Hope Haase can make a nice match of it. Nadal plays superbly, but I get a little bored by his easy wins. Good luck to Haase!

just simply don't watch it, you better wait up for Isner/Mahut match, you can complain no more with that match.

Exactly raindrops. Just like when Fed was dominating everyone during 2005-2006, I found his matches very boring and I stopped watching them.

I really like the way Rafa is playing now. He looks so fresh and happy out there. His movement is good, his serve is very good, and practically every part of his game is clicking. The 2008 Rafa was very aggressive and fast, clearly at his prime. However I like this Rafa of 2010, who is more mature and plays more a tactical game than a physical game of running everything down. So far, his proper scheduling has paid off, we see him winning three masters and a RG title, and hopefully a Wimbledon title too! If he wins Wimbledon, I hope the Rafa team will continue with this proper scheduling and do the best they can to help Rafa be well prepared for the USO. Rafa needs to win the USO to shut the mouths of his critics; those that doubt his ability to play and win on fast hard courts. One thing at a time though, Wimbledon first.

hehe, it's a good sign if people start saying that they're bored of Rafa's 'easy' wins
Vamos!!

lucky: Centre Court is getting harder and faster by the minute but from Saturday onwards some rain is forecast so it may slow down a bit.

On paper this promises to be a good match, that is if Haas is fully fit. I love his classic style of play and he has shown in the past that he performs well on the big stage - i.e. 4 SF appearances in GSs in spite of all the health/fitness problems.

its robin haase not tommy haas ed251137!!!!

It should be done in straight sets.....

Nadal in 5 sets

game on!!!!!!!!!!!

vrael: just tuned in to the match and realised my mistake!!!

Could anyone tell me how Rafa is playing?

Mona: Brimming with confidence and playing aggressively. Haase is making him work though and booming out the aces. It would be a good if Rafa got his first serve % up.

Yikes!

Rafa lost first set !!! :o :o m happy thoh !!! :)

Dont panic mona!!! He's broken straight back.

I guess is due to his low first serve %

Nadal seems a little disconnected today.

luckystar, i could never get tired of watching federer play. his dominating years though were from 2004-2007. Win or lose, it is a pleasure to see him move around the court and his variety of shots. To be bored watching him play is a travesty. In fact any player on the tour who brings so much pleasure in sport, should be cherished, whoever that player may be, past or present.

Not really - he just played a loose game to lose that set. it is more the aces and direction of serve from Robin causing the problem. And the bounce is very high which helps Haase. Keep cool.

For goodness sake Maxi this is Rafa playing not Roger. You'll find any excuse to lionise your hero.

Haase is a serving machine! And is very Soderling like. He has already sent down 16 aces.

smr- Rafa is not disconnected!!!!!!! He is totally fired up!!! The only two problems he is having is that his first serve could be better and Haase is serving scary good!

This is great practice for Rafa, for if comes up against Soderling and or Murray!

ABSOLUTELY NO NEED to worry rafans, he is playing good...this match is similar to the match rafa played againt gulbis in 2008 wimb...haase is serving BIG and well...16 aces already and he is taking chances with those hard hitting shots....rafa faces a tough match in week one , since his 06 it has been happening but i am sure he is going to come through in 4 sets...

altho i do think the forehand is not clicking to its potential but not bad at all..

i agree with ISABEAU , this is good practice for some one liek soderling..haase plays similar to soderling.

can n e one provide link for live streaming of this match er!

vamosrafa- I agree there is NOTHIN to worry about! Nothing!

I hate the Australian commentators, they are so anti-rafa, but they did say something hilarious

"Rafa is an angry young man. Looks like he wants to step on him"

LMAO!!!! hahahahahahahahahhaahah

Vintage Rafa at work. Or should I say play.

so the fun started and score is 1-1.

lolz @ isabeau

Vamos Rafa.

Ha ha ha isabeau ... I love that you are so fired up.

smr- I am not fired up. Its 3am in Oz, Im quite drowsy actually.

Just stating the match how it is.

I would love to know Rafa's record for challenges. It seems to me he has an uncanny eye and is right far more often than he is wrong.

No doubt Clayking can supply the answer!!!!!!!

Don't worry maxi, no one is saying that Fed is no good, I said boring in the sense that you know the results of the match before hand.

Rafa played a loose game at the end of the first set, yeah he should be angry with himself. The set should have gone to a tie-break. Soon, Rafa will figure out how to tackle Haase's serves.

It seems that this Wimbledon favors all the big servers! I see so many of them doing well. This match is good practice for Rafa.

aces after aces, that's alright time will come all those aces will subside.

Protect your serve Rafa.

Vamos.

Maxi- NEWSFLASH!!!!!!!!! Federer played yesterday. Can we put him to bed just for today?

Off topic - has anyone watched the Tsonga/Dolgopolov match? I saw the fifth set and as I've mentioned in one of my earlier posts, this Dolgo guy is hard to play against, but his game is very interesting. He practically returned all of Tsonga's serves with interest, till the last few games of the match. No wonder Rafa had a hard time dealing with him in Madrid. Would be interesting to see a Dolgo vs Bozo match!

tomnjerry
atdhe.net seems to be working well.

Hasse breaks on the third. He's up 4-2
Rafa making too many mistakes
:-(

that's awesome forehand to break for Haase.

Rafans, headache hahaha

Vamos

And the serving-fest continues!

Now I am getting worried

Oopss...

Match seems to go in 5 sets !! :)

opps

:(

Rafa down 2-1

Be careful Rafa, you better get a good grip at 4th set.

Vamos !!!

worried is an understatement

I am panicking...what the hell is going on?

one more set lost and rafa is out of WImbledon..

:(

Come on everybody have faith. This is Rafa dont forget.

Rafa now serving to the body and gets the first game... let's keep it up

this guy is strong on both wings...plus that giant serve.....recipe for an ideal player against nadal...

serve well rafa...keep him him at bay....VAMOS!!!

lmao .... raining aces !!!! :P


rafa will be home i no that !!! :D

Well this Hasse guy is playing excellent... Rafa is tested here!!!
First week of Wimbledon is usually boring... light passes for favorites... but not this year!!!

ed, stop being silly. the question was raised much earlier and NOT by me.

hey smr.....thx a lot.

.. it was cumin on star sports... now its broadcasting football !!!! lol

NADAL breaks....desperately hoping that rafa starts serving first in the 5th.....

woooo he breaks, consolidate !!!

Vamos !!!

As soon as Haase's first serve percentage dips, Rafa gets his teeth in the match again.

Break Rafa.

Rafa breaks and looks strong... finally1

maxi ... right now there are no bored Rafa fans.

What did I say. Have faith. Rafa has just gone into turbo drive.

yep, happy for the turbo!

ed251137- I love you..:)

smr ? you've lost me.

Haase looks like he's hurting. It would be a pity if he had to retire...

Rafa!! Come on.................please don't give us anymore heart- attack

maxi: if you're going to hang around here, try reading the posts before commenting.

wohooooo he breaks again, consolidate !!!

Vamos !!!!

double break.....4th set in the bag....just serve him a BAGEL rafael...start the 5th by serving urself!!!

That's why I said that grass is super dangerous. When a big server is ON, he is unplayable. Nadal made 1 UFE in the 3rd set, and he STILL lost that set.

Rafa's ROS is not clicking at all. It took a dip in Haase's serve for him to break. IF he gets through this, Nadal needs to be more aggressive with his serve, groundies and chip his forehand returns. Otherwise Soderling will eat him alive.

Between Rafa and Federer 80% of the world tennis fans have been given mini heart attacks and its only day 4!..:O

Isabeau..are you wide awake now !!!

slam dunk....

ah he consolidated the break 5-0

wohooooo !!!

Vamos !!!

imjimmy- Yes you are right about how dangerous grass courts can be, especially when they are as dry as they are this week at Wimbledon.

The scary thing is that Wimbledon have slowed down the courts and are using slower balls! It baffles me!

Some one has let the air out of Haase's tyres.

BAGEL....well done rafa...

Rafa wins the set with a bagel and starts serving on the 5th. Go Rafa!

Longchar- Wide awake, there is no going back to sleep for me!!!!!!!

4 sets in 1hr 56mins....This 5 setter will not be taxing on whoever wins at all.

Vamos Rafa!!!

wahooo wahoooo !!! 2 all and we have 5th set.

Vamos, the grip Rafa...THE GRIP keep it tight !!!

Vamos!!!

Well maxi a bagel is a little more boring ... thank goodness. Lol.

Hi to all Rafa fans,

I am wondering if Haase tanked the fourth set to conserve his energy for the fifth, or is he injured or tired?

the courts haven't been slowed down since the 90's, actually. They changed the kind of grass they use slightly.

The big difference is the weight of the Slazenger balls that they use now. It really slows things down.

