Thursday: Rafa vs. Vliegen (Set 2)
They just showed fans with a Spanish flag. Was that MAC and SE?
The commentators are saying that Rafa didn't play that well in the last set, but won anyway. They think he'll "open up his shoulders" a bit more and swing more freely in this set. It would be nice, but I'm not as down on Rafa's play today as I was yesterday. This guy has more of a repetoire than Lisnard has, and that is keeping Rafa on his toes. Yes, KV blew some chances, but Rafa also took the chances when he needed them. He is up a set.
And Rafa has never missed a return of serve in this match. And this guy is a pretty good server.
KV to serve. 15-30. 40-30. Went to the drop shot well again, but Rafa got there. Didn't do enough with it, though. Game KV.
0-1, KV
15-0, Rafa serving. Second DF. 15-15. I'm waiting for JB to say that we normally don't see these errors from Nadal. KV hits long. Rafa says Vamos. KV is frustrated. 30-15. Commentators now saying all Nadal's opponents get frustrated with him. Rafa misses FH. JB says again, that Rafa is making more errors than you expect. 30-30. Great FH's by rafa, in fact he ran around his BH at the end. KV gave up, and made the UE. 40-30. Great FH by Rafa. Yells Vamos.
1-1
Commentators noting that when Rafa seems to be in a bit of trouble, he picks up his level a bit. One hopes he'll keep doing that when he faces other opponents. 15-15, as Rafa draws error. Fault. Nice volley by KV. 30-15. Fault. Missed drop shot then. 30-30. Going to that well a bit too much, as Rafa was ready for it anyway. KV hits wide. 30-40. Breakpoint. I'd like this one, Rafa. If you could oblige. It was close, after great defense by Rafa. But volley winner by KV. 40-30. Fist pump by KV -- very sportsmanlike I may add. KV has been to the net 27 times in this match. OH winner. Ad KV. He's won 16 of 28 net points. Rafa has won 8 of 12. FH winner. Wins Game.
1-2, KV
Rafa to serve. Adjusts his socks and pants. All is right in Rafa-world. FH UE. 15-0. Commentators are saying KV is making Rafa work hard today. Return goes wide. They are saying Rafa needs the match play. Fault. KV hits long. They also are saying there is a good chance Rafa will win this match. *rollseyes* They love this Belgian, though. 40-0. Rafa misses FH. 40-15. Toni looking very serious. Wouldn't be fun to play poker with him and Federer -- you'd never be able to tell what type of hand they have. Winner by KV. 40-30. Come on, Rafa! Long rally. Nice drop shot by KV. Rafa gets to it, but KV makes volley winner. Deuce. Great serve. Ad RN. Commentators are saying that when it counts, it is all Nadal, notwithstanding great shots by his opponent. Another great serve. Game RN.
2-2
They are saying that when Nadal has needed the points, he's played his best tennis. Nice volley by KV. 15-0. First set Rafa had 10 winners to 8 by KV. And this set KV has 10 winners to 1 by Rafa. 30-0. UE by KV. 30-15. Forced error there. 30-30. Good serve. 40-30. That may be the first return Rafa hasn't made in the match. Fault. BH goes wide. Deuce. Rafa misses FH. Ad KV. Toni is encouraging Rafa. Fault. Mishit by Rafa. He yells at himself. Game KV.
3-2, KV
Rafa to serve. KV is approaching the net more and more, and JB is praising him to the skies, and noting Rafa's habit of adjusting his socks. 15-0 FH long. 15-15. KV is winning more rallies than expected -- JB keeps pointing that out. Mishit by KV. 30-15. UE by KV. 40-15. Rafa has 89% of first serves in this set. Wins game.
3-3
Commentators are saying Rafa should try to get more free points off his serve. Like that's a news bulletin. No aces in this match at all. Rafa gets to that drop shot, and gets the winner. Fist pump. 0-15. Fault Same thing happened again. 0-30. Stupid shot selection, but we'll take it. Error by KV. 0-40 Three BP's. Fault. Good sportsman Nadal overruled a call by the linesperson, who said KV's ball was out. So 15-40. KV misses OH. Break to Nadal. JB says those were self-inflicted wounds, but we'll take them. :D (The replay showed that the ball Rafa said was in was indeed in.)
4-3, RN
Rafa changes shirt. Places his bottle just so under his chair. New balls. Adjusts socks, and taps clay out of his shoes. Ready to serve. First ace of the match. 15-0. FH goes wide. Waiting for JB to say Rafa didn't make those errors last year. 15-15. Return goes wide. 30-15. Rafa is at 91% first serve percentage. Rafa gets the drop shot. 40-15. JB thinks that KV thinks he's probably going to lose this match. FH goes long. 40-30. JB says it was a forced error. Deuce. BH UE. AD KV. JB has it right when he said, "How extraordinary." Didn't expect this. BP for KV. Come on, Rafa. Good serve. Deuce. KV hits long. Chair made the call, and it was the right call. Ad Rafa. Great serve, and FH put-a-way. Game RN.
