Sports - Rafa Nadal #12: Rafa looks beautiful on anything, preferably on nothing. Yeah, we can't help but be fangirls sometimes - Page 2

lovder&mer · 10-11-2009, 09:29 AM

yes

I made some new to the quotes but titles banners are a bit old

but we will add them, tons of them, maybe not this year but 2010 will be filled of them

christallh24 · 10-11-2009, 01:39 PM

lovder&mer · 10-11-2009, 03:03 PM

we'll wait for Rafa... in the meanwhile we focus on his beautiful being

at least we have to look at it while he isn't winning

buffy4ever · 10-11-2009, 05:49 PM

I like that plan

christallh24 · 10-12-2009, 05:03 AM

Good Morning, afternoon or evening Rafalovers!

Well, we are on to Shanghai. I hope Rafael is up to the challenge. That these last few days off have gotten his mentality back in order to play some great tennis. This tournie is two times as hard as Beijing. So, I don't know what to expect, but I hope for Rafa to keep his semi-finals streak going.

I'm watching the opening rounds of Shanghai on the Tennis Channel. Gonzo's playing someone named Zverev. And he just totally blew that tie-breaker, Gonzo did. Oh, and now the commentators are talking about Roger. I see I'm going to have to mute the tv for a few minutes.

Jelena, a Buffy av! It's been awhile.

lovder&mer · 10-12-2009, 06:22 AM

this Zverev guy - Misha Zverev - is a good player, I like his style.
Did Blake and Ivo already played? I am a bit afraid of Rafa's first match

buffy4ever · 10-12-2009, 07:51 AM

It's Blake again, he won today

Yeah, I know C. Again, Rafa's draw is extremely difficult, urgh. I'd be happy if he would get to the semifinal.

christallh24 · 10-12-2009, 08:41 AM

Yeah, Barb, I was enjoying the match before he retired. Oh, well, at least your Gonzo's through.

Is Novak playing here? HotRod, posted in Nole's thread that his next tournament was Basel? I thought I saw his name in the draw at Vamos Brigade.

lovder&mer · 10-12-2009, 10:37 AM

Nole is playing. Seed #2.
I think Rafa's draw is fine until the SF but SF are always against tough players.

christallh24 · 10-12-2009, 03:55 PM

Oh, thanks B. I've been busy so I hadn't gone back to check to see who was in the draw.
So you are confident in Rafa's match against James? I hope he keeps it together this time. I still don't know what happened in the second set. Or rather, where his mind went.

Well, anyway, I'm crossing my fingers for semi's at the least.

lovder&mer · 10-13-2009, 03:07 PM

Well I hope Rafa wins but I don't think it will be as easy as people think. In fact there are chances for James to beat him. Hopefully Rafa will make it

buffy4ever · 10-13-2009, 04:19 PM

I hope so too. Does anyone know when the match starts?

christallh24 · 10-14-2009, 06:17 AM

He won. I over slept so I missed the match. Thank goodness for DVR. He dropped the second set again after completely dominating the first set. I'm watching now. He's playing awesome. I read in the cheering thread over at VB that James up his level alot in the second set. I haven't yet finished reading the thread so I don't know if James' level dropped off or Rafa started playing better. I'll post more after I finished the thread and watching the match.

lovder&mer · 10-14-2009, 07:46 AM

I only started watching on 5-5 and I can say Rafa was overly passive and defensive while James was on fire and still it was a very close set.
I just hope Rafa can keep the momentum - which is his problem lately. He can't keep up the momentum for longer and after playing some good matches he has a black-out.
Hopefully he will breakthrough on Shanghai.

Jelena
while I am late about today's match I can say that tomorrow's is going to be at 8pm local time.

christallh24 · 10-14-2009, 11:22 AM

If you asked me, I don't think he played badly in the second set. He didn't get as many first serves in as the first set, but his level hadn't dropped considerably either. James came up in his. Now, the 3-2 games of the third set should go without mention. but after that other than that I thought he played well and solidily. I definitely don't think it's the kind of play that would work against any top ten players, but slowly but surely it looks to be getting there.