Highlights From Rafael Nadal’s Win Over Roger Federer In The IPTL [Video]

rafa quick to pounce on short balls, looking much more aggressive, inside the baseline here. also his serve is looking quite good. to me fed looks a little bit slow, but it’s hard to know how seriously they take these exho matches. he hits an excellent forehand return though. perhaps fed should be more aggressive on return vs rafa and generally.

December 14th, 2015 at 11:01 am

Well played Fedal. Real treat for the very appreciative crowd.

December 14th, 2015 at 12:00 pm

Thankyou for these amazing highlights tennis-x ;)….

December 14th, 2015 at 2:52 pm

Alison. Haven’t you been watching the IPTL? It’s on Sky Sports.

December 14th, 2015 at 3:01 pm

Giles i have,but unfortunatly i missed this due to work,anyway i love to see Rafa playing like this,Rafa winning,and Rafa looking so happy,i dont know how much to read into this,but i sure hope it bodes well for next year?….

December 14th, 2015 at 3:11 pm

Surprised skeezer hasn’t commented so far. His opinion is invaluable and any thread without him is incomplete. Hoping that skeezer will comment here shortly. I also think that from now onwards, we should all not comment on a thread until skeezer has commented. skeezer’s comment gives the right direction to a discussion. Thank you for your patience everyone. And well-played Fedal.

Hail Federer ! Hail Hydra !

December 14th, 2015 at 7:44 pm

Nadal looked very good. I see him going into the top 2 next year without a doubt. He is steadily climbing back into form again and looking sharp. They were playing to win. They weren’t just rolling the serves in or hitting there groundstrokes at a slower pace. Nadal was chasing down everything he could as usual.

December 14th, 2015 at 10:30 pm

I watched all of the Rafa matches, singles and doubles that were on you tube. I thought they all played to win. Lots of high fiving going on and plenty of smiles. The crowd loved it!! I thought Rafa had improved on a few things. Fed and Rafa made some amazing shots. I think Rafa lost to Milos??? Did I remember that correctly?? It looked like everyone was having a good time.

December 14th, 2015 at 11:15 pm

My Award For Best Commenter goes to Lodhi – he has given me so many chuckles – I don’t care what he says, he says it so cunningly.

PS; Where has he been all my life – could he be a reincarnated repentant version of Sienna?

December 15th, 2015 at 2:01 pm

^^^ seconded.

You guys I guess this win makes the head to head 23.5-11.

December 15th, 2015 at 6:31 pm

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/dec/15/andy-murray-roger-federer-international-premier-tennis-league-dubai

Way to go Andy! Just make sure you do it when it matters…;)

December 16th, 2015 at 2:00 am

@Margot…..Thanks for posting that link. I thought this deal was over but after reading it found out that Andy’s group will play Rafa’s. I didn’t quite understand the format of this event. I bet I can find it live streamed somewhere on my PC. I’m gonna look…..

December 16th, 2015 at 2:15 am

I watched the full set of Rafa and Roger on you tube. I think they were both playing to win. Looked they were relaxed and having a good time.

December 16th, 2015 at 2:18 am

Oops…..I made that last comment already…..up above…..sorry, short term memory acting up again!! :(

December 16th, 2015 at 2:23 am

How you doing Okiegal? Difficult time of year coming up.
Re your comment about Nole’s fans being such good buddies, I think it may be before youe commenting time on here, but it was the same when Fed or Rafa were dominating. Such a love in!
While Andy’s fans continually press their noses to the sweet shop window, looking in..:'(
Except on 3 notable occasions of course….;)

December 16th, 2015 at 2:52 am

@ Margot…Doing OK. I have had lots of business to take care of. Nothing is easy. Lots of phone calls trying to tie up loose ends, but I will get done at some point. Yes, I guess I have forgotten how the fan bases get all cozy when their fav is on top……mine hasn’t been on top for a long time now. I love looking through the sweet shop window…..cute expression! I hope Andy has a good year.

I am dreading Christmas. Will be a sad time for me and my son…….looking forward to the Aussie Open, however. Thanks for asking, Margot. Appreciate it! I miss him so much and can still cry at the drop of a hat……

December 16th, 2015 at 3:31 am

YAY Andy exactly Margot bring it when it really matters though now ;)….

