The regular drill! Updates, stuff will be after the break. Feel free to comment

2:49 Nads holds at love and pulls out a huge victory! Fist pump to the camera, she’s playing well and feeling good. That’s all for me today, way too distracted with other things, clearly, but I’ll wrap up the action later. Thanks for reading, feel free to let me know if you enjoyed it, more things you’d like to see, or not see in live blogging posts. Cheers!

2:46 Serena nursing the lower back now? Not sure if it’s anything serious. Holds, Nads will serve for the match at 5-3.

2:41 Nadia can smell it now, and she’s got the look in her eye. Holds easily, 2-5 Serena to serve.

2:40 Nads gets it right back, serving now at 4-2, 30-0. Have a hard time seeing her blowing this now.

2:34 Serena just firing from the back of the court and controlling play. Nads gets it to deuce but Serena takes the next two and we’re on serve.

2:30 Big serving from Serena helps her hold… just. Nads still up a break, 3-1 now.

2:26 Nads holds for a 3-0 lead, and Serena looks like she might start crying. Crazy that she cares this much. Doubting her own game a bit, for sure.

2:24 I take it back. She looks like a sad dog. Weird.

2:23 WOOPS. Got distracted. Nads now up a break and clearly in control. Serena looking apathetic.

2:17 Nads holds at love to open the third set.

2:16 Marcos/Ferru now on court. That could be a fun match.

2:15 13 winners and 70% serving for Nads, and she breaks for the second set. Fitting that this goes the distance.

2:11 Serena to serve to stay in the second set, 2-5.

2:05 Nadia controls the whole point from the net, and Serena smokes a forehand winner on the run and Nads can do nothing but applaud. To serve at 4-2 now.

2:03 More solid fighting from Nadia. Up 4-1.

1:56 Serena nets a volley and is looking frustrated. Break for Nads, 3-1.

1:52 Pretty sure Serena just gave up and purposefully dumped that one into the net. To serve at 1-2. Finally.

1:51 Good lord. STILL 1-all. Nads has aced, double faulted at deuce… and just hit a drop volley for a winner to get game point. Been like 10 deuces.

1:39 Nads is hanging in there, saving a couple BPs, but she’s got another one against her at 1-1. Back is clearly bothering her.

1:30 Nads’ mind is clearly somewhere else. Serena just pushing her around and it’s causing serious difficulty.

1:23 Trainer out for Nads. With her hand on Nads’ leg, and a concerned face, she might as well be her mom. Seriously never seen a trainer look that concerned ever. Working on the lower back now. Meanwhile, Richard Williams is standing and chewing. I thought you might like to know.

1:21 Big time hitting from Serena and she holds for the first set no problem.

1:17 Forehand into the net from Nads, and Serena gets a huge break, the first one of the match, and will serve at 5-4.

1:16 Back with lunch in hand. The grind continues. Huge hitting from Serena to get BP at 4-all.

1:06 Some big time serving from Nads after Serena gets a lucky net cord… 4-3. Lunch time for me.

1:03 Serena pounds a backhand into the net… talks to herself… then lets the forehand return sail way out. Deuce.

1:02 And so the grunting begins. Unfortunate net cord for Nads, and a huge point from Serena… 2 BPs ReRe.

12:55 Smart, smart play from Nads. Hanging in points she’s not controlling and then finding the opening and forcing the error. Holds at love. 2-3.

12:54 Move along, nothing to see here… solid holds from both. Nads serving at 2-all.

12:45 Nads gets a little too defensive after a huge first serve from the No. 1, and she holds. 1-all.

12:44 Serena sounds like she’s having a baby on court.

12:43 Nadia has the forehand working big a time. Backhand is pushing well too, to get it to deuce.

12:40 Nads rocking the tights… and arbitrary blue skirt that serves zero purpose. That makes you looks SO feminine, Nads.

12:37 Nico takes it in straights over Sod. Didn’t see that coming. Serena/Nads underway.