Monsterr topspin forehand by rafa on set point....-0-
^

@Nny....haas twisted his leg in the fourth...he is certainly not at 100% now!!!

haase serving crazy again...

Damn. I have just bet a chum there would be a 2nd bagel. Haase has changed onto slick tyres.

NNY- Haase is a hot and cold player. I think he also got a little tired. His very dangerous because his game is based on his serve.

If Rafa loses I will be very upset, because this guy wont be able to back it up in the next round/s

STUNNING.....VAMOS!!!

Vreal............did he really twist his leg?....so how comes his still playing?

NNY- Haase is a hot and cold player. I think he also got a little tired. His very dangerous because his game is based on his serve.

If Rafa loses I will be very upset, because this guy wont be able to back it up in the next round/s

playing with pain monalysa......

3 love games in a row.

rafa has a lucky escape bcoz his opponent is injured

Exactly, just like Fed had a lucky one in the 1st round

well wat do you know saxenanalin....even nadal has some luck these days...or do you think its the birthright of FEDERER ONLY???

Isabeau..our Rafa will take this match! Keep the heart.

WHAT a jumping fistpump...u gotta love rafael....VAMOS!!!

wohoooo he breaks ... consolidate !!!

Vamos Rafa!!!

@saxenanalin......................well it was about DAMN time that Rafa got a bit of luck bcos Mr. Greedy Federer has been having ALL the luck!!!!!!

Now just shut up and go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!

well ducked....

Vrael,sexenanalin,

R u both crazy or what???
haase playing very well...nd he is not injured or what...the thing is that rafa is playinggg mindblowing tennis now....his passing shots etc

VAMOSSS!!!

Vrael...well said-re-BIRTHRIGHT of Federer only !!!

kingnadal...i dont think haase is playing badly.......but he certainly isnt 100%

Longchar- I hope so.
I dont get all that upset if Rafa losing to players that can back it up, like Roddick, Soderling, Fed etc but its when he loses to people that you just know have no chance in winning that really upsets me

Longchar- I hope so.
I dont get all that upset if Rafa losing to players that can back it up, like Roddick, Soderling, Fed etc but its when he loses to people that you just know have no chance in winning that really upsets me

smr: The Haase team also forgot to refuel the tank.

This is actually excellent play from Nadal.

wooohooo he holds 5-2 fifth set!

Vamos Rafa !!!

@isabeau77.............i agree with you there!!........bcos this Haas guy..............dont think so.............but he is one to look for in the future!!!!!!!!!!

You have to hand it to Haase coming up with aces at this point!

boom of a second serve...

I think its good Rafa is meeting someone who serves almost 30 aces. Just over two hours so good for Rafa.

Comon Nadal.............serve out the MATCH!

Listen to the crowd roaring for Rafa. Yippeeeeeeeeeee

Hee hee ed ... and yipee!

I think that was kinda of a good test for Rafa.......dont really want him breezing too much thru the rounds!!

Same goes for Fed!...........I think he REALLY needed it!

VAMOS......im happy this match wasnt a slugfest...not a grueling match at all...it will prepare rafa mentally to face a player like sodacan...congratulations to all rafans..

I admire Rafa, he raise his level when he needs to.

I like this match good practice with serving machine.

And of course Rafa has given us one donut today hehehe

Vamos !!!!!!!

Tennis tops Football!!

isabeau and vrael,

Thanks for your responses! This was a bit of a nailbiter, but Rafa really stepped it up and came through like a champ!

Vamos, Rafa! You survived your first test!

who is rafa playing next??

vrael- exactly. Winning this match has given Rafa the confidence in knowing that he can handle massive servers this year on grass, which is perfect for Rafa!

petzner or kubot...checked it out myself..:P

hahaha. i slept waiting for the match and woke up with Rafa already winning. i guess i missed all that nail-biting and hiding behind the sofa thingy. :-(

isabeau77: That's exactly what I meant. Clay court tennis has nothing to do with grass. Rafa is a freakish mover on clay, and it's almost impossible to hit through him when he is moving as well as he did in the F.O final. For grass in contrast, no matter how slow you make it, it's hard to defend continually because it's impossible to slide and recover and big servers get a huge boost from the surface.

When Nadal wins on grass, he IS the big hitter himself. In today's match Rafa went into his shell for a little bit when Haase was aggressive, and didn't serve well which complicated thing for him. But still, Nadal, recovered after losing the 3rd set although aided by a precipitous drop in form for his opponent (I heard hip injury, back injury, leg injury for Haase *LOL*..not sure what it was other than the fact that Haase stopped moving properly especially on his backhand).