December 16th, 2015 at 5:48 am

Well, It’s only an exho.
BUT it is very good for Andy’s confidence to finally beat Federer again.
Get the ball rolling.
It’s been a while, after all.
Federer had already had a match under his belt too.
Next year we might just see a return to the pre-surgery norm in that rivalry
:)
But of course Federer and Novak (previously unheard of) steaming ahead of Andy in what about 14/15 combined victories had absolutely NOTHING to do with Andy’s surgery and attempted to recovery on the tour afterwards.
Oh noes!!!
Those victories just, well, all coincidentally happened, after the surgery had taken place.
That’s all.
Right?
Right….
;0)

December 16th, 2015 at 6:03 am

@OK
Oh honey, it’ll take at least 6-12 months for you to feel anything like your old self. It all happened so quickly too.
Look after yourself and allow yourself time to grieve. Burst into tears whenever you want!

In tennis news:
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/dec/16/andy-murray-amelie-mauresmo-australian-open
Really glad Amelie is back on board, but totally shocked Jonas has been kicked off the boat! Thought Amelie had recommended him too.

December 16th, 2015 at 7:54 am

Well what did he do really?

I hope this Amelie situation produces some real fireworks for Andy, for verily she has big boots to fill i.e not just Lendl, but Becker, Edberg etc all had very significant effects on their charges.

December 16th, 2015 at 8:27 am

@CDP
Andy is looking for a replacement for Jonas and I understand Edberg is free………….;)

December 16th, 2015 at 8:41 am

Nadal’s backhand is improving since last two three months it also showed St ITPL

December 16th, 2015 at 8:46 am

Oh yeah Margot

Looks like he was just iching to get right back in the seat there after Fed. I dunno, maybe after a few weeks rest and some time listening to his fav ABBA tunes & watching a bit of ‘Scandi Noir’ he’ll be open to new suggestions.
;)
I wonder if Edberg still lives in London?
I know someone that took tennis lessons from him at a gym/tennis club in Chiswick (of all places) not that long ago, but he might just have been passing through.

December 16th, 2015 at 9:42 am

@Margot…. thanks for the encouragement. Grief is a really strange emotion. I can be laughing one minute and in tears minutes later…..My son asked me if I thought I would ever date again…..I LOL!!

Regarding Andy and Amelia….Margot don’t you really think that Ivan was better for Andy than Amelia?? Seems like Ivan could keep Andy calmer than she does. Which I think is vital to Andy’s game….staying calm….What do you think?? I don’t intend to pick on her because I think she is a great gal. Maybe she has him improving on some things that I might not pick up on, since I am no tennis player…..just curious??

December 16th, 2015 at 10:25 am

I just watched the Murray vs Federer match. They were playing to win for sure. Federer even got a bit emotional during a challenge near the beginning of the match when he was down a break. Murray was hitting the ball HARD. That’s the most aggressive I have seen him play in a long time. If he plays like that, he can beat anyone. Andy might be one of my least favorite players, but for anyone to think that he won’t accomplish so much more before his career is done, doesn’t see the pure talent this guy has. When all is said and done, it wouldn’t surprise me if he had just as many masters 1000’s as Federer and I don’t see how he isn’t going to win more majors at some point. He has to much talent. So people can bash him all they want about his statistics so far, but it’s much better to wait until it’s all over. Andy is peaking later just like Nole. He works to hard not to figure things out mentally at some point and put it all together again.

December 16th, 2015 at 10:27 am

@Nits…..I too thought his backhand had improved. I loved how happy he was acting….of course this event was for fun, but they all played seriously…..I thought. I enjoyed the replays…..glad they were accessible.

December 16th, 2015 at 10:29 am

@GG…..I am listening to Golden Oldies and just heard the boys from Liverpool. I loved those guys. You weren’t even born yet when those guys made the music scene. A favorite group of mine….

December 16th, 2015 at 10:33 am

@Dave…..Glad you mentioned the Andy/Roger match I will try to find it. I am sure it is on you tube. Thank goodness for the “tube”! It brings me lots of enjoyment when watching the TV is at an all time low……

December 16th, 2015 at 10:37 am

Here is the link for your viewing pleasure Okiegal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3AeVwh6dqk

Andy should have won 6-2. Had triple match point at 5-2 and on the second match point it looked like Fed might have double faulted, but wasn’t called.