12:28 Nico just broke and is serving for the match at 6-5. Some solid play.

12:15 So I sorta stopped watching the Sod/Nico, cause I really don’t care, to be honest. Will be back for Nads/Serena. (Oh, and Venus is about to knock out Franny)

11:57 This Sod/Nico match is basically a hard court match. No one coming to the net, playing drop shots… nothing. It’s a bit ridiculous. And boring. Nico holds, Sod at 3-1.

11:50 Nico’s a special one. Loses the first 7 points of the set… ace… and another error. Sod serving at 2-0.

11:42 Nico fires a huge down the line winner to get 3 set points, wastes the first two but makes due on the last one, and takes the first set 6-4.

11:38 Dolg won’t go away, but Rafa finally pulls out it. Not that there was any doubt, but a hell of a test from the youngster. Probably good if you’re a Rafa fan, gives him something to work on. 6-4, 6-3. Off to Sod/Nico we go.

11:33 The King holds at love. Dolg at 3-5.

11:29 Disgusting, running, low bender around the highest part of the net from Rafa to get 2 break points and he doesn’t waste them. Rafa jumped it into second gear there. He’ll serve at 4-3. You can pretty well put this baby to bed now. Meanwhile, Venus just breadsticked Franny and Sod/Nico at 3-all.

11:26 A couple errors from Martina and Rafa holds his 9 minute service game. This is getting a little ridiculous. Martina to serve at 3-all.

11:25 Dolg just BLASTED a 158k winner from the back, middle of the court. Rafa without a winner this set. Jay. Sus.

11:24 Dolg has 12 UEs last set… just for this set for him. Rafa with 6 in each.

11:20 Huge forehand winner (again) from Dolg, and a Rafa error and it’s deuce. Commentators saying how Rafa is being too complicated, not playing to Dolg’s backhand. Something really has to be said about the similar part’s of Dolg’s game to Rafa’s. First, the lasso forehand (though it doesn’t get near the same amount of spin) and the height over the net Dolg is getting. He’s going for it when he needs to, but it’s really keeping him in points, and slowing things down a little for him.

11:17 Dirty back spin on these drop shots by Martina and Rafa can’t deal. They’re just dying. You know you’re killing drop shots if Rafa isn’t getting to any of them. Rafa at 15-all, 2-3.

11:14 Dolg fires an ace and takes 3 seconds to hold at love. Holy.

11:13 Rafa uses the huge out wide serve to the ad court to take care of business. Game was 10 minutes long.

11:12 Real grind. Martina hits another huge inside out forehand winner to get his first break point, but a couple of errors have given Rafa game point right back.

11:08 Dolg plops a forehand into the net at deuce, gets a freebie from Rafa, and another return into the net. Then a huge forehand winner to get deuce again. Damn, Martina.

11:05 I’d almost want to say that Dolg is dictating play here, for better or for worse. Often times he’s dictating it by ending the points with errors, but hey. Both players looking frustrated, and Martina is getting just about every ball deep.

11:03 Franny takes the first set off Venus. I thought that might happen.

11:01 Holy. Boy Martina Hingis holds again. Crowd sounds a little surprised that they’re not getting their dominant Rafa performance. Starting to rain a bit too.

10:58 Four first serves, four points. Rafa holds to love, 1-all. Franny to serve out the first set against Venus, 5-3.

10:56 They just showed the first vs. second serve returns by Dolg. First serves are entirely 2 to 3 metres behind the baseline, and the second serves are all in the baseline. Damn son. The guy clearly has a gameplan, and it’s working. That’s tough on the timing too.

10:55 Leo Mayer retired down to Stan, and Spanish wildcard Parra Santonja (who?) beat Peng in 3. Sod/Nico on court, as are Melz/Fish out on the parking lot.

10:50 Rafa wraps up the first set, 6-4, but he had to talk himself through the last game, and at one point was “vamos!”ing himself. He seems unimpressed with his play, but in this case, all the credit goes to the Dolg kid. Commentators are noting how impressed they are, and how he’s going for it, and I totally agree. At 21, he’s got real promise.

