CAMELOT FANTASIES

Andy is playing well.


lets see how it all plays out.


not sure about the nishikori vs djokovic battle.

nishikori can win but he has to go for broke and try to take it in 2 sets.

I think Rafa will be ready for Andy, but he can still lose to him. It was a little different today because Rafa and Joao are close friends who practice together a lot. It's probably a little harder to put that in perspective, but tomorrow Andy's going to want that scalp, although they're friends, it's more like a tour friend, than a for real friend.

I was thinking the same thing about the Kei-Novak match, except that Kei has had to tough out several tough matches this week and he's so slight. I think he's had a couple of three setters too so he may be physically worn out. May the best man win.

Speaking of which, I wish they would stop trying to cram Raonic down the viewers' throats; he's nowhere near the level that they ascribe to him. He still lacks experience and confidence in the big moments. He seems to think that when he gets an opening, it's the only opening that he'll get. A good player only has to keep being relentless and Milos will fold, at least that's my impression of him.

order of play for tomorrow:


http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/scores/current/madrid/1536/daily-schedule

I'm so glad you post these. I always forget to look for these. I'm glad Rafa is playing first so I can get my tennis viewing for the day out of the way, then I can take a nap.

Rafa has his work cut out for him.

he is not putting in nearly the time required on the practice courts and in the training room.


there is only really one man who can stop djokovic and it is rafa.

but it will take an extreme amount of sacrifice. rafa will have to outwork djokovic.

now the window is closing so rapidly.


30 unforced errors agains andy of all the players. rafa had owned andy on all surfaces and most especially on clay.


now uncle tony wants to avoid players like andy and ferru. and of course tony is terrified of djokovic.


rafa can beat these players on clay. he just has to put in the required hard work.

More than anything, he might not want to play back to back events so close to a major. I thought he might hit the wall after Monte Carlo when he played Barcelona after a one week break. He's close to thirty and can't play week in and week out like he did in his youth.

Thirty errors is a lot, but even worse they were unforced and Rafa was simply over hitting it appeared. He needs to pace himself more. No way should he have lost to Andy though, because Andy wasn't playing lights out. He played his normal game and that shouldn't have been enough.

But, if last month you would've asked me if I would've been satisfied with back to back titles and a semis in a Masters I would've been over the moon, so I'll take it, but I don't like that he's playing again this week, even though he has to. Hopefully, he's off after this week in order to prepare for RG. 

Quote from: Clay Death on May 07, 2016, 07:51:20 pm

Rafa has his work cut out for him.

he is not putting in nearly the time required on the practice courts and in the training room.


there is only really one man who can stop djokovic and it is rafa.

but it will take an extreme amount of sacrifice. rafa will have to outwork djokovic.

now the window is closing so rapidly.


30 unforced errors agains andy of all the players. rafa had owned andy on all surfaces and most especially on clay.


now uncle tony wants to avoid players like andy and ferru. and of course tony is terrified of djokovic.


rafa can beat these players on clay. he just has to put in the required hard work.

More than anything, he might not want to play back to back events so close to a major. I thought he might hit the wall after Monte Carlo when he played Barcelona after a one week break. He's close to thirty and can't play week in and week out like he did in his youth.

Thirty errors is a lot, but even worse they were unforced and Rafa was simply over hitting it appeared. He needs to pace himself more. No way should he have lost to Andy though, because Andy wasn't playing lights out. He played his normal game and that shouldn't have been enough.

But, if last month you would've asked me if I would've been satisfied with back to back titles and a semis in a Masters I would've been over the moon, so I'll take it, but I don't like that he's playing again this week, even though he has to. Hopefully, he's off after this week in order to prepare for RG.

he was worn out.


same as last year when these two met.


he just has to go fix his fitness. he can still gun down andy and djokovic on clay.

he just has to make his mind and go do it.

what is needed is some sacrifices.


he just bought a multi million dollar yacht. he has his tennis academy on his mind and a million other things.

he can make it happen. he can take another RG but the window is closing fast.

I know he said recently that he would like to win RG.

Quote from: thetruth on May 08, 2016, 10:49:43 am

Quote from: Clay Death on May 07, 2016, 07:51:20 pm

Rafa has his work cut out for him.

he is not putting in nearly the time required on the practice courts and in the training room.


there is only really one man who can stop djokovic and it is rafa.

but it will take an extreme amount of sacrifice. rafa will have to outwork djokovic.

now the window is closing so rapidly.


30 unforced errors agains andy of all the players. rafa had owned andy on all surfaces and most especially on clay.


now uncle tony wants to avoid players like andy and ferru. and of course tony is terrified of djokovic.


rafa can beat these players on clay. he just has to put in the required hard work.

More than anything, he might not want to play back to back events so close to a major. I thought he might hit the wall after Monte Carlo when he played Barcelona after a one week break. He's close to thirty and can't play week in and week out like he did in his youth.

Thirty errors is a lot, but even worse they were unforced and Rafa was simply over hitting it appeared. He needs to pace himself more. No way should he have lost to Andy though, because Andy wasn't playing lights out. He played his normal game and that shouldn't have been enough.

But, if last month you would've asked me if I would've been satisfied with back to back titles and a semis in a Masters I would've been over the moon, so I'll take it, but I don't like that he's playing again this week, even though he has to. Hopefully, he's off after this week in order to prepare for RG.

he was worn out.


same as last year when these two met.


he just has to go fix his fitness. he can still gun down andy and djokovic on clay.

he just has to make his mind and go do it.

what is needed is some sacrifices.


he just bought a multi million dollar yacht. he has his tennis academy on his mind and a million other things.

he can make it happen. he can take another RG but the window is closing fast.

I know he said recently that he would like to win RG.

I know. He played more than the other top guys and by winning two out of three he was exhausted. That match with Andy was sloppy, but fatigue played a huge part in it. Andy, if thinking, really shouldn't take much confidence from that, because Rafa is getting older and can't play back-to-back without the vigor of youth.

RG isn't out of the question, Rafa has always had strange dips and then came up big. That's been during his entire career. The good thing is that he's now thinking about winning as opposed to his talk last year. Remember when he was saying, "14 is enough." I think he was ready to quit and do his other things. Rafa has a well rounded life that doesn't revolve around tennis completely. His family, social life, and academy seem to be foremost in his mind. The things he does take a lot of time and energy and he seems excited about them, as much as he used to be excited about tennis. But, lately there has been a shift in his motivation so I think things will be fine.

Oh gosh. I cannot stand Stan Wawrinka. He is such a jackhole. He acted terrible during his match with Paire. Paire had better get a clue. Stan is a friend to no one. Ask his wife.

order of play for tomorrow:

Rafa will be in action.


http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/scores/current/rome/416/daily-schedule

I know. But did you know that he is wearing some tape on his wrist? They said he had it on at Monte Carlo, but he got a shot and it felt better. He didn't wear it at Barcelona, but now the tape is back on. I tell you, always something. Hopefully he'll get another shot and it'll be alright, but it's something to look for tomorrow.