December 16th, 2015 at 10:39 am

I am not sure Amelie is right for Muzz but having been trained by Judy he may find male coaches too rough or not empathetic enough. He got along with Lendl because he respected Lendl. Lendl is very disciplined and not likely to yell at Muzz, has a sense of humor and was probably like a father figure. I think that partnership really helped Muzz. Lendl made Muzz work on his forehand and that I think was key in his slam wins, in addition of course to keeping his emotions under control. I don’t know why that partnership broke up. Maybe Lendl really had other commitments. Or Muzz got tired of keeping his emotions under control and wanted to yell at his box again?

December 16th, 2015 at 11:04 am

@Dave….Thanks! Going to get a shave and haircut….will watch when I get back…..teasing about the shave…..sort of….LOL!

December 16th, 2015 at 11:10 am

@lakie – Lendl didn’t want to coach full time, which is why he left. Murray wanted him to stay on. Berdych asked him to be his coach after he left Murray, but Lendl turned him down because he didn’t want to travel.

December 16th, 2015 at 11:46 am

except you can count the novak fans with one maybe two hands, margot. :) when rafa was dominant there were more (nadalista, thangs, señorita, queen, zola, kimberly, voicemale1, and many others i can’t recall right now), and when fed was dominant, well … actually he still wins all the polls here!

December 16th, 2015 at 11:56 am

@Jane, are you saying that even Andy has more fans on here than Novak? :-)

December 16th, 2015 at 12:09 pm

With the year Novaks had i expected Jamie here bragging and trashing,Kimberly only sends posts that are very limited in what she says,and has intimated that she really cant stand the sight of this forum anymore which is a shame as shes much missed, but i think maybe people also have issues in the real world,and are probably more than happy to enjoy tennis well away from an internet forum,now the only Rafa fans here seem to be myself,Okie and Giles,forums can be lonely places at times….

December 16th, 2015 at 12:10 pm

i think it’s close rz. :) maybe i can do a little listing.

novak fans who post here regularly? me, wog boy, chrisford1, mat4, and others who post here are danica, django, bojana, travis bickle, courbon and yolita.

then fed /novak fans are ben and jalep. also daniel is pretty supportive.

murray fans who post here regularly? margot, cdp, the da, j-kath and others who support andy are many, including yourself (i think your fave is fed though?), gypsy, okie, giles, honeraise, (sorry if i have misspelled!), lakie, etc. used to have puckbandit and racquet but haven’t seen them in ages.

gypsy, as for jamie, she or he hasn’t been around in 2 years now. rafa fans posting regularly are you, okie and giles, but thangs, james, brando, seniorita, queen, nadalista, andymira, and kimberly post occasionally too. we used to have zola, voicemale1, and many more. also, a number of fed fans, like tennis vagabond, for example, respect and support rafa too. and elina, who is a bit of an enigma. probably when rafa returns in better for next year, which i suspect he will, more birds will flock over/back. :)

December 16th, 2015 at 12:57 pm

Jane, you can count me among the Andy fans. When I started posting on Tennis-X, I was more of a Fed fan with Andy a close second, but now more of an Andy fan.

December 16th, 2015 at 1:04 pm

Jane sorry but the majority of those Rafa fans you mentioned have not been here for years,aside from a couple that is,and the thing is if Rafa returns in better form not when….

December 16th, 2015 at 1:30 pm

I just hope they won’t come back. Not because of them, of course. It would mean that Rafa won’t return in better form…

December 16th, 2015 at 1:32 pm

Mat4 lol i appreciate your honesty,personally ive never been one to bail when the going gets tough,my favorite football team continues to disspoint and is bottom of division 3,and ive followed them for years….

December 16th, 2015 at 1:39 pm

Nole is my favorite player. I still have respect for the other players though.

December 16th, 2015 at 1:52 pm

gypsy gal, “thangs, james, brando, seniorita, queen, nadalista, andymira, and kimberly” ~ all of these people have posted this year, some very recently.

December 16th, 2015 at 1:53 pm

gotcha RZ, thx for clarifying.

sorry dave, you’re a new guy so i wasn’t sure. we used to have a dave who was a fed fan. cheers.

