Rolex Masters Monte Carlo

[Kieran]

Seriously, this match should be over and I should be down the road in the next village. So this is what Rafa means by nerves? Dropped serve at 5-2 in the first, then dropped serve 3 times after being up a double break?

The final set will be interesting - I still expect Rafa to win - but he went away badly in the second set and whatever about his prospects against Novak had he stayed firm from 3-0 up, he's just made them even worse now...

 

[nehmeth]

:deadhorse:deadhorse:deadhorse

That horse just got up Kieran.

 

[Riotbeard]

Seriously, this match should be over and I should be down the road in the next village. So this is what Rafa means by nerves? Dropped serve at 5-2 in the first, then dropped serve 3 times after being up a double break?

The final set will be interesting - I still expect Rafa to win - but he went away badly in the second set and whatever about his prospects against Novak had he stayed firm from 3-0 up, he's just made them even worse now...

I honestly turned off the match, and surprised that Ferrer came back to take the second.

Is it in a rain delay?

 

[Kieran]

Seriously, this match should be over and I should be down the road in the next village. So this is what Rafa means by nerves? Dropped serve at 5-2 in the first, then dropped serve 3 times after being up a double break?

The final set will be interesting - I still expect Rafa to win - but he went away badly in the second set and whatever about his prospects against Novak had he stayed firm from 3-0 up, he's just made them even worse now...

I honestly turned off the match, and surprised that Ferrer came back to take the second.

Is it in a rain delay?

No, Ferrer had a foot rub during the second...

 

[Kieran]

Funny how the mind works, and how tension affects it. Now Rafa is striking it firm and clean again...

 

[Fiero425]

Funny how the mind works, and how tension affects it. Now Rafa is striking it firm and clean again...

Ferrer unforced errors helping him a lot! Those drop shots by Rafa is going to do David in before all is said and done! :nono :angel:

 

[mrzz]

Funny how the mind works, and how tension affects it. Now Rafa is striking it firm and clean again...

So he became a wuss just like Federer?

 

[Riotbeard]

Ferrer should stretch Rafa out more on the forehand side. Good hold to stay in this.

 

[kskate2]

Seriously, this match should be over and I should be down the road in the next village. So this is what Rafa means by nerves? Dropped serve at 5-2 in the first, then dropped serve 3 times after being up a double break?

The final set will be interesting - I still expect Rafa to win - but he went away badly in the second set and whatever about his prospects against Novak had he stayed firm from 3-0 up, he's just made them even worse now...

I think that's painfully obvious to all his fans. He appears to play better from behind than he does w/ the lead. Typical behavior for the non-elite. His metal is becoming rather ordinary.

I don't know that I expect him to win. He's withered away in the 3rd set of some of these critical junctures. No guarantees for your boy today Lord Kieran. :nono

 

[Kieran]

Seriously, this match should be over and I should be down the road in the next village. So this is what Rafa means by nerves? Dropped serve at 5-2 in the first, then dropped serve 3 times after being up a double break?

The final set will be interesting - I still expect Rafa to win - but he went away badly in the second set and whatever about his prospects against Novak had he stayed firm from 3-0 up, he's just made them even worse now...

I think that's painfully obvious to all his fans. He appears to play better from behind than he does w/ the lead. Typical behavior for the non-elite. His metal is becoming rather ordinary.

I don't know that I expect him to win. He's withered away in the 3rd set of some of these critical junctures. No guarantees for your boy today Lord Kieran. :nono

He's the better player, he's just gotten brittle at them clutch moments where the sets are won or lost. He needed a 5-2 lead in the first to take it 6-4, and being up two breaks at 3-0 in the second meant that he made it close in the end: only lost it 7-5. :snicker

But overall, he's playing much better than Ferrer, who's the perfect guy for Rafa to face now, by the way. This is the kinda match rafa needs to win, thinking longer term than just this tourney...

 

[Riotbeard]

Seriously, this match should be over and I should be down the road in the next village. So this is what Rafa means by nerves? Dropped serve at 5-2 in the first, then dropped serve 3 times after being up a double break?

The final set will be interesting - I still expect Rafa to win - but he went away badly in the second set and whatever about his prospects against Novak had he stayed firm from 3-0 up, he's just made them even worse now...

I think that's painfully obvious to all his fans. He appears to play better from behind than he does w/ the lead. Typical behavior for the non-elite. His metal is becoming rather ordinary.

I don't know that I expect him to win. He's withered away in the 3rd set of some of these critical junctures. No guarantees for your boy today Lord Kieran. :nono

He's the better player, he's just gotten brittle at them clutch moments where the sets are won or lost. He needed a 5-2 lead in the first to take it 6-4, and being up two breaks at 3-0 in the second meant that he made it close in the end: only lost it 7-5. :snicker

But overall, he's playing much better than Ferrer, who's the perfect guy for Rafa to face now, by the way. This is the kinda match rafa needs to win, thinking longer term than just this tourney...

This match would be his biggest win of the season so far

 

[Kieran]

This match would be his biggest win of the season so far

His second biggest win since he thumped Federer in Oz last year... :eyepop

 

[Riotbeard]

This match would be his biggest win of the season so far

His second biggest win since he thumped Federer in Oz last year... :eyepop

I remember a decent win or two at Roland Garros

 

[Riotbeard]

That's why you bring the umpire down to check the spot.

 

[Kieran]

He still hasn't gotten the win here yet, which is frightening. Apart from the fact that it's wasted my whole afternoon, I ain't enjoying this one, fellers... :nono

 

[Kieran]

It's still a little sunny outside...

 

[Kieran]

Gutsy win for Rafa in the end, but he threw away the second set, literally. He's not beating Nole playing like this - but he's heading the right direction. Vamos! :clap

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

WTF? I leave for an hour and they are playing a third set? I don't even want to know how Rafa managed to give the second away.
Well, he won in three. Congrats. Better than last year already.

 

[El Dude]

I have a hard time imagining Rafa beating Novak on any court. Can't wait for Roland Garros - it should be an interesting one.

 

[Carol]

Rafa has not forgot to play tennis but his usually good confidence. I hope these wins playing against two tough players give him the calm that he needs even that today he would have won easier but the anxiety made him to do more errors :dodgy: