And it’s Rafa
Strawberries and cream. And an espresso for those who woke up at 4am to queue up for tickets. (Not today, last week.)
It’s painful to watch Tomas Berdych lumbering around the court totally bereft of ideas (You cannot serve your way out of this, you are not Goran), so I’m going to stop right here at the end of the second set. Rafael Nadal wins his second Wimbledon title!
Boboy says Rafa reminds him of a matador. Na-ah. While we’d all like to see him in toreador pants, Rafa is the bull.
Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images
Why do I suddenly want two scoops of ice cream?
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
July 4th, 2010 at 23:44
One of the most boring Wimbledon finals I’ve ever seen. Almost as boring as Wimbledon finals involving Pete Sampras, but thankfully, not as boring as the 2002 final between Hewitt and Nalbandian.
Congrats, Rahfeehyell Nadal.
July 4th, 2010 at 23:46
nice shot of Rafa’s behind
July 4th, 2010 at 23:59
Poli: Your thoughts on Uncle Toni? I think Rafa’s early training amounted to child abuse (of a non-sexual nature but still abuse).
July 5th, 2010 at 06:12
My new dream is to become the mother of Sergio Ramos’ illegitimate child. Wooh these spaniards.
July 5th, 2010 at 12:36
rafa deserves the win. but didja notice he’s getting bald?
July 5th, 2010 at 12:40
@JZ: I’ve always wondered why Uncle Toni has never been mentioned in the same breath as the other legendary tennis stage-daddies, like Matthew Williams (circa the early days of Venus and Serena) and that guy who got slapped by a restraining order by his own daughter (I thought it was Jennifer Capriati, but it could be another female US player altogether)… and let’s not even forget the family pressure that drove Andre Agassi to hate tennis. Wanna bet that Rafa is going to write an Agassi-esque tell-all twenty years from now?
Speaking of the Nadals (and tying it in with the previous entry): After watching Charice live in concert, I’ve come to the conclusion that she is the Rafael Nadal of pop music. Rafa has his knees, and Charice has her voice-box – both of them could really use a break from all that strain.
July 5th, 2010 at 15:40
Strawberries and Cream! I might not be much of a tennis fan, but I’d go to Wimbledon just for those!
July 5th, 2010 at 20:01
lefthandedsnake: A. Baguio. B. Your local supermarket.
July 6th, 2010 at 00:20
stellalehua: The only tennis player I could remember filing a restraining order against his father was Jelena Dokic. Her father, Damir, is one serious nutcase.
jessicazafra: I think Uncle Toni is a excellent motivational/tactical coach, but I’m not sure if he’s a competent technical coach. Uncle Toni tried to retool Rafa’s serve two times. First they emulated Federer’s service motion (Australian Open 2008), then Andy Murray’s more recently. Both attempts failed and Rafa’s serve is still one the weaker parts of his game. He also failed in trying to tweak Rafa’s forehand mechanics, which was supposed to help him hit flatter and drive through the ball more, especially on fast hardcourts where he’s most vulnerable. Uncle Toni knows what aspects of Rafa’s game could still be improved, but doesn’t seem to know how to.
The thing that I don’t like about Uncle Toni is that he seems to push Rafa too much. Uncle Toni and Rafa often whine about the season being too long, and the tour being too physically demanding. But then they go on and enter four tournaments within five weeks, or play extra tournaments. Then they complain about the knees.
I’ve never thought of Rafa’s early tennis training to be a form of child abuse. A lot of tennis pros such as Martina Hingis was trained very early. I think she started playing tennis at two, and entered her first tournament at four. How do you draw the line?
What I find bothering are the rumors about management agencies scouting Eastern Europe for “cute young girls who could play a little,” then bringing them to tennis academies in Florida where they allegedly receive financial support, private coaching, media exposure etc. Basically, they try to manufacture future Sharapovas.
July 6th, 2010 at 00:55
Don’t forget Mary Pierce’s father!
Was it Men’s Vogue that mentioned how Rafa as a child was made to play in mud, in the rain, with balls that had no fuzz left on them so he could play in the worst conditions? Effective, but brutal.
July 6th, 2010 at 01:00
i’m cooking paella for dinner to celebrate this win.. last week, i had swiss rosti with my friends to celebrate federer, just because he’s roger federer hehe
July 6th, 2010 at 01:07
And I wasn’t invited?
July 6th, 2010 at 02:04
Ah yes, Jim Pierce was another crazy tennis parent. I think tennis needs more crazy people in the players’ box for added entertainment. Yuri Sharapov needs to comeback. I’m tired of seeing Mirka chewing gum, and being bored out of her wits while her husband is down a break, and two sets to love.
I can’t imagine playing tennis with balls that had no fuzz left. Those would literally zoom past you after they bounce!
July 6th, 2010 at 07:53
@JZ and Poli: Mary Pierce! That was the name of the player I had in mind. It’s been a while since I’ve followed tennis, though, so I just found out about the Dokic case recently. Thanks.
And yes, it bothers me that they’re trying to manufacture Mini-Poves and Baby Anna K’s. Glass ceiling, much?
July 7th, 2010 at 19:50
ooohhhh, look at that big butt.
July 8th, 2010 at 00:08
Do you believe that RAFA can match FED’s 16 slams and that TMF is on his way to retirement? I HATE RAFA WITH PASSION!!