courts. We had to queue to get in as Muzz was practising. We squeezed in, and then hallelujah the heavens opened and the lightweights filtered away (as did Murray), so it was down to mainly Rafa fans – lots of VBers were there too so it was nice to catch up with them again after seeing them in Monte Carlo. Luckily the rain didn't last too long and Rafa came on court with Marc! for practice. Sadly, unlike last year, he wasn't on the court right in front of us, he was on the court next to that. So my zoom got a bit of a workout…but it's not as good as when he's right there. Practice seemed quite good spirited, Rafa in a bright orange shirt so we could pick him out of the very blue background. At the end Delpo came on for his practice and they all stood around chatting for a while.
Then Rafa disappeared and I thought I should go and make use of my £92 ticket…after a quick wander round the shops. Nike had a good display of items, but once again, nothing really for the ladies. I did like a blue polo shirt that they had for this tournament, which had the number "11" (for 2011) on the front…and I thought wouldn't it be lovely to buy that and wear it when Rafa wins his 11th slam at Wimbledon in three week's time. But I didn't. Lots of nice posters everywhere from the current Nike Rafa/Tennis campaign. I tell you though…they do miss a trick. They should have been selling the Wimbledon outfit. They'd sold out of the blue jacket which Rafa is currently wearing. They weren't selling posters. Honestly, you'd think somebody in the Nike marketing department would have it figured out by now that a lot of Rafa's fans are FEMALES! I give up.
So, on to the tennis. I got into the court for the start of Murray's match. Tipsarevic played well, but Murray was at a better level. It was a good match, but of course we had the rain delay again. I stayed put as I could see the blue sky in the distance and luckily it didn't seem to last too long and they were back on again. I was very glad when Murray wrapped it up in 2 sets…and then it was Rafa time! And it was at this point I realised that despite charging both my camera batteries last night one of them was still at home in my charger!!!
Rafa came on to a big cheer from the crowd. There was a Rafa fanboy amongst the corporates behind me, who was explaining to his party that although Federer is widely mentioned as the GOAT, he actually may not even end up the Greatest of The Era, because of Rafa's superior H2H and the fact that he already has 10 slams at the age of 25. The people with him (male and female) were too busy admiring Rafa's "guns" and his bum to pay much attention. Though they mentioned they weren't too keen on the "scratching" of the FA.
To the match. Rafa was playing beautifully, the sun was shining and it was all very enjoyable. Right up to the point where he was 40-15 with two match points. Suddenly he went down the pan, the sun went in, and yes Wooffs, I did go blue for Rafa. It was so cold, I had on my fleece and raincoat, at one point with both hoods up! I couldn't believe the blip after he'd been playing so well. There were nice moments in the match though – Stepanek was quite entertaining and unusual to watch. I got the impression that Rafa was just so keen to finish the match he hurried it a bit and got broken, couldn't quite believe it, and everything started going Steps' way. But Rafa regrouped, fist pumping and "Si!" and played much better in the third set again. Obviously there was the break of serve but that was minor and he closed it out in style. Phew.
By which point I was soooooo cold, sooooo desperate for the loo and in need of a coffee. I went to the Club Reception and asked about the doubles. They said it was unlikely that the match would be played tonight. I then bumped into a couple of VBers who were also pondering. We all had a feeling that Rafa might just go straight into the doubles as he was already warmed up. We hung around Court 9 and then one of the VBers (Jan) lip read a steward saying "doubles". So we rushed up to him and he confirmed that Rafa would be playing on that court. Quickly we took up a position in the front row. And I cried even more about my battery which had run out and the spare one languishing at home. To make up for it though, the seats next to me were "reserved for players' guests" which meant that Maymo was sitting next to me, albeit separated by about eight seats.
What that did mean though was that I actually watched Rafa instead of just looking through my camera lens. It was the first time I'd seem him play doubles, and him and Marc! have such a good time together, they were laughing and talking, and at one point Rafa could barely serve for laughing. Now, I don't know what the other team make of it, but it's a joy to watch as a Rafa fan! Rafa still scowls when he misses a point though, he doesn't lose the perfectionist. The other team (Lindstedt and Tecau) won the first set on a tie-breaker and then they ended play for the day as it was getting dark and the court was slippery. Another VBer (Jen) got some lovely video footage of Rafa and Marc! at a change of ends, which she'll probably post on their board at some point.
