Gee he cant win on the court

So he is trying to upset rafa with this type of rubbish

No wonder he is so liked on the tour

well he got them to replay the point like a typical whining child.

"we're supposed to be enthralled by these endless beat downs and endless running down of every ball?"

Did I miss where somebody said you should be enthralled, Tim?

But if there was one poster who would understand the word "endless", it would be you.

When will the rankongs for the RG will be determined? Will Dinara be #1 at RG?

Dina will serve for the set. Davai, Dinara!

Safina please get your head on

This is pathetic. Sod deserved a double bagel rather than the extremely lax breadstick-bagel Combo he's about to eat.

Lordie, Soldering determined to keep up his bad guy image. That was so unnecessary!

Poor Sod. He did have a legitimate complaint. If only he had photographic memory.

Dinara takes the first set. Way to go, girl! Come on, now, stay focused for one more set. Davai!!!

breadstick and bagel by Rafa?

Sod is a mental case,eg his last service game

Rafa breaks

4-0

hawkeye replay looked like the mark he pointed at. Not to say I'm big soderling fan though.

The umpire and the supervisor are imbeciles.

It is ridiculous that they can overrule the linesperson on a clay court without being able to point out the ball mark where the ball allegedly landed in.

"I pointed it out but now I forgot" only cuts it in Rome and other lairs of imbecility.

I don't even like Soderling but I'm totally disgusted by this nonsense.

Unless, of course, it was a "mercy overrule." To use language provided elsewhere, the only way Rafa is going to lose this match is if he is the victim of a meteor strike. A direct hit only; a glancing blow won't do.

"rankongs" should be "rankings" of course

That's really a pity for Soldering. All that crazy arguing. on a lost cause, had made him loose focus and whatever little chances he had in the match.

So unnecessary. why does he have to be a jerk on court?

woow nadal is not playing around today!

Never annoy Nadal!! He has been on a mission to absolutely destroy Soderling tonight and has done so - despite Soderling playing really well for the first set and a half.

Frightening stuff from Rafa!!!

Vamos Rafa 5-0

Hoping for a BAGEL?

Dinara is upa break early in the second set. Davai, Dina!

manuelsantanafan, you weren't the only one who had a similar thought. Plus why didn't the linesperson simply come and point to the mark? A fiasco by everyone, on all counts.

PAT !! kumusta ka na-- i was just listening to eraserheads last nyt-- na miss ko!!!

I'm seriously upset that this was not a double bagel. Rafa, why must you be so merciful!!!

Sokol thanks for the update with Safina,glad she is up a break

hawkeye replay looked like the mark he pointed at. Not to say I'm big soderling fan though.

-------------------

It looked to me like both Sod and the umpire pointed to the wrong marks!! :) Sod looked like he went over to the right of it.

Another Net chord for Soderling. Is that an apology I see? I guess that half raised hand with a no looker will have to do.
Rafa haggling for a bagel.

Imjimmy--can you tell how "my" RAFA is playing:)

Gee rafa how did you missed that shot?

The problem with clay is that sometimes you get the mark wrong (umpire are just human after all), but then we had issues with hawkeye as well. Wasn’t there some Murray match where he challenged and they showed the wrong ball and everyone else, even Murray, thought the ball was out.
But during a season those “wrong” calls have a tendency to even themselves out for every player.

Frances: He he..I hope you're happy. I'll keep the adulation in check until I see the serve stats :) Overconfidence can't be good no?

is that pagination time or everyone watching Rafa finishing Sod and not posting? :-)

Robin has played this whole match like crap just so he could have a chance to avoid humiliation on the last game... lol, gotta love it

Dina gat the second brake and serving at 3-0

Man, Sod is a riot. I mean that in a good way.

holy guacamoli- rafa only gave soderling 1 game!!!!!!!

VAMOS RAFA!!!!!

GG robin.

lesson: as nice a guy as he is, you do NOT want to piss rafa off

well, Campi, I don't agree there. I think Sod played quite decent for the most part. Rafa was just too good and I'm not saying this just because it's Rafa :)

sod eats a breadstick and a bagel. nice.

congrats, Rafa fans

Guess Rafael had to do Novak one better in the games lost department and all is well in Rafa land as he remembered the issues at 2007 Wimbledon

Jason says

If other players left in the draw see this game from Rafa,they will be running scared.

Wow, nicely done Rafa! I have no problems with the Sodster getting creamed.

Can the other #1 also wrap it up quickly??? It's definitely looking good for Miss Dinara right now....I have to leave now, hopefully I will not come back tonight to any shockers!!!!

I'm glad that Rafa sort of leaned over the net for the handshake and gave Robin a pat in the back.

If Safin is the most tortured likeable player in the tour, Soderling must be the most tortured UN-likeable player. I don't want to hate him just for the Wimby match.

I wished Rafa just gave him that last game to improve relations but Robin will probably be immune to that. *lol*

I love it - how determined was Rafa to get that bagel? :-) He was probably quite annoyed to have lost the first game.

Playing with a lot of intensity tonight. Revenge is sweet.

Another rather limp handshake at the end there....

59% - 1st serve %
63% - 1st serve pts won
67% - 2nd serve pts won
17 - UFEs

Serve still remains a problem for Rafa. Has to get more first serves against Verdasco.

Thankfully Soldering shook the umpire's hand. Rafa gave him a nice pat on the back. It was funny how the crowd so desperately wanted a bagel in the 2nd set. Rafa obliged :)

"Safin is the most tortured likeable player in the tour"

:-))

Nadal forgives robin by taking him out to brunch. Your right sophia and your also my hero because I never wanted to agree with the sod

plain, yeah... maybe not "played crappy" but his effort for the bulk of the match was so lame. He clearly can do better, as he demonstrated early in the match and then on the last game. but he chooses not to. it's not surprising that he's not liked by his peers and, i would presume, by tennis fans in general.

Gotta love that Rafa guy....

lets his racquet do the talking!

nice

I guess Soderling will now go and "adjust" his shorts at home.

Marcela @ 4:16

I don't think they played long enough for all the carbs in a bread stick and a bagel! ;-)

Vamos Rafa!!!!

My SB has been stuck with Dinara serving at 4-1, 30-30. Anyone has any updates?

The thing about that Wimbledon incident was that Soderling didn't just seriously annoy Rafa, he also annoyed quite a few fans along the way.

I love it that Rafa broke a racquet (by accident, naturally) in the effort to deliver a bagel.

Rafa-Fernando could be a good match, hopefully with a Rafa win. But as he already gain some points this week and seems to gotten used to the surface I wouldn’t mind a lose too much as Rafa has played a lot of tennis lately and Fernando isn’t a bad player to lose against if he has to lose against someone.
Rafa’s serve is still lacking a but he’ll just have to work on that.
The first set was good, with Rafa simple being a bit better but Söderling played really good. The second set wasn’t all that great until the last game when Rafa really seemed to want that game and win the set 6-0 and Söderling really didn’t want that to happen.

Finally, the SB is updated and Dinara is serving for the match at 5-2. Come on, Dinara, finish it fast, no drama. Nadia still needs to play after you and then if she'll win she'll need to rest before facing JJ tomorrow

Hello, everyone. This is my first post.

After the Wimbledon incident last year it was reported in the
media that Rafa had said Hi to Soderling 3/4 times and that he
(Soderling) ignored him completely. Rude and arrogant man.

Good lord that was a righteous smack down!

The most disconcerting thing for Soderling (and perhaps the rest of the field) is that he actually played pretty well for most of the match, he was going for his winners and hitting lines, he even had break points. It's shocking how easily Rafa absorbs great play by other players. The opponent thinks he's playing his best match of the tournament and then he looks up and sees he's lost 6-1, 6-0.

Still, couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Tim,

My sympathies :-) I sincerely hope you didnt stay to watch the 2nd set. Judging by how gutted you were with the 6-1 first set :-)

I do agree that the "point" dispute was totally unfair to the Sod. THe judges were really quite useless. Is it too difficult to say, " I am sorry, I cant remember the spot, you guys will have to replay the point"? The Sod just went away after that. Its not like that would have turned around the match or anything but, still.

Did anyone else see Rafas little I got him smile at the end when he went to applaud the fans.

LOL well that was unmerciful!!! The last game was purely revenge minded. Pretty darn hot stuff from Rafa. Must have been a moment of benevolence on his behalf in the game he lost :)

I'm starting to think Rafa puts himself in crazy situations in early rounds for the challenge:

Rafa thinks:

*hmmm, let me go down 0-40 and see if I can climb my way out of it* check

*how about some deuce games for practice* check

*ummm, no first serves for a while - I'll just play out second serves* check

*just for fun how about if I lob after I chase down a drop shot* check

E.L.Carslake (Lynne): Welcome! Thanks for that information. It's a pity, really, for Soldering. He was playing today against the nicest guy off court. What a contrast!

Verdasco - Rafa might be a battle tomorrow especially if Rafa does not improve his 1st serve % and Verdasco comes pumped up.

AM - I am enjoying all your Jason quotes!!

hello Lynne!

Campi, fair enough :)

allright folks! that's it for me for today. I have one long trip ahead of me and I'm not packed, my dishes wait dirty in the sink, I can't find my curling iron and it's... like an hour before I hit the road... is Budapest close to Rome? :P I know it isn't but that's where I'm heading and I'm afraid I'm not gonna get any tennis news until I'm back on Monday. So see you all then.
Have a great weekend and DC everyone! Keep your fingers crossed for Rafito, Fed and whoever you want :)

E.L.Carslake (Lynne)- Welcome

and the SB froze again with Safina having a MP...

Still, couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

~~~~~
LOL. Yeah, that.

With any other player, I'd feel a little sorry for them for getting whupped love and one.

With Sod, I'm only sorry that it wasn't a double bagel.

Really looking forward to Rafa/Sauce matchup tomorrow.

What exactly happened between Rafa and the Sod?

imjimmy Gee would you like another demerit card no?

Dinara wins!

Tim, question for you. Rafa must be in your bracket somewhere, haha?!

It often seems that Rafa doesn't need to bring his entire game/concentration in early rounds of a clay tourney, but I think (after the "shaky start" that allowed Soderling to hold), he was completely focused on the most humiliating outcome possible. Ruthless.

Points won: 66 to 37 or 64% to 33%. Until the last game of the second set, Soderling had only won (I think) 5 points during that set.

AM: What? Another Demerit card ...noooo :)
I expect Rafa to win, but it should be a competitive match tomorrow. Don't you agree?

"What exactly happened between Rafa and the Sod?"

Sod killed Rafa's sensei, tore down the local rec centre for a condo development, and ran over Rafa's dog, twice.

Wow, I actually watched the match live on TV.
Seriously, I no longer care if Rafa loses Roma(not to be over-confident, but I don't see anyone challenging him)or Madrid(not so sure), I for one am convinced he will do well in RG.

Loved Rafa's little smile after the win. Rafa was really revenge-minded and cruel.

imjimmy yes of course,it will be a different style of match for sure.

I will hold off with the demeir card for a while then

I am only felling generous because.,

Our boy buried the Sod,Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"What exactly happened between Rafa and the Sod?"

This happened:
http://tinyurl.com/cpy2la

Which TV channels are broadcasting ATP Rome live?

AM: Thanks! Appreciate it. I'm sure you would be generous after a resounding Rafa win.

tennisfan 4:30

I was having thoughts similar to yours, but doubt Rafa is that diabolical. Was reminded of a Ali-Floyd Patterson fight, prior to which Patterson insulted Ali by refusing to use Ali's relatively new Islamic name. Patterson hurt his back early in the fight and could no longer pose a threat to Ali. Ali, instead of going for a knockout, just dragged out the fight, taunting Patterson, in order to extend Patterson's misery.

Today was yet another example of why Rafa is the Julio Cesar Chavez of the clay courts. In many of Chavez's fights, his opponents did well in the early rounds. But as the fight continued, Chavez's body shots would wear down his opponents, who often were totally gassed by the later rounds.

As others have pointed out, the script for many of Rafa's clay court matches against decent opponents is that the opps seemingly do fairly well in the first set. But, whereas Rafa's level stays the same or improves in the second and later sets, the level of his opps' drops, often due, at least partially, to fatigue.

Soderling's legs were clearly going, going, gone in the second set. The missed overhead on a mediocre lob by Rafa in the last game a sympton of fatigue.

Almost any guy Soderling's size won't be a great mover on clay, especially as a match against Rafa progresses.

Does Rafa have any pets??

Does Rafa have any pets??

Since we are all on the haterade bandwagon, death to Hottsauce... ooh and Reeshie darn u to hail and back, first you take out lil' bro with the vaunted BH and you lose to hottsauce of all people...pfffttttt, your'e dead to me once again...and Simon, I have no words, you lose to Zverev??? who??? WTF??? Ooh and just for kicks darn you to hail Divo for reminding me how unfreakingbelievably bad the Fed's serve is, like I needed that...pfffttttt...I have no words...

As for Sod/ the Fed, I won't call it a tiff, I still don't know if the Fed knows what happened, dude is still befuddled by the whole event and promptly erased him from his mind...no need to dwell...

Rat @ 4:29 PM: Did anyone else see Rafas little I got him smile at the end when he went to applaud the fans.

Yes. Yes, I did. Rafa is not above using his racket to avenge slights. He was very determined to take that last game but Rafa also doesn't like giving games away with a "I can serve it out" attitude.

ava: no (I can't believe I'm answering this question, or even know the answer, but he answered the question in one of his blogs, I believe).

Ava No I dont think Rafa has pets at all

i know he dosent have a dog,someone asked him that ages ago

Well his new mansion should be completed by now

maybe he might get a dog or other animals when he has hsi own place.

Manuel WORD!!!!!!!

Congrats to all the winners and their fans. Commiserations to the guys who came up short and their fans, esp. Stan, Reeshie, and Owl.

Did somethin' real stupid today. Was sick and thought I'd go play tennis to sweat out the sickness ummm....no, I have no degree in medicine. Played a brilliant first set which I won 7-5, we took a break and then my legs just froze. Had my first retirement after that. Gah! Went home passed out and missed all the tennis.

hello all. good to see Rafa beat Sod hee hee. and wth is up with Gillu? i really myst stay up for tonight's match against Gello

Pspace Deary me,you indeed have learnt a hard lesson.

Dont play when you body is feeling like that.

OT: Pspace - do you have something to do with UPenn?

Nic, yeah, I go to grad school there. How'd you know?

AM, Rafa always seemed like an animal person to me. He should get a dog. I don't think he likes cats. Most guys don't like cats.

Maybe baby bulls???

""Most guys don't like cats.""

What? Why? I much prefer cats to dogs. Not too friendly, which is kinda nice.

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