Wednesday: Rafa vs. Lisnard (Set 1)
The match against Jean-Rene Lisnard is scheduled fourth on stadium court, so I figure it will be around 7 a.m. PDT. I'll do this blog again, and given how slow our board was during today's match, you may want to join us on this blog to cheer our guy on.
I watched the second half of the Murray vs. Lisnard match was not impressed with either of them. Lisnard had 69 unforced errors. He'll have to play better than that to go toe to toe with Rafa.
MAC will be in Monte Carlo on Wednesday, so hopefully we'll start getting some on-the-scene news. Vamos, Rafa!!!
The match has STARTED. I'm a bit late getting here because I was working on something for my day job. Anyway, good morning!
They did the warmup. Rafa meticulously placed his bottles under the chair.
Lisnard chose to serve and is not doing a very good job at it. 0-40, and now a fault. Rafa hits long. 15-40. Two BP's left. Adjusts pants. Fault. Game RN, after Lisnard hits long.
1-0, RN.
Rafa just ran into the ballkid by accident. Commentator says you don't have to get into a physical contest with Nadal. :-) Commentators already saying this should be a relatively easy practice match for Rafa (my prior prediction). Fault. Return goes long. 15-0. 40-0. Forced error by Lisnard. Fault. DF. 40-15. Toni is biting his nails. Rafa hits BH long. 40-30. A ball may have been long, but Rafa didn't stop play in time to contest it. Mishit by Rafa. Deuce. Rafa should have won this game by now. Fault. Rafa hits wide. BP for Rafa. This is a bit surprising. Lisnard lives in Monaco, so he has some support here. Rafa is broken, after being up 40-0.
1-1.
Lisnard to serve. Fault. Winner by Lisnard. 15-0. Things are changing here quickly. Rafa is going to have to lift his game. Fault. Lisnard hits FH wide. 15-15. Rafa hits FH long. 30-15. FH goes wide. 40-15. Rafa is shaking his head. He should be. Return goes wide. Game, Lisnard.
1-2, Lisnard (courtesy of Nadal)
Earlier I thought we may not get this match, because the Federer/Martin match started at 6:30, and coverage only goes until 9 a.m. But Fed made such quick work of that match, we are getting this one.
Rafa is serving. 30-15. Again, I'm trying to get a work project done, but Rafa is worrying me a bit here. Let. FH winner. 30-30. Fist pump. JL hits out. 40-30. Come on, Rafa. Game Rafa.
2-2.
JL to serve. Long rally, JL into net. 0-15. John Barrett is talking about Rafa's various quirks, pulling up his socks. Great pass. 0-30. Missed volley. 0-40. It seems that whoever took over Rafa's body in the earlier games has left, and Rafa is back. FH winner. Game Nadal.
3-2, RN.
RN to serve. Adjusts socks. Bangs the clay off his shoes. Return long. 15-0. Dropshot winner. 30-0. Comes to net. OH small. 40-0. Now, Rafa, please do not lose this lead again. Let. Fault. FH goes wide. Game Rafa.
4-2, RN.
John Barrett thinks Rafa is over his little lapse of concentration there. I hope so. 15-0. 15-15. With Lisnard, Rafa has been able to recover from that lapse, but other players would make him pay. Fault. DF. 15-30. Just misses lob. 30-30. Many punishing forehands, and then he misses one. 40-30. Game JL.
4-3, RN.
Rafa to serve. 0-15. Crowd is really supporting Lisnard. Rafa hits BH long, forced error. 0-30. Come on, Rafa. This is not the dominant performance I expected. "Nadal" is written on the back of Rafa's shoes. FH winner. 0-40. Triple breakpoint. Rafa looks disgusted. Saves one. 15-40. Return long. Saved two. 30-40. Fault. Error by JL. Fist pump. 40-40. Fault. FH goes out. Ad RN. Vamos! Rafa hits long. Deuce. Ad RN. John Barrett is noting that Rafa played better against Clement. Toni doesn't look happy. Game Rafa. Lucky to hold from 0-40.
5-3, RN.
JL to serve. Commentators are noting that given his draw, Rafa has an opportunity to work his way into form in this event. Rafa hits long. 40-0. Mishit. Game JL.
5-4, RN.
Rafa to serve for set. Well, Rafa rarely beats himself. But he's been doing a good job of trying here. Adjusts socks and pants. Amazing angle winner, by JL. 0-15. FH long. 15-15. 30-15, after another FH sails. Mishit by JL. 40-15. Two set points. Misses drop shot -- terrible shot selection, according to Jason. Toni not looking pleased. He wants to know where the real Rafa is. FH winner. Yells Vamos! First set Nadal.
6-4, after 44 minutes. New thread, and hopefully a new and improved player to go with it.
Would someone please note on the Rafa-Board that I'm doing this blog.
I watched the second half of the Murray vs. Lisnard match was not impressed with either of them. Lisnard had 69 unforced errors. He'll have to play better than that to go toe to toe with Rafa.
MAC will be in Monte Carlo on Wednesday, so hopefully we'll start getting some on-the-scene news. Vamos, Rafa!!!
The match has STARTED. I'm a bit late getting here because I was working on something for my day job. Anyway, good morning!
They did the warmup. Rafa meticulously placed his bottles under the chair.
Lisnard chose to serve and is not doing a very good job at it. 0-40, and now a fault. Rafa hits long. 15-40. Two BP's left. Adjusts pants. Fault. Game RN, after Lisnard hits long.
