Saturday 31 May 2014
Rafastats ...
Nadal is rolling compared to how he fared through the first 3 rounds at the French Open last year pic.twitter.com/X85c8hr8IW
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 31, 2014
Please God a day off and nothing gets in the way of form like that ...
That's the spirit ... !!!
#Nadal "I'm going into the second week of the Slam and will give each match my best and enjoy it." pic.twitter.com/e4sQcKXykj
— #Kin9ofClay (@Rafaholics) May 31, 2014Stunning photography ...
I thought these pictures taken by Matthias Hangst for Getty Images Europe of today's match are simply stunning ...
One Mayer match ...
Nadal in press Conference: "I have had pain in my back in the last two matches. That's why I'm serving slow." pic.twitter.com/Q4tJN7SMix
— Luigi_Gatto (@LuisGatTWI) May 31, 2014
I've thought long and hard about even mentioning this, but my worry beads are at it again. And I know being alarmist just sets the hares racing and really, don't all players play with niggles and pain all the time ... especially Rafa. It's just that I found that the oddest match to watch. The 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 scoreline doesn't actually belie what went on in the match. And yes, Rafa was cruising and looking majestic till about half way through the second set, when to be fair, Mayer did change his game and first got break points on one of Rafa's service games and then broke through on the next. And that gnawing, nagging thing in my tummy started again when previously I'd been planning the rest of my afternoon because Rafa seemed like he'd have the match over with in quick time.
But it's not like there wasn't some good play of Rafa's peppered in there, and he had an incredibly low UE count ... but the serve ... I thought it such a strange match then when I was sitting there for the inevitable shirt change show, there was the evidence of back tape. Yikes. Now I understand that you can use this tape to actually help to keep muscles warm, so again - let's not be alarmist. But you can't deny what comes out of Rafa's mouth in his presser. Which is something else I find odd. I know he's obviously going to be asked questions about his serve, but why reveal you're struggling when you've potentially got two of the best returners in the game in your path, ie. Murray and the Prince of Darkness. Because any admission like that would have me on to his serve from the off, meaning that Rafa would have precious little opportunity to relax a bit and dictate play off his own serve.
Oh poo! I wish I wasn't writing such stuff because really, Rafa's been in such fine form as he enters the second week of the tournament, and what has pleased me even more than his tennis is the fact that he looked so relaxed and happy and that he had put aside his issues from this year's clay court season and was really starting to enjoy it again.
Anyhow ... that's all for another day. It's not like the rest of the field doesn't have something of their own to face and worry about.
Congratulations on your form thus far, Rafa. I've really enjoyed it. Keeping the faith because after all ... you are NADAL!!
Thursday 29 May 2014
Picture of the day ...
I just loved this picture by AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic as I think it totally summed up Rafa today. And his skin tone ... WOWSERS!!
How true ...
Clay stains won't earn themselves. #endlesstennis #RG14 pic.twitter.com/0mNy9V4QUw
— Nike Tennis (@NikeTennis) May 27, 2014
Whilst on the Nike Twitter page I saw this. It kind of sums Rafa up if you ask me ...
It's standing out on the clay ...
It's standing out on the clay. @RafaelNadal #endlesstennis #RG14 http://t.co/bQ2wZbsdNT pic.twitter.com/VHE5WI425o
— Nike Tennis (@NikeTennis) May 22, 2014
You're damned right it is. Who doesn't love the colour of Rafa's shirt against his perfect skin and how it stands out so beautifully on the clay. Love it.
Smells like Thiem Spirit ...
Rafa was stupendous today. I thought he played beautifully, with great style and super focus. But I also got told off by my Rafateer chums for saying he was playing lovely because I needed to relay more of the important stuff like how hot he was and how was his ass looking. Lol.