5-3, RN
KV to serve. UE by KV. 0-15. JB saying once again he's not yet the Nadal of last year. KV hits long. 0-30. Vamos! Fault. Mishit by Rafa, went in, but then Rafa misses BH down the line. 15-30. S&V works. 30-30. Fault. Another volley winner. 40-30. He's 11 of 14 at the net in this set. Two lets. Great drop shot by Rafa. Deuce. Great cross-court angle FH winner. Match point for Rafa. He wins, when KV misses volley.
6-3, 6-3
Rafa acknowledges the crowd. Rafa to sign lens. I think he just signed his name this time.
18 winners, 21 UE's for Rafa.
21 winners to 31 UE's for KV.
4/8 for breaks; 1/3 for KV.
82% first serve percentage overall.
Commentators say Rafa played his best when he had to, and they expect more of him as the tournament goes on.
He did have some uncharacteristic UE's for him, but this guy displayed more talent that Lisnard, IMO. I think Rafa played as well as he had to in order to win, and he is showing improvement.
The commentators are saying that Rafa didn't play that well in the last set, but won anyway. They think he'll "open up his shoulders" a bit more and swing more freely in this set. It would be nice, but I'm not as down on Rafa's play today as I was yesterday. This guy has more of a repetoire than Lisnard has, and that is keeping Rafa on his toes. Yes, KV blew some chances, but Rafa also took the chances when he needed them. He is up a set.
And Rafa has never missed a return of serve in this match. And this guy is a pretty good server.
KV to serve. 15-30. 40-30. Went to the drop shot well again, but Rafa got there. Didn't do enough with it, though. Game KV.
0-1, KV
15-0, Rafa serving. Second DF. 15-15. I'm waiting for JB to say that we normally don't see these errors from Nadal. KV hits long. Rafa says Vamos. KV is frustrated. 30-15. Commentators now saying all Nadal's opponents get frustrated with him. Rafa misses FH. JB says again, that Rafa is making more errors than you expect. 30-30. Great FH's by rafa, in fact he ran around his BH at the end. KV gave up, and made the UE. 40-30. Great FH by Rafa. Yells Vamos.
1-1
Commentators noting that when Rafa seems to be in a bit of trouble, he picks up his level a bit. One hopes he'll keep doing that when he faces other opponents. 15-15, as Rafa draws error. Fault. Nice volley by KV. 30-15. Fault. Missed drop shot then. 30-30. Going to that well a bit too much, as Rafa was ready for it anyway. KV hits wide. 30-40. Breakpoint. I'd like this one, Rafa. If you could oblige. It was close, after great defense by Rafa. But volley winner by KV. 40-30. Fist pump by KV -- very sportsmanlike I may add. KV has been to the net 27 times in this match. OH winner. Ad KV. He's won 16 of 28 net points. Rafa has won 8 of 12. FH winner. Wins Game.
1-2, KV
Rafa to serve. Adjusts his socks and pants. All is right in Rafa-world. FH UE. 15-0. Commentators are saying KV is making Rafa work hard today. Return goes wide. They are saying Rafa needs the match play. Fault. KV hits long. They also are saying there is a good chance Rafa will win this match. *rollseyes* They love this Belgian, though. 40-0. Rafa misses FH. 40-15. Toni looking very serious. Wouldn't be fun to play poker with him and Federer -- you'd never be able to tell what type of hand they have. Winner by KV. 40-30. Come on, Rafa! Long rally. Nice drop shot by KV. Rafa gets to it, but KV makes volley winner. Deuce. Great serve. Ad RN. Commentators are saying that when it counts, it is all Nadal, notwithstanding great shots by his opponent. Another great serve. Game RN.
2-2
They are saying that when Nadal has needed the points, he's played his best tennis. Nice volley by KV. 15-0. First set Rafa had 10 winners to 8 by KV. And this set KV has 10 winners to 1 by Rafa. 30-0. UE by KV. 30-15. Forced error there. 30-30. Good serve. 40-30. That may be the first return Rafa hasn't made in the match. Fault. BH goes wide. Deuce. Rafa misses FH. Ad KV. Toni is encouraging Rafa. Fault. Mishit by Rafa. He yells at himself. Game KV.
3-2, KV
Rafa to serve. KV is approaching the net more and more, and JB is praising him to the skies, and noting Rafa's habit of adjusting his socks. 15-0 FH long. 15-15. KV is winning more rallies than expected -- JB keeps pointing that out. Mishit by KV. 30-15. UE by KV. 40-15. Rafa has 89% of first serves in this set. Wins game.