1-0, RN.
Rafa just ran into the ballkid by accident. Commentator says you don't have to get into a physical contest with Nadal. :-) Commentators already saying this should be a relatively easy practice match for Rafa (my prior prediction). Fault. Return goes long. 15-0. 40-0. Forced error by Lisnard. Fault. DF. 40-15. Toni is biting his nails. Rafa hits BH long. 40-30. A ball may have been long, but Rafa didn't stop play in time to contest it. Mishit by Rafa. Deuce. Rafa should have won this game by now. Fault. Rafa hits wide. BP for Rafa. This is a bit surprising. Lisnard lives in Monaco, so he has some support here. Rafa is broken, after being up 40-0.
1-1.
Lisnard to serve. Fault. Winner by Lisnard. 15-0. Things are changing here quickly. Rafa is going to have to lift his game. Fault. Lisnard hits FH wide. 15-15. Rafa hits FH long. 30-15. FH goes wide. 40-15. Rafa is shaking his head. He should be. Return goes wide. Game, Lisnard.
1-2, Lisnard (courtesy of Nadal)
Earlier I thought we may not get this match, because the Federer/Martin match started at 6:30, and coverage only goes until 9 a.m. But Fed made such quick work of that match, we are getting this one.
Rafa is serving. 30-15. Again, I'm trying to get a work project done, but Rafa is worrying me a bit here. Let. FH winner. 30-30. Fist pump. JL hits out. 40-30. Come on, Rafa. Game Rafa.
2-2.
JL to serve. Long rally, JL into net. 0-15. John Barrett is talking about Rafa's various quirks, pulling up his socks. Great pass. 0-30. Missed volley. 0-40. It seems that whoever took over Rafa's body in the earlier games has left, and Rafa is back. FH winner. Game Nadal.
3-2, RN.
RN to serve. Adjusts socks. Bangs the clay off his shoes. Return long. 15-0. Dropshot winner. 30-0. Comes to net. OH small. 40-0. Now, Rafa, please do not lose this lead again. Let. Fault. FH goes wide. Game Rafa.
4-2, RN.
John Barrett thinks Rafa is over his little lapse of concentration there. I hope so. 15-0. 15-15. With Lisnard, Rafa has been able to recover from that lapse, but other players would make him pay. Fault. DF. 15-30. Just misses lob. 30-30. Many punishing forehands, and then he misses one. 40-30. Game JL.
4-3, RN.
Rafa to serve. 0-15. Crowd is really supporting Lisnard. Rafa hits BH long, forced error. 0-30. Come on, Rafa. This is not the dominant performance I expected. "Nadal" is written on the back of Rafa's shoes. FH winner. 0-40. Triple breakpoint. Rafa looks disgusted. Saves one. 15-40. Return long. Saved two. 30-40. Fault. Error by JL. Fist pump. 40-40. Fault. FH goes out. Ad RN. Vamos! Rafa hits long. Deuce. Ad RN. John Barrett is noting that Rafa played better against Clement. Toni doesn't look happy. Game Rafa. Lucky to hold from 0-40.
5-3, RN.
JL to serve. Commentators are noting that given his draw, Rafa has an opportunity to work his way into form in this event. Rafa hits long. 40-0. Mishit. Game JL.
5-4, RN.
Rafa to serve for set. Well, Rafa rarely beats himself. But he's been doing a good job of trying here. Adjusts socks and pants. Amazing angle winner, by JL. 0-15. FH long. 15-15. 30-15, after another FH sails. Mishit by JL. 40-15. Two set points. Misses drop shot -- terrible shot selection, according to Jason. Toni not looking pleased. He wants to know where the real Rafa is. FH winner. Yells Vamos! First set Nadal.
6-4, after 44 minutes. New thread, and hopefully a new and improved player to go with it.
Would someone please note on the Rafa-Board that I'm doing this blog.
posted by Susan at 8:47 AM
13 Comments:
I'll do my best to bring on the spot reports. I think they'll have to be via text messages relayed through Amethyst until we get to the posh hotel, though.
MAC
Thanks, MAC.
If Amethyst sends them to me by e-mail or by PM, I'll post them in the main part of the blog, from you.
Have fun! We are SO envious. :D
Susan xoxo
Yeah, it would be nice to get some news from the courts. BTW: Monte Carlo looks so beautiful!
Thanxox...MAC!!!
Duty may keep me from the match today, so wanted to say vamos Rafa, Susan, and all bloggers and cheerers! Beat Lisard!!! WOO HOO!
MaryWalsh
Rafa's got his game face on!!
VAMOS!!!
Susan, thank you for getting up early (yesterday) and abandonning your work (tough!) to share the game with us. Much much appreciated...
susan.. thanks soo much for doing the blog... its so much more entertaining than watching the live scoring. lol. thanks again. you are appreciated.
-monica
Good morning Susan,
Rafa looks good hope he does not forget this a match and not a practice. I think he has got it now.
Lopaka
Thanks yet again for doing this Susan, I'm at work, only way to follow the match is through your blog!
Cheers,
Tanja
done,Susan:)
thanks a million, susan, for this. we are not getting much coverage on tv here in singapore.
youre doin a great job susan, im following you and the connection today is great.
im trying to go live stream but i dunno its not a bit realiable.
omg another game which is nerve wracking.
Susan.. your an angel!
Vamos Rafa!!! you have to win!!!
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