One of the VBers (Loobyloo) had a flag which she wanted signed. Luckily I had my *pen* *pen* with me, so when Rafa had packed up we called to him and he did some signing for us, using it. When he took it I said, "Please can I have it back when you've finished" and he signed a few things (including my programme!!) and then threw(!) then pen up at me. I grasped at thin air and he caught it again, and I said "Just pass it to me, don't throw it!" laughing. And then … I was so busy looking at his hand heart and making sure I got the that apparently I missed a lovely smile – because Loobyloo said, "what a lovely moment for you with Rafa smiling up at you like that". Doh Doh Doh But at least she'd seen it…which meant it happened.
In the meantime he was being asked for various things ... his hat, his racket - so I took it upon myself to tell those children that were asking that that was a bit "greedy" and then promptly asked Rafa for his hand in marriage LOL. To the children he said "noh", to me there was a resounding silence. Maybe he didn't hear me...
So we filtered out of the ground, and as we left, Rafa's car drove out so we waved and he waved back. And that was the end of the day. I got the train home with two VBers who live nearby (which I hadn't realised until yesterday), so we exchanged lots of Rafa stories all the way home, and I climbed wearily into bed at midnight … therefore I haven't done my pictures yet but I will do them at the weekend and add a few.
The End.
Roll on Wimbledon
Fabulous report! Isn't it??
Good morning lovely Rafateers and friendly visitors from a very pink faced Rafan! Here's my report of yesterday. Be warned…it is long
And then finally Rafaaaaaa! Only this time my friends (who had seen him mobbed when he left last night) got all moral on my ass and wouldn't take my picture with him because they didn't want to bother him. So I had to settle for just looking at him and wishing him good luck.
Then Rafa disappeared and I thought I should go and make use of my £92 ticket…after a quick wander round the shops. Nike had a good display of items, but once again, nothing really for the ladies. I did like a blue polo shirt that they had for this tournament, which had the number "11" (for 2011) on the front…and I thought wouldn't it be lovely to buy that and wear it when Rafa wins his 11th slam at Wimbledon in three week's time.
Rafa came on to a big cheer from the crowd. There was a Rafa fanboy amongst the corporates behind me, who was explaining to his party that although Federer is widely mentioned as the GOAT, he actually may not even end up the Greatest of The Era, because of Rafa's superior H2H and the fact that he already has 10 slams at the age of 25. The people with him (male and female) were too busy admiring Rafa's "guns" and his bum to pay much attention. Though they mentioned they weren't too keen on the "scratching" of the FA.
By which point I was soooooo cold, sooooo desperate for the loo and in need of a coffee. I went to the Club Reception and asked about the doubles. They said it was unlikely that the match would be played tonight. I then bumped into a couple of VBers who were also pondering. We all had a feeling that Rafa might just go straight into the doubles as he was already warmed up. We hung around Court 9 and then one of the VBers (Jan) lip read a steward saying "doubles". So we rushed up to him and he confirmed that Rafa would be playing on that court. Quickly we took up a position in the front row. And I cried even more about my battery which had run out and the spare one languishing at home. To make up for it though, the seats next to me were "reserved for players' guests" which meant that Maymo was sitting next to me, albeit separated by about eight seats.
What that did mean though was that I actually watched Rafa instead of just looking through my camera lens. It was the first time I'd seem him play doubles, and him and Marc! have such a good time together, they were laughing and talking, and at one point Rafa could barely serve for laughing. Now, I don't know what the other team make of it, but it's a joy to watch as a Rafa fan! Rafa still scowls when he misses a point though, he doesn't lose the perfectionist. The other team (Lindstedt and Tecau) won the first set on a tie-breaker and then they ended play for the day as it was getting dark and the court was slippery. Another VBer (Jen) got some lovely video footage of Rafa and Marc! at a change of ends, which she'll probably post on their board at some point.
In the meantime he was being asked for various things ... his hat, his racket - so I took it upon myself to tell those children that were asking that that was a bit "greedy" and then promptly asked Rafa for his hand in marriage LOL. To the children he said "noh", to me there was a resounding silence. Maybe he didn't hear me...
So we filtered out of the ground, and as we left, Rafa's car drove out so we waved and he waved back. And that was the end of the day. I got the train home with two VBers who live nearby (which I hadn't realised until yesterday), so we exchanged lots of Rafa stories all the way home, and I climbed wearily into bed at midnight … therefore I haven't done my pictures yet but I will do them at the weekend and add a few.
The End.
Roll on Wimbledon
Fabulous report! Isn't it??
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