I'd never seen nor really heard of Thiem before today's match, but I'd read a lot of the hype that he is currently tipped as tennis's "Next Big Thing". *rolls eyes* Now, I know we all have our opinion of what's good and what we like to watch, but if he's the future of tennis, then I won't be watching tennis in the future. Sorry, but I really don't like his kind of player; someone who just bashes the ball for all it's worth. You could literally hear the next one coming by the sounds he was making. Now some people call this exciting, aggressive tennis. Hhmmm ... hitting the ball as hard as you can in order to try for a winner may look spectacular when it comes off, but a lot of times like today ... he just hit out. I prefer the art and beauty of watching a point being crafted, of seeing someone with a tennis brain. I read a quote attributed to Thiem on Twitter (but I can't find it now) where he said something like he was playing Rafa today so he really wanted to step it up. Well, every match you play Dominic is where you should step it up, not just because it's Rafa. But again, that attitude is like [insert player name here] is having the match of his life!! Sometimes, when Rafa may be slightly off, of for whatever reason ... sometimes his brand of tennis works. But it's not sustained and it doesn't win trophies. And I find little to be excited by it.
But amongst all the greatness of Rafa today, his defensive play against those bombs was fabulous. His backhand was good, but it was the tick tock of his brain that I really liked.
He was just fabulous. Keep it going Rafa because you're doing great. Leonardo Mayer is next.
Monday 26 May 2014
Suzy Longlong ...
Twelve months ago I was in Paris, with Philippe Chatrier tickets for the first Monday and Tuesday. and if I'd have found out that Rafa was scheduled on Suzy Longlong ... the Parisian air would have turned blue. I do think as defending Champion and 8 time winner, Rafa deserved more. But let's move on.
He made mincemeat out of the Ginepri, and in a way, justified one of the bizarre excuses the FFT gave for putting him on there - sadly. But considering last year I could scarcely bear to watch as Rafa was a tie-break away from going two sets down, I'll take an almost whitewash match any day. Rafa was assertive, confident and aggressive ... fabulous to watch. Give him Suzy Longlong for the rest of the tournament I say!!
Only joking ... *wink*
But the story of the day is of course The Hobbit's loss. Oh how I laughed ... for longer than 10 minutes. So you can defeat anyone can you Stanford? Stan the Man is a favourite for the French Open is he? And this readers, is why I was glad that he wasn't drawn in the PoD's half. I never thought he'd get to the semi-final and now he's on his way home. *waves*
There's something about Rafa this French Open. He's got his swag on ... and I love it.
Little Boy Blue ...
Loving the colour of Rafa's RG kit. Sky blue? Ice blue? Making his opponents blue?
Looks lovely against his skin and the RG clay ...
Sunday 25 May 2014
Monday start for Rafa ...
The actual Schedule of Play is yet to be announced, but strap yourselves in Rafafans - the rollercoaster ride starts tomorrow ...
picture via @bluemathilde
Looking good ... looking VERY good ...
Gulp ... @bluemathilde is tweeting some fabulous pictures from courtside at Roland Garros. Check more out here.
Nobody's favourite ...
Awww ... so that's Steve Tignor and 8 out of 12 "experts" (according to ESPN) backing The Prince of Darkness to win Roland Garros.
I'm sure Rafa loves it ...
Saturday 24 May 2014
Rafa's hourly Champions League Final dose ...
"Ready to enjoy the great final ........"Hope you do Rafa. And don't forget to tell us about it. ROFL ...
He's priceless ...
When they lose they blame their luck, but I’ve put more hours than they have, that’s why I win. That’s my trick ;) pic.twitter.com/gFU5HC4KtS
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) May 24, 2014Poker face ...
Hot on the heels from the picture Rafa posted, I am just loving this little video clip. Hahahahahaha ...
But Lordy, Lord, Lord, Lord ... that hotness that is around that poker table. I've come over all unnecessary. *gulp*
Rafa asked us who we thought won that game ... Pico, Feli or himself. Ummm ... I don't think it was Pico!!
Rafa's pre-Champions League final Dose ...