10:44 Huge serve from Dolg… and then plays a deceiving drop shot that Rafa can’t get to. Damn son. Dude’s got game. Now at 40-0 serving at 3-5.

10:38 Dolgopolov Jr. is quite the player. Playing with excellent variety, has solid power. Really trying to dictate the play. Oh, and he has wicked long blonde hair, and is wearing orangey pink shoes with a white kit. That’s an auto-win in the MTR books. Rafa up a break serving at 4-3.

10:23 The crowd is going bananas. Rafa up a break. Oh, and the model ball girls are out. We can’t have them for Ana/JJ? Come on people. I gotta make breakfast, and, well, it’s Rafa, so don’t expect a ton of updates, and expect most of them to be “more great play from Rafa”.

10:17 Sorry to all 2 people who were holding out for this. I needed that sleep. Pretty boring scores too. Winners include Feli, Ernests, Hanescu, Marin, Pico, Tree, and Petz retired two games into the match against Monf. Rafa now on court in front of Raul, Ronaldo and Zidane… and Stan’s on his way to winning too.

08:00 12 DFs for Ana… and it’s finally frickin’ over. What a hot mess. My body is so angry at me right now it’s not even funny. I’m off for an hour or so nap, and will be back after Thanks for reading guys.

07:58 Sorry guys. MTR disappeared, dunno what was up with that. In the meantime, Ana has followed and gone AWOL. And she’s rushing. Kim syndrmore! Serving at 1-5.

07:52 Ana with 2 DFs in a row… then hits a huge forehand winner? What in the hell? Error from JJ to go 40-30. Crowd cheering her on nicely. And another hug eforehand winner. Uh, ok. Still a little too late.

07:50 It’s all unravelling. JJ holds at 15, Ana’s forehand has totally deserted her.

07:47 “I don’t know what I’m doing. I can’t judge the distance of the ball at all… I can’t see the ball and I just wait for the ball to come to me” Huh? Ana’s either having trouble seeing, or just seeing the ball and it’s screwing her up. Heinz says go aggressive. We’ll see.

07:46 Ana serves a double fault, and JJ has the double break. Bloody. Hot. Mess. Nap time isn’t far away!

07:42 JJ holds serve at 15. Ana to serve at 0-2. Is anyone still reading this? If so, props to you. This match doesn’t even deserve a petty live blog.

07:39 JJ holds her break, and will serve at 1-0. This is beyond stupidity. The mice that live in my kitchen are making more noise than the crowd right now. Also, Mel’s in the crowd with her team.

07:37 The toss is going big time. Ana is really jumping into the serve and it’s costing her. Still, big forehand winner there to grab a point. 15-30.

07:35 Of course. JJ (just barely) holds, and takes the second set 6-4. And we’re going to a third set of torture. 10 winners apiece in this set, with one more UE by Ana at 12. JJ with one more total point, 32 to 31.

07:33 JJ wins the first points, but then serves a fault, throws her hands in the air, and tosses another fault. Brilliant.

07:31 JJ breaks. My body is so angry at me. So JJ is serving for the second set at 5-4… but has held serve once all match, so who the hell knows.

07:26 “Oh dear, that is a very bad miss”… indeed. JJ overclocks the forehand, and Ana holds her service break. 4-all.

07:26 Double fault. Crap indeed.

07:25 Big forehand by Ana to save game point. Deuce. Seriously, this match is crap.

07:21 A couple of big backhands down the line for JJ to get break point and hold. Breaking is the new holding. Ana dumps one into the net and JJ holds, and will serve at 4-3. Does that make sense? Fuck it.

07:19 Wow. Ana plops a ball over, smash from JJ, Ana jumps to get the ball back over… and naturally, JJ dumps it into the net to get broken at love. 3-all.