I think Rafa would have come back to win somehow even if Haase didnt get injured but it was amazing to watch Haase those last 2 sets when the fight went out of him. The match showed the danger of a big server in the zone. Had Haase maintained his level, it could have been a real slugfest in set 4 and set 5.

Overall, I don't have a LOT of complaints by the way Nadal played, other than the fact that his serve was sub-par. (80 mph spinnies won't get it done in later stages of the tournament!). Rafa also got a little tentative in the 3rd set when he had opportunities to close the point with a fh winner, but instead opted for a loopy forehand that allowed Haase to stay in the point and promptly hit a winner and break serve to take command. That's the danger of grass court tennis - one lapse and you're out.

On a unrelated note, what a Wimbledon we've had so far. I honestly can't remember having a better first four days in Wimb. Unbelievable tennis!

Big servers have huge advantage!

Yes this is a good match for Rafa to know where are the loose areas of his game, esp when dealing with the big servers and big hitters. I'm sure in his quarter, there will be a few that he will have to play against. One wake up call for him, never to lose concentration when dealing with big servers, big hitters - one break of serve and that's it. His serve wasn't very good today and I can see that he's a bit rattled after losing the third set. However, being a champion that he is, he soon regrouped and come well prepared for the fourth and fifth sets. I'm sure Rafa is well aware of Sod looming around in his quarter and I think by the time he gets to meet Sod (if both get there), he'll be well prepared for it. Rafa should be able to go the distance with Sod when there is a need.

I'm happy that Rafa come through this tough match, though I think Rafa actually made things difficult for himself sometimes. To me, this match should only go to four sets. Both Fed and Rafa have faced tough big serving, nothing to lose kind of players and both are able to raise their level at the right time to deal with them. No complaints now about who is having easy or difficult draws. It doesn't matter what ranked players that Fed or Rafa has to face, as on their day, these lower ranked players can threatened these top players too.

We see Dolgo forced Tsonga to go the distance, and this Dolgo guy is one player to look out for. Likewise for Bozo and this Haase. Also my personal favorite of new players to the ATP tours- De Bakker. This group of players are in the age group of 21-23 or 24, and they are up and coming players. Those in the group of 17-18, like Tomic, Harrison & Dmitrov are still too young to make any challenge.

This Wimbledon tournament seem to favor the big servers and big hitters. It reminded me of the FO of 2009, where players complained that the clay courts there played like hard courts. This year, the grass courts at Wimbledon seem to play like hard courts, may be the dry weather plays a part?

So far, among the remaining top players in the draw, Murray, Berdych and Soderling had not drop a set yet. These three guys are playing very well so far. I think they will be tested soon. This year's Wimbledon seems rather eventful, I don't know what we'll be having tomorrow.

PS. Please leave maxi alone, as she was responding to one of my earlier post. I was the one who brought out Fed's name. Sorry about that.

rafans ! HURAAYY! EXCELLENT win and this win must have prepared rafa for the soda-test later on... sincve 06 rafa has been facing a mighty challenge in the first week...robert kendrick 06, 2nd rnd.rafa came back from 0-2 sets down! 07. epic 5-setter against soderling... 08 a very tight 4 setter against gulbis...09 a 5-setter against haase.....

Moreover, he lost the 3rd set, fine, but it wasnt his fault i think...haase broke serve by virtue of that CRAZY forehand cross court and a nice defence-oriented point at duece adn then came those 4 aces on the trot. Rafa was angry and frustrated and just look at how he responded ! 4th set was brilliant and then put so much pressure early in the 5th...really happy and positive abt the win .VAMOSS!!

bringg it onnn !!!!!!!!!

This Wimbledon is getting very interesting. We see Fed tested in the first two rounds; Rafa tested by Haase; Roddick by Llodra; Nole by Rochus; Tsonga by Dolgo.

Who will test Berdych? I think it will be his next opponent Istomin, who is one big server too - making the semi of Eastbourne and pushing Rafa to three sets at Queen's. For Murray, may be Simon? Or Querry? What about Soderling - who can test him? Bellucci or Ferrer? Maybe only Rafa can deal with him?

lmao .... raining aces !!!! :P
rafa will be home i no that !!! :D, tomnjerry2, 6/24/10 7:36 PM

So you knew it eh? smelly foot again on your mouth. You were wrong all the time specially that decaying thought of yours that Roger will regain his No. 1 ranking soon. woho ho ho!!! You will live a disperate life because Rafa is healthy and every match he played is just additional points ahead from Roger.