Playing poker in the players lounge at #RolandGarros with @picomonaco & @Feliciano_López before #ChampionsLeagueFinal pic.twitter.com/GvYJr1bBxz
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) May 24, 2014
Haha ... fooled me Rafa. You're not going. You're just going to stress with a clean shaven Feli instead. Phew ... there's a thought. *thud*
All roads lead to ...
... Rome, as the saying goes. But not for Rafa in a tennis season. They all lead to Paris. As do Djokovic's in his now obsessive pursuit of his Holy Grail; ready to dedicate it to his dead Grandfather / dead coach / the flood victims of Serbia / his unborn child / the nail that pooch Pierre broke last week / Boris's favourite Bavarian Oompah band / his favourite toiletbrush upon which he based his hairstyle ... just strike one from the above. He wants nothing other than that title for himself ... and preferably beating Rafa to do it. That's his real Holy Grail. He can cite as many boo-hoo reasons he likes ... he wants it all for him.
And I must admit that throughout the year, I've had a horrid, gnawing feeling that Rafa won't triumph this year. Just based on the law of averages really ... not much else. I can hear you shouting at me down the screen, but bear with me. There's got to come a point after 9 clay court seasons at the top, that things dip a little. It happens. There's also that terrible realisation that Rafa's reign at Roland Garros will come to end - at some point. And so with what we've witnessed in this year's clay season with headlines such as "Nadal's Worst Clay Court Results since 2003" (which still makes me laugh considering that Rafa was a 16 year old boy back in 2003), it's got the hacks sharpening their pencils with glee thinking that this might indeed, be Djokovic's year.
Why? Well he's won 3 Masters and beat Nadal on clay. Oh, right. Lost early (for him) in the quarters at the Australian Open, lost to Feds in Dubai, lost to Feds in Monte Carlo (broken wrist). I'll give him the Miami victory without any sarcasm because Rafa was poor on the day, but Indian Wells ... a tie-breaker which could have just as much gone to Smugly as it did to him, Rome saw him drop sets, Rome saw him a tie-breaker away from defeat against Raonic ... and Rafa still took a set off him. Rafa still has the most match wins this season, Rafa is leading the The Race ... Rafa is still #No. 1. And he's had the most match play on clay.
It's not all doom for our boy and smelling of roses for the PoD. His Djerkness won Monte Carlo last year but still didn't win the Big One. He's won Rome this year ... but it still doesn't mean he'll win the Big One. As I wrote in an earlier post, back in 2006 after losing the French Open semi-final to Rafa, the PoD declared that he wasn't unbeatable on clay. But it took him 5 years to actually do it, and 8 years on, he still hasn't done it at RG. And it's by the finest of margins that you can only split them today ... way to go Djokovic after 8 years of work.
Of course there will always be those that talk about how "close" he was in 2012, and that he was "closer" still in 2013. I felt that Rafa started to beat himself in 2012 by griping too much about the conditions rather than concentrating on the match. And for those that think the weather saved Rafa that day ... the PoD was 2 sets to 1 down and still had two sets to actually try and win. Which brings me to last year ... the nearly match. Leading by a break in the 5th set and if it hadn't had been for that pesky touch of the net ... Djokovic would have won!!! It still astounds me as to how much the outcome of that match supposedly rested on that one event. What about the outcome that Djerk was so poor in the third set that I'd convinced myself he was actually tanking it as a ruse to come back and win in 5. Or the outcome that Rafa broke Djokovic in the 4th set and then immediately stood to serve the match. That if nerves hadn't have got in his way and of course the old try and tested method of Djerk just shutting his eyes, hitting and hoping for the best ... it would never had gone to the 5th set anyway. It would have been won in 4, and comfortably at that.