3-3
Commentators are saying Rafa should try to get more free points off his serve. Like that's a news bulletin. No aces in this match at all. Rafa gets to that drop shot, and gets the winner. Fist pump. 0-15. Fault Same thing happened again. 0-30. Stupid shot selection, but we'll take it. Error by KV. 0-40 Three BP's. Fault. Good sportsman Nadal overruled a call by the linesperson, who said KV's ball was out. So 15-40. KV misses OH. Break to Nadal. JB says those were self-inflicted wounds, but we'll take them. :D (The replay showed that the ball Rafa said was in was indeed in.)
4-3, RN
Rafa changes shirt. Places his bottle just so under his chair. New balls. Adjusts socks, and taps clay out of his shoes. Ready to serve. First ace of the match. 15-0. FH goes wide. Waiting for JB to say Rafa didn't make those errors last year. 15-15. Return goes wide. 30-15. Rafa is at 91% first serve percentage. Rafa gets the drop shot. 40-15. JB thinks that KV thinks he's probably going to lose this match. FH goes long. 40-30. JB says it was a forced error. Deuce. BH UE. AD KV. JB has it right when he said, "How extraordinary." Didn't expect this. BP for KV. Come on, Rafa. Good serve. Deuce. KV hits long. Chair made the call, and it was the right call. Ad Rafa. Great serve, and FH put-a-way. Game RN.
5-3, RN
KV to serve. UE by KV. 0-15. JB saying once again he's not yet the Nadal of last year. KV hits long. 0-30. Vamos! Fault. Mishit by Rafa, went in, but then Rafa misses BH down the line. 15-30. S&V works. 30-30. Fault. Another volley winner. 40-30. He's 11 of 14 at the net in this set. Two lets. Great drop shot by Rafa. Deuce. Great cross-court angle FH winner. Match point for Rafa. He wins, when KV misses volley.
6-3, 6-3
Rafa acknowledges the crowd. Rafa to sign lens. I think he just signed his name this time.
18 winners, 21 UE's for Rafa.
21 winners to 31 UE's for KV.
4/8 for breaks; 1/3 for KV.
82% first serve percentage overall.
Commentators say Rafa played his best when he had to, and they expect more of him as the tournament goes on.
He did have some uncharacteristic UE's for him, but this guy displayed more talent that Lisnard, IMO. I think Rafa played as well as he had to in order to win, and he is showing improvement.
posted by Susan at 7:34 AM
47 Comments:
i hope he upgrades his game now
Nu, where are updates?
Rafa, go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MAC and SE should be wearing their Rafa T-Shirts.
I thought Rafa already had an Ace I guess I was type and missunderstood the call.
For Rafa 20 of 20 first serves that is good, no?
You got to love him!
Lopaka
Susan,
thank you soo much for writing all that up. I am stuck in Germany, where no TV channel cares about that tourney, and due to a slow i-net connection, live-streaming doesn't work for me.
But thanks to your detailed blog, I know what's going on.
VAMOS SUSAN!
Take care,
Kiwi
Susan,
thank you soo much for writing all that up. I am stuck in Germany, where no TV channel cares about that tourney, and due to a slow i-net connection, live-streaming doesn't work for me.
But thanks to your detailed blog, I know what's going on.
VAMOS SUSAN!
Take care,
Kiwi
I was watching while reading the blog and you did a great job, because everything is so accurate. :) Vamos, Rafa!!
Tina
Hi Susan! Yes I saw the 2 with the spanish flag and wondered if it was our MAC and SE.
I thought Vliegen played quite well, and there were a lot of serves, especially from the deuce court, which were not technically aces but which Vliegen was unable to return. I think Rafa is playing better today.
Gracias for the blog!
It is def a challenge with the cheering thread, the livestreaming, and the blog, but I love it!
Thank you!
PS board crashed during match and home page could not be accessed either. This was toward the end of the match.
xoxo
Mary Walsh
Thank you, Susan!
Thanks for the report, Susan!
Vamos Rafael!!! =)
Couldn't see the match again so it's great to read this blog.
Good to see that Vliegen gets some encouraging comments from the commentators. I hope that he gets a breakthrough performance one of these days. I'm just very happy it's not against Rafa.
39!
Thanks SUSAN and Spanish eyes!!!
Well you have done a great job!!!
However in germany i could not watch the match on tv.I thank you so mutch for the live blog!! VAMOS Susan and Spanish eyes!!( and ofcourse "VAMOS RAFA" as well)
"Commentators are saying Rafa should try to get more free points off his serve. Like that's a news bulletin."
Susan you are too funny, I absolutely loved this comment.
Rafa won, youpii! Love when he wins... it so helps me with my day. How can a win on the other side of the pond by a guy in piratas can make a difference like that? Scary!
What a whacky match between Coria and Kiefer. Kiefer won the first set after being down 1-5. He won it in a tiebreak.