This was classic Rafa. Regrouping, rethinking and then delivering when it mattered.

Lucky: surely you know better by now than to give so much as a chink of an opening for the diehards to leap in. I was just so irritated to have to read the Hymns of Praise to RF when things were getting tense.

Sorry ed, I mentioned Fed's matches as boring in response to someone saying that Rafa's matches may be boring. It was at the beginning of this thread and before Rafa's match. Didn't know that maxi would respond during the match.

Haase played some sensational tennis....but...you gotta do that over 5 sets if you want to beat Rafa. An impossible ask. Rafa's fitness, mobility and mindset are astonishing. Well played!
Just love Dolgo, he'll be a force to be reckoned with won't he?
imjimmy: completely agree! It's been a WONDERFUL four days. Can only get better!

Unlike federer Rafa needs to be careful of avoiding five setters because his knees might give away . Its going to be tough for him especially looking at Murrays form , we might see a repeat of AO2010

nirv02, rafa's match ,albeit 5 sets, lasted for 2 hrs and 20 mins !!! LOL so why worry?

nirv02,

This was not the type of grueling, physical marathon five set match that could trouble Rafa's knees. Also, he is on grass, which while not as friendly as clay, is still easier than hard court. This match will not bother him at all!

No worries! Rafa raised the level of his game and played some truly inspired tennis to win the last two sets. Haase looked like he just ran out of gas in the end. That's what Rafa does to you!

yeah, I agree with you vamosrafa...the advantage of playing these big serving machines is that points usually don't take long and Rafa himself was pretty much convincing on his own service games. Rafa was so good today! He played great tennis and although it went to five sets there is no room to be worried about Rafa's game. This guy Haase simply played some high level tennis at times...I am so proud of Rafa playing the way he did today! Awesome victory, Rafa! VAMOS!!!

lucky that haase twisted his ankle.. his first serve % fell from above 75 to below 50 in last two sets... his serve was what rafa was having troubles with.. once that was not a factor, rafa showed him what class is and why tennis is about much more than serves! No disrespect to him of course at 100% he was more than a match for a trying rafa but once his level went down rafa preyed like a true predator!

rafanadalfanforever-
Haase did not twist his ankle, he may have twinged it but he didnt twist or sprain it, because if he had he would not be able to run, let alone move from side to side and he would have definitely called for a medical time out.

It was simply a case of Haase running out of gas and Rafa lifting is game to great heights. It is natural for players like Haase who dont play players like Rafa too often to be forced to overstretch more than they are use to. Hence the ankle twinge, hip twinge etc. Its all about conditioning and although Haase had a brutal serve, its is condition in the end which was his downfall and the fact that Rafa outhit him in the end.

nirv02- The match was 2hrs and 20minutes (or there abouts), Rafa first training session at Wimbledon was about that long. He is more than fine. He is great!

This took nothing out of Rafa and if you truly watched how much Rafa was running, he wasnt running that much at all. For a 5 setter this match in hours was short, filled with aces and unreturnables. There were about 4 longish rallys that I counted, which still where under 10 strokes, the rest where quick points.

It is interesting that rafa fans are defending the length of the match more than his fitness.

rafa is fine...he looked pumped up after the victory...we dont need federer fans telling us abt rafa's condition...he is taking care of that.....has a brilliant team to take care of his knees!!!!

regarding yesterday's match....its actually a bit foolish to think that would take a toll on rafa...his normal straight set matches at RG took more time to complete than the one yesterday.....

VAMOS!!!

so its rafa vs petzschner now.......would be a tough match no??? :)

Sorry vrael .. I am his doctor and I am fan of Seigo Triplic

good for you mr doctor...;)

Doc nirv02, you have your patients to attend to. Rafa has his own doctor and physio. The Rafans however acknowledge your concern about Rafa, thanks for dropping by Doc nirv02. Hope you don't mind but GET LOST.

Raindrops ... as if I am going to listen to you . haha.

Doesn't matter what some Fed fans may say. We Rafa fans knows him better than many Fed fans. I bet if we say something about Fed, his fans will also come out and refute us. No need to bother with them. Just enjoy what Rafa can bring to us on the tennis court.

So my analysis about Rafa doing these five setters will deepen his injury is bearing fruit as his match with PP shows.

wow nirv you are as good as isabeu now? please stop this nonsense, rafa will win the tournament with pain you cant imagine in his knees if he has to. Simple as that! He will win!