But rattled from Rafa's failure, Djerk took advantage, and immediately broke him. And so it was until that infamous 8th game. The infamous 8th game that Rafa started to roar back into anyway. The game where he was 30-0 up on Djerk's serve. The game where he had a game point before any nets were touched. The game where Djokovic was given a time violation which didn't seem to affect him. The game where because Rafa was exerting such pressure upon him, Djerk decided he needed to change his tactics and take a foray to the net, and take such precision and attention in placing his smash volley in an area of the court that Rafa couldn't reach, he got his body all wrong and careered into the net. That gave Rafa not his first, but his second game point. The point where Djokovic "emptied his head from all thoughts" as Petchy said and where Djokovic saved that break point by playing "fierce and fearless tennis" - as said by Courier. If you were to believe the folk lore that now centres around that point, you'd think that Rafa broke back immediately after being awarded the game point for Djokovic crashing into the net. Not so. Rafa had to play again to build another break point of his own ... and then take it. The match rested at 4-4 after all that kerfuffle ... and that's another point, 4-4. How did the match end? It was 9-7 to Rafa I believe. Another 8 games and God knows how many other points were played after that infamous net touch. 8 games is a 6-2 set of tennis in Djokovic's world, so you'd think 8 games was more than plenty for him to recover ... wouldn't you? Your reign as French Open champion was saved by the net Rafa ... yes, of course it was.
Phew ... glad I've got that of my chest.
But even this most blinkered of fangirls has to acknowledge that 8 years on from 2006, there's pretty much nothing between them and should they meet in the final, it could go either way. And Rafa's route to the final could have been better, but it's certainly not bad. He's going to give us those early round nerves and the days of him bulldozing his way through matches I think are now long gone. But I sincerely doubt that Almagro will have another chance to make an arse of himself by bouncing around the court like he's won the lottery. And a quarter-final against Daveed will be hard and not as full as nerves for Daveed as a final, but Rafa can do it. A semi-final against either Murray or The Hobbit? I don't think that Murray believes enough against Rafa and [insert player name here] The Hobbit, has already had "the match of his life" ... so I think Rafa might take some delight in burying him. It's hard, but not insurmountable, and Rafa - if successful and *unjinx to infinity and beyond* - could play himself into some decent form.
As for the Prince of Darkness, well, I don't think his draw is a cakewalk. I'd like to think that Tsonga could give him some issues in a quarter-final seeing as he was a semi-finalist last year, but he is a bit of a flake, so who knows? What I like most though, is the thought that the Parisian crowd should be on Tsonga's side ... and the PoD won't like that. And whether or not you think I'm crazy, I'd much rather the PoD faced Federer in a semi-final than Wawrinka (who I don't think will even get there). If anyone, its good old Smugs who has the more reasonable draw, and if not too fatigued, I'd bank on him giving Djerk a much harder time of it than Stanford would. He always seems to. I don't know why ... but he does. And of course, there is no doubt who the French crowd would support in that one.
But it still remains a load of ifs, buts and maybes ... It may not be Rafa's time any more, and it wouldn't actually send shock waves around the world if he didn't win. It's the sport ... merde happens. I think the fear I've had all year in my tummy around RG is borne more out of who I desperately don't want to win ... rather than who I do. The roads that Rafa took to Rome didn't lead him to victory ... but they led him out of his fug to a better place where he has cleared his mind and arrived in his perennial home looking fit, rested and happy.
Bonne chance et bon courage, Rafa. Good luck and bear your trials with strength.
L'Equipe interview ...
The pictures are from yesterday's presser (not the magazine article) ... but they are just so damn good I needed to use them!!
Anway ... l'Equipe.
Our intrepid Rafateer Rafan, was on the train at 7 am this morning into London to hunt down a copy of l'Equipe. Just so you know, that's about an hour and half journey for her each way - at least! Rafan was always the intrepid hunter when she could sniff a Rafamag in the air. Her search took her to Victoria, King's Cross and St Pancras stations ... but she bagged one!
@adeline1609 has kindly translated the main quotes and tweeted them, so here's the gist of what the article was saying. Rafa seems in a good place to me ...
"When I was injured, I never came to think I would never play again".
"When I say I'm not the favourite or I don't know if I will win another GS I mean it. It's not something I just say to the press".
On what practice means to him: 'If you don't enter the court asking yourself what you can do to be a better player, you're dead in my opinion.'
'Confidence doesn't come from practice. It gives you the weapons to play well. Confidence is related to victories'.