07:18 Heinz didn’t need to say anything. DF, sloppy play from JJ, and Ana has 3 BPs for the 13th break of the match…

07:17 Heniz out for Ana. “You’re up a set, you understand?” Just wants her going for it and not sitting back on her heels, no doubt.

07:15 JJ starts coming in… and stays in. She breaks, and will serve at 3-2. Definitely the better player in this set.

07:13 Huge skyball from JJ, Ana just plops it back over the net, JJ HAMMERS it, comes to net… and screws up the volley despite being well in control of the point. Still, she’s taking more chances, and goes for it to get deuce.

07:11 Ana comes to the net, misses the volley and falls on her ass. Another good point from JJ and she holds for the first time ALL MATCH. 2-2.

07:08 JJ a hot mess on serve. Starts coming to the net after the serve… then retreats. Go figure, she loses the point.

07:05 JJ steps up her game, but Ana hits a ridic passing shot to save a break point… then errors the next one, and JJ gets the break back. To serve at 1-2. And so the slop continues.

07:02 Ana shot skids off the line, JJ just knubs it half way to the net. Hands on the hips, and looks at Kader. Or someone. Not exactly sure who she’s pissed at. Still, plays a couple good points after, 15-30.

07:01 I really have no idea how that Ana shot was in, but so it goes. Ana gets a lucky net cord to get break point, JJ effs it up, and so it goes. Ana to serve at 2-0.

07:00 Ana his a little pooper defensive shot that turns out to be a fantastic drop shot. Forehand winner down the line. JJ still up in her game, 30-15

06:57 Ana with a solid hold at 15 in the second. The world is broken.

06:56 Another set we go. I need food. I can’t believe there’s a full set of this to go. Also, what is up with these NON-model Madrid ball kids/people? I am thoroughly offended.

06:54 Well that was magical. Two wild forehand errors from JJ and Ana breaks. At love. JJ as useful on serve as… I dunno. Something craptastic. 10 winners and 17 UEs by each. Ana won one more total point.

06:53 Lulz. Balls to the wall forehand, JJ error, and it’s 0-30.

06:50 Well blow me. JJ finally breaks back. That wasn’t painful. Good thing for Ana is that JJ has to serve to stay in the match.

06:49 Ana apparently unaware that she’s allowed to win 2 points in a row.

06:47 JJ takes some initiative and saves a second set point.

06:46 Fourth double fault. That’s more like it. Ana’s chasing serves big time now, not good.

06:45 My brain is mush. Ana somehow has set point. I have no idea how.

06:42 A little classic Ana. Easy chance for a put away winner, annnnd right into the net. But then she comes back with an ace. Crazy. Deuce again.

06:38 Ana is just whacking returns back… and winning points with it. See girl?! She breaks, yes, again, and is suddenly serving for the set. Um… ok then.

06:36 More huge returns from Ana. JJ manages to control it, but can’t get back into the point. Huh.

06:35 New balls, please. Or someone grow a pair on serve, maybe.

06:33 I just realized I was typing the whole thing backwards. Early indeed. Ana goes from 0-30 to 40-30 with some solid play. Then an unreturnable serve and it’s the first service hold. About bloody time.

06:31 Ana gets it to deuce and… well you guessed it. 3-3. One point on serve for Ana, still. And a whole lotta brain cells lost up in here.

06:28 Ana hits a solid, unreturnable backhand… and then hits a wild, wide backhand, after they sorta volleyed! Hey, never said it would be pretty.

06:25 Ana breaks… but has one point on serve in three games. She’s broken at love. JJ up 3-2… and hasn’t held serve. NBD. I don’t ask much, but jebus.

06:22 Must be cold as hell still. Or it’s just Kader. Either way, he’s rocking the full get-up. JJ saves a couple BPs.

06:20 Ginormous Ana forehand return winner of old. This is going to be a match of breaks, methinks.

06:17 Bloody hell it’s early. 6 o’clock? Ugh. Under 5 hours of sleep. Anyway… 3 breaks to start. Brilliant. Ana with 3 DFs, JJ looking the aggressive player… or something.