Coria has pretty much double-fauled every time he has served. And although he was down 3-0 in the second set it's 3-3, with Coria serving.
Kiefer seems shocked when Coria doesn't double fault. His serves must be 90 miles an hours.
Who wants to win this match????
This match is hilarious. Rafa must be in the locker room wondering what the heck he is going to face tomorrow. Coria is now serving for the set.
Kiefer seems shocked when Coria doesn't double fault.
Susan, you are the best! :-))
Pat
This match is making the Rafa/Kristof match look like a classic between McEnroe and Borg. *rofl*
JB is saying that Kiefer obviously doesn't want the set, as Coria has been trying to give it to him since it started.
3 DF per 27 serves!!! Kiefer must be really discouraged...
But that 1st set was something... 30% DF What a good player has gone :-)
Man, Coria took the set, after being down 3-0. Both guys went off for a bathroom break, and the trainer was called, but there are no players for the guy to treat.
Gotta love JB's British understatment -- "Rather an extraordinary match."
I wonder what will happen next?
I am so glad I'm not a Coria or Kiefer fan. This would be so discouraging.
But I can just laugh at the whole thing.
JB just said, "It's a strange match altogether."
Oh, man!
Jason is saying that El Magico needs some magic for that serve. *rofl*
0-40 on Coria's serve.
Now, be prepared for long games. May call it tough battles ;-) And be sure, DF is to come back :-)))
Yes it is great to watch a match where you are not attached to the outcome! Great reporting Susan! 18 df's so far for Coria! Unbelievable
xoMary Walsh
19 double faults for Coria.
Kiefer is about to go up 3-0 again. But Jason thinks Coria will then win 5 games in a row.
This is just so funny!
The best entertaining match I've ever seen was Coria/Nalbandian RR at the last TMC!
Pat
Two more double faults.
3-0 for Kiefer. I can't believe this. I wonder what the guys in the locker room are saying about this match.
Probably looking at it and saying, if these guys are among the best in the world, Federer will be No. 1 for the next 10 years.
Hi Pat did you see my post to you in the cheering thread?
XOMary Walsh
But Jason thinks Coria will then win 5 games in a row.
Not at this time...
Susan you have a backup career as a standup comedian! xoMary Walsh
Wait, Coria's ball was actually in. Kiefer is arguing with the umpire, after thinking he won the game.
JB is saying, "Coria may not be able to serve, but he can smash."
Kiefer hits long. And now Coria has a chance to hold.
JB says this is the most bizarre match he has ever seen.
Coria hits long. Deuce.
This match has a bit of everything in it.
Gotta love the commentator -- "Coria's getting that first serve in. It's got nothing on it, but he's getting it in."
Now Coria is just one break down, instead of two. *rofl*
2-1.
Hi Pat did you see my post to you in the cheering thread?
No. But let me suppose we have comparable taste?.. :-)
JB is saying again it's the most bizarre match he's ever seen. I thought the Mathieu/Coria one qualified, but this one does prove that truth is stranger than fiction.
Coria has 22 DF's.
It was a cheer for your computer to get well soon, xomary walsh
Susan, How do they seem psychologically? focused or frazzled?
Mary Walsh
Kiefer is arguing another call now. What will happen next? A streaker go running through. I wonder if MAC and Spanish Eyes are watching this.
I can't decide which opponent will be the better one for Rafa. Kiefer is about to go down on his serve, to level it at 2-2.
Kiefer is serving better than Coria, but then again anyone would -- even me.
But Coria's ground game is better, relatively speaking.
Pros and cons for Rafa playing either player but I think I prefer Coria at the moment. For old time's sake if nothing else. Basically, whomever Rafa will have the easist time winning against!!
That last post was me, Mary Walsh
Coria did break.
Now the question is what will Coria do with his serve?
30-0.
30-15, return winner.
It must be so difficult hitting those soft serves. UE by Kiefer.
40-15.
JB is saying Coria hasn't served a DF in a while. He likely will now.
No. Kiefer overhit the return.
3-2, Coria. He may win this match. I wonder what Rafa is going to make of the Coria he may face tomorrow.
I'd say Kiefer is in his best on-court form but he's unusually relaxed :-)))
Pat
Greg Sharko says
record here at Monte Carlo was 20 double faults yesterday by Coria.
Coria hit 23 at the Australian Open -- so he's within 3 of his all-time record.
Well, it will be a deefeecoolt match, no?, and he will try his best. Mary Walsh
Coria hit 23 at the Australian Open -- so he's within 3 of his all-time record.
Should be just 23 DF...
Today it will be a record...
Well, it is Coria, after all that. He had 22 double faults today. As I said on the TW board, the match was so bad, it was good. We can expect about anything tomorrow, but I hope Rafa plays at least as well as he has been.
good luck raffi ,for tomorrow with Coria!!big kisse
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