'In order to win, you have to play well, and to play well, you need to practice. Tennis is not a complicated game, it's very easy'.
On facing injuries: '2 options: give up -this I can't- or try to resist pain & keep improving. I've always tried to find solutions'.
'Education is not just what you're told when you're young. It's also watching how the adults behave and learn from it'.
'By waking up early to work hard till not going back home before 10pm, my father really thought me what passion & motivation are'.
'Even when you give everything there's always a time when you feel like you're running out of solutions (...) Then you can cry'
'I find it OK to cry. It's not because you're an adult that you're not allowed to do so. It helps all the frustration to go away'.
'When I cry after winning RG, it's not because I'm happy. It's for all the work and efforts I've put into it. Finding solutions'.
'I don't see myself playing till 38 (like his uncle MA). It's impossible. Neither my body nor my mind would handle it'
On where he feels 'fresher' now (28 years old), body or mental? 'In my head, that's for sure'
Rafa's daily dose ...
"Played a bit with Serena Williams and some kids today at a Niketennis event in Paris. #endlesstennis"
They can't stay away from each other ... can they??
Now I was convinced that Rafa would somehow get himself to Portugal for tonight's Champions League Final to watch his beloved Real Madrid. Maybe not?? Or will he ... ??
Henyways ... here's some more pictures from the event - and I am just loving the ice blue on Rafa ...
Henyways ... here's some more pictures from the event - and I am just loving the ice blue on Rafa ...
Friday 23 May 2014
Le draw ...
The Booty Buddies were together again today as they continued the tradition of making the respective Men's and Ladies' draw.
Rafa got Ginepri as his first round opponent, then it's Thiem/Mathieu in the second, either Gavashvili/Pospisil/Mayer in the third, till it then builds up to either Almagro/Haas in the fourth and a potential quarter final against Ferrer. Either Murray or The Hobbit could await him in the semi-final.
*un-jinx* to infinity that Rafa makes his way through and of course ... the only one sure thing about Slams is that there's rarely a sure thing when it comes to who players may face within it.
I won't go on about it today, nor really mention anyone else's, but I'd rather the semi-finals be as they could be and personally ... I like the way Rafa's potential draw seems to draw to a crescendo. I think it may be good for him and his tennis. I'll probably do a post of my pre-tournament feelings tomorrow.
To capture quotes from articles which are built up from snippets of what Rafa's presser, these are a few of the quotes from him ...
“Not that happy about what I did in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, but that's the sport,” Nadal told reporters on Friday after the draw had been revealed. “Rome, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Barcelona is past now. We are here in Roland Garros, and the only thing that matters now is have a good practice when I will be able to finish with the press. I will practice today, will practice tomorrow, good practice on Sunday, and try to be ready for the competition, no?”
“The dynamic is positive, is true, so that's always important for the confidence,” he said.
“I felt that in Rome I was able to play with not that nerves, that anxiety that I played in the first two tournaments and some moments in Madrid, too. So that's always a positive thing, but now is very important tournament for me.
At the end is another tournament, no? And just happy to be here in Roland Garros. Happy to fight for the challenge to play well again here.”
“Is always a big emotion have the chance to play here in Roland Garros,” Nadal said. “For me, as I said before, this place is the most important place in my career. Just always very emotional when I have the chance to be back here and always going to be a great news when I will be in Paris to play Roland Garros. Very excited.”
As are we Rafa ... as are we.
An Eiffel of Rafa ...
I am absolutely loving the pictures that have come out of Rafa with Serena and the French Open trophies at the Eiffel Tower. And did he say "Wow" when he saw her ... or is that just my imagination?
Rafa looks smart, tanned and happy. And there is no other player that suits that trophy so well.
It's a pity they didn't try to get Rafa up the Tower ... cos I'm sure heights would be another thing that he'd be a scardy cat about. Lol
We've seen Rafa pose with that trophy many times against the famous landmarks of Paris. One more wouldn't hurt ... would it??
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