[tennisfox]

Pictures from the WTF photoshoot!

Nadal really should get up early enough to dry his hair...



This is a very strange picture

These pictures just make me lol.

[tennisfox]

Nice article

The hug – 2009’s No. 1 tennis moment

12/10/09 3:49 PM | Cheryl Murray
The hug – 2009’s No. 1 tennis moment Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer supply more amazing memories...

For a bit of time on a January night in Melbourne, the crowd at Rod Laver Arena melted away. The officials on the award platform and even Rod Laver himself were momentarily invisible. The world came down to two men having a moment – probably THE tennis moment of the decade.

Like most great moments, this one was born of spontaneity. It was one man recognizing that somebody else’s needs had to come before his own, of realizing that sometimes celebration must be delayed and consolation given instead.

So it was at the awards ceremony of the Australian Open. Rafael Nadal had just beaten Roger Federer in yet another heartbreaking five-set final – and heartbreaking it was. Federer stood poised to make his consolation speech, and though he surely would have wished it otherwise, he broke down into uncontrollable sobs.

The announcer, who displayed all of the delicacy of a sumo wrestler, warbled something into the microphone about waiting for Federer to "settle down" and he called Rafael Nadal to the stage instead. This is simply not done – the champion never speaks before the runner-up at a trophy ceremony. But Nadal, who clearly recognized that if the moment were going to be saved, he’d have to do it, jogged up onto the raised platform.

With the folks from Tennis Australia looking on helplessly, Nadal received the trophy from Laver, raised it once, and then seemed to make a decision. He clearly had not planned any of this – who could have? But he knew what needed to be done and with an instinct born of inherent decency, he tucked the trophy under his arm, ignored the Tennis Australia guys, and walked over to comfort his opponent.

It was a simple thing, relatively speaking. A quick arm slung around the neck, heads together for a brief moment and few words of encouragement. Ten seconds at most. But it was ten seconds that transcended sport and rivalries and important Grand Slam titles. It created this indelible moment of beauty between the sweaty and the tear-stained, where all the wrong things are suddenly perfect and exactly right.

Rest here

[l_mac]

Rafa watching Fed and liking what he sees at Miami R3

[Sunset of Age]

Originally Posted by l_mac

Rafa watching Fed and liking what he sees at Miami R3

Thanks Linda. Lovely picture. And yes, I'm sure he liked what he saw out there.

[l_mac]

I was expecting this thread to get a bump with the "look into my eyes" pic from the H4H. Perhaps the most Fedal pic I have ever seen.

[kinski76]

I'm not usually a fangirl, but this is a gorgeous pic of Rafa

[Sunset of Age]

Originally Posted by l_mac

I was expecting this thread to get a bump with the "look into my eyes" pic from the H4H. Perhaps the most Fedal pic I have ever seen.

You should have a look at the collection of Fedal loveliness I have stored on my HD since 2004.
Some 1928346192345123453912345 gigabyte of that.

Oh, on second thought - perhaps not.

[Arkulari]

but yeah, these two guys can't absolutely stand each other, or at least the haters say so

[Sunset of Age]

Originally Posted by kinski76

I'm not usually a fangirl, but this is a gorgeous pic of Rafa

It is. Just GORGEOUS. But then, I'm one of those Fedal fans who thinks he's getting to look better with age - any minute.

[Sunset of Age]

Originally Posted by Arkulari

but yeah, these two guys can't absolutely stand each other, or at least the haters say so

- don't spoil the fun, Nat. We know better, eh?

[Arkulari]

Originally Posted by Bonnie the Cat

- don't spoil the fun, Nat. We know better, eh?

[Sunset of Age]

Originally Posted by Arkulari

Time for me to find back some of my writing muse eh?
Maybe tomorrow.

[l_mac]

I don't think many people think they disklike each other, but certainly some fans of one hate the other. At a certain Rafa fansite I am considered a Fed apologist

[Arkulari]

Originally Posted by Bonnie the Cat

Time for me to find back some of my writing muse eh?
Maybe tomorrow.

[Sunset of Age]

Originally Posted by l_mac

I don't think many people think they disklike each other, but certainly some fans of one hate the other. At a certain Rafa fansite I am considered a Fed apologist

Really? That's a side I wouldn't suspect of you, Linda.
For your information, at a certain Roger site, I've been designated as a Rafa Troll.