December 16th, 2015 at 1:54 pm

No problem Jane. I used to read comments on different sites for many years. I finally decided to start commenting. Not sure what all the suspense was about.

December 16th, 2015 at 2:03 pm

me neither dave; i think it all started from a comment okie made, which began a discussion about who sticks up for whom, and which led to another comment about fans who flock together etc.

the reality is that we’re all *tennis fans*, and many of us will continue to be fans of the sport when our favourite players retire, just as many of us were fans before our current faves came along.

it’s about tennis.

…albeit, dysfunctionally, of course.

December 16th, 2015 at 2:10 pm

Mat4 dont know if you saw my post,but anyway i was thanking you for the song ;)….

December 16th, 2015 at 2:11 pm

Ya, It’s all about the tennis for me as well. I don’t mind switching favorite players. If one player starts to resonate more with me than another player, that’s just what happens and so I will go for that player. Lendl was my fav player when I was very young than Agassi was my favorite player. Than it was Federer and now it’s Djokovic. And it will change again at some point. That’s just how it goes. I actually like Nadal more than Federer now which is so strange considering he was my least favorite player for the longest time. It all changed when I saw Rafa crying with his face down on the court when he realized his back was injured during the second set of the final during the Australian Open against Stan. I felt for him because he knew he couldn’t win if he was injured and it was so frustrating for him. And Rafa being so honest about losing confidence and admitting at one point that he didn’t like playing Djokovic because of the match up. I loved the brutal honesty. So things change and that’s just how it goes.

December 16th, 2015 at 2:20 pm

Why do tennis fans need to be pigeon-holed into a specific fan clan?

December 16th, 2015 at 2:23 pm

They don’t. There are no rules. People like to make rules about this. But there really are no rules. We are all free to choose who we want to like and when we want to like them.

December 16th, 2015 at 2:26 pm

Jalep hi,or stereo typed….

December 16th, 2015 at 2:38 pm

GG:

Yes, I’ve seen that post. You’re welcome.

December 16th, 2015 at 2:45 pm

they don’t jalep… tennis fans – mostly – are fans of the sport and then have their faves.

not sure if you’ve been reading but this all started with a few comments the other day about fans flocking together or not sticking up for players who aren’t their faves etc. which led to a general discussion.

however, fandoms do create debates, excitement, etc.. people often feel compelled to cheer for one or a couple players, in particular. i don’t know why it came up.

December 16th, 2015 at 2:48 pm

dave,”resonates” is a nice word to use. also agree that there are no “rules.”

December 16th, 2015 at 2:50 pm

“tennis fans – mostly – are fans of the sport and then have their faves.”

I don’t think this is true at all. Not in today’s landscape.

December 16th, 2015 at 2:50 pm

OH Dear one of those times i wish id said nothing,certainly didnt mean to start anything :(….

December 16th, 2015 at 3:05 pm

ben, what say you then? mostly people pick a big 4 and go with it? maybe i should say “long term” tennis fans?

December 16th, 2015 at 3:05 pm

One of my friends favorite players in Andy Murray. I thought about it afterwards and realized that his personality had a lot in common with Andy Murray’s. That can be one factor for why people like a certain player more than another. They feel like they can relate to the person more in some ways. Another factor is they come from the same country as a person. Another is that people like the players style and tactics more and so go for him. There are so many more factors and sometimes I don’t even know why I go for one player over another in a specific match. Maybe to make it more exciting. I’m not sure.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:07 pm

Long term fans, yeah. But I think right now most fans are very much in the Federer or Nadal camp. Keep in mind on these forums we’re interacting with more die-hard tennis fans. And even here it’s hard to say most people are just tennis fans as opposed to just being big fans of their favorites who play tennis.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:08 pm

would’ve been interesting to watch the andy/fed match. did you see it margot?

December 16th, 2015 at 3:09 pm

“I thought about it afterwards and realized that his personality had a lot in common with Andy Murray’s.”

So your friend also has the GOAT personality?

December 16th, 2015 at 3:09 pm

My dad has been watching tennis for so many years and he is able to watch any tennis match and not feel any stress whatsoever and just watch the match for the sake of watching a good tennis match. I would love to get to that point to be honest. That is a goal of mine. It can get intense when you get attached to a certain player and they are losing in an important match. It can be gut wrenching. I am actually getting a bit tired of that myself. I would love to be able to just watch a good tennis match and still go for one player over another and not feel bad if they lose.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:12 pm

gypsy, gosh, from my perspective, absolutely no worries. it prompted some interesting discussion, esp now when there is no tennis (beyond exho). i guess you’d prefer to discuss hugh jackman though? ;)

i am wondering about movies, like has anyone seen the new star wars? still wish we had a “misc” thread here on going.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:12 pm

haha. Not sure if it’s the goat haha. But they do have things in common for sure.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:15 pm

I just watched a really good movie called Peaceful Warrior. One of the better movies I have seen in my life. Based on true events as well. It’s not about the accomplishments or the story, but about the lesson that the main character learns. Quite an inspiring movie.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:17 pm

oxymoron for a title dave; will keep it in mind, thx.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:19 pm

Since we’re talking about switching favorite players…A few times I’ve surprised myself by rooting for a player in a match that I didn’t think I would be cheering for. Anyone else have this experience?

December 16th, 2015 at 3:20 pm

yes, definitely RZ. i have noticed that esp when i am watching a match where i “don’t care” who wins, but then suddenly i do care and i have no idea why.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:25 pm

Jane lol yeah shame HJ doesnt play tennis,i think id be his number 1 fan,anyway no tennis so yeah i just didnt mean to stir up trouble,i just sometimes find im doing it unintentionally,anyway Star Wars films never did anything for me,except for Ewan McGreggor ;),im more for thrillers favorite was The French Connection with Gene Hackman as Jimmy Popeye Doyle,from Hackman to Jackman LOL….

December 16th, 2015 at 3:25 pm

I didn’t see “Peaceful warrior”, and I don’t watch films for some time already, but the other morning I stumbled over “Don’t come knocking” with Sam Sheppard. The director — Wim Wenders — managed to put so much poetry in an ordinary story, so ordinary that it could really be true.

True stories most of the time are not real “true”.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:30 pm

No, I have not been reading tennis-x or any forums for….I dunno…maybe a week?

Sorry to just butt in.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:32 pm

I have actually switched between players during a match and decided to go for the other player midway through the match.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:32 pm

Jalep you have alot of respect on this forum,and you cant but in anyway, as its an open discussion free for all,i had this the other day with a poster i wont name that called me a buttinsky,and im glad your here ;)….

December 16th, 2015 at 3:36 pm

Thanks Gypsy.

I see my name is off the Nole fan list ;) Though I still support him.
Did not read you called – “buttinsky?” Haven’t heard that for a long time! Well name calling is a sign of weakness — always.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:44 pm

gypsy, i am 100% with you on both star wars movies, but esp ewan… yum.

jalep sigh, i didnt mean to suggest you were; was just trying to provide context for convo, and i did include you on novak fan list!! i just said fed-novak. sorry if that’s wrong.

eek! i seem to be getting in trouble but not meaning to.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:49 pm

Dave, it’s quite common for me to switch cheering one way or another midway through a match or switch several times.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:49 pm

mat4 have you ever read sam shepard’s plays? buried child is so lovely and sad.

December 16th, 2015 at 3:52 pm

It’s okay jane. Like I said – haven’t stopped cheering for Nole…

December 16th, 2015 at 3:56 pm

jalep, you are a wealth of tennis fandom/knowledge, a true fan of the sport, which is why it’s tough to put you in any camp! maybe you’re the exception, in fact, in terms of ben’s theory anyhow. cheers, and sorry if i said anything to offend you or anyone. i should probably quit while i am behind and stop procrastinating anyhow. :)

December 16th, 2015 at 3:59 pm

Jane err me too,refering to the last line of your post ;)….

December 16th, 2015 at 4:02 pm

You are not offending me, jane. Guess I was a little surprised to be grouped with Ben – lol…

What’s Ben’s theory?

Please don’t stop, jane –
I start a new job soon, thank God. No more nights.

December 16th, 2015 at 4:04 pm

No, jane, I didn’t. Not only I didn’t see them in French, but I also have a very complicated relationship with theatre and film adaptations.

I was very disappointed watching some of my favourite books adapted — the best film was perhaps “Les Misérables” with Jean Gabin, the worst “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”. I even hate Spencer Tracy in “The Old Man and the Sea”, although most films based on Hemingway’s novels were good, but I lost a part of my dreams, my visions watching them.

I also hate theatre and most directors and actors, who think that they are more important than the text, the story itself. In a hotel room, when I had not much to do, I found recently an adaptation of “The Tempest”, with Helen Mirren in the role of Prospero. I was shocked.

So, it’s usually or the film, or the novel. And I read theatre plays, I never watch them.

There’s one exception, though. Huston’s adaptation of “The Dead”. I enjoyed it very much.

Today, I believe it’s only fair to read just a few books — there’s always a part of life you missed the previous reading. So I go back and forth from the “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” to “Sentimental education”, and when I feel fit and strong, I read “Terra Nostra”, or “On Heroes and Tombs”. I promised myself that I shall read once again “Hills Like White Elephants”. I adore that short story.

December 16th, 2015 at 4:26 pm

jalep ben’s theory is that most tennis fans are in one of two camps: fed or rafa. glad you’ve found a new job:congrats!

ma4, i know what you mean about adaptations but i was referring to his play which was written as a play – i.e., just reading it. “hills…” is a great short story by hemingway, whose short stories i much prefer to his novels. and while i love to re-read i also love new stories, so i am always looking for a new/different read too. time is so limited, unfortunately.

December 16th, 2015 at 4:38 pm

I agree that 90% or more tennis fans are Roger or Nadal fans but most were tennis fans before and/or will continue to be after they are gone from the game.

December 16th, 2015 at 6:40 pm

I will continue to be tennis fan after Nole is done though I am considering switching to WTA, less stressful and eaisier on the eyes..

December 16th, 2015 at 7:13 pm

elina, to me 90% or more seems high. also, i am not sure i agree that “most” were tennis fans before and/or will be after. rather, i suspect that a portion of ALL the big 4’s fans are fans of just that player and not the sport of tennis per se. there have been articles, for example, about self-professed roger fans, affectionately called “fed heads”, who openly said they will not follow tennis when he retires. and i am sure novak, too, has some serbian fans who perhaps support him specifically because of where he is from and were not really tennis fans before. thus it remains to be seen if they will still follow the sport when he quits.

December 16th, 2015 at 7:44 pm

I hope Coric reaches his potential. I think he might be the next player I go for after Nole. He has that fire in him to go far. I also like Chung. He looks like he could be really good in the future.

December 16th, 2015 at 8:17 pm

joking aside, I started to watch tennis (not quite to follow) when Nastase came in. I always liked colorful personality, Connors, Mcenroe, Safin, Nalbandian ..but I also like nice mannered players like Rafter. I was never fan of Borg same as Federer. To get to the point, it is true, tennis wasn’t big in Serbia due to few reasons, manly political, it was considered sport of bourgeoisie ((the capitalist class who own most of society’s wealth and means of production.), which were despised in the communist country but ironically it was played almost exclusively by the very same politicians who were teaching us those things and the players were kids almost exclusively from the well to do families or communist upper class. Jelena Gencis once said that in the sixties, when she played tennis, she had to hide racquets in the public transport since the passengers were giving her dirty looks and she felt uncomfortable. I remember playing basketball at Red Star courts at Kalemegdan in early seventies, just down below were tennis courts where Nole started playing, Partizan tennis courts, the only people I could see playing were politicians, army and police high ranking officers, like Genera Jovo Popovic from secret service. In those kind of circumstances you wouldn’t have great deal of tennis fans in Serbia, would you? The first player that became famouse with working class background was Boba Zivojinovic, his father was caretaker on Red Star tennis courts so Boba had everyday access to play and practice, and helped with patriotic DC matches in former Yugoslavia tennis finaly arrived. With Nole just blossomed like never before.
The reason I was writing this short history is that few years back on this very forum we were repeatedly insulted (mainly by Roger fans) that we started following tennis with Nole, that we don’t have a clue about tennis etc etc, and if some Nole fan would post something in broken English they would intensify their attacks and insults of Nole fans.
The truth is that some people didn’t follow tennis before Nole, but the real tennis fans should be commended them and encouraging them for expanding tennis base and give cedit to Nole fot that too, his influence in the Balkans and wider for tennis popularity is enormous, whether some want to admit that or not.
Jesus, this was like writing novel..

December 16th, 2015 at 8:33 pm

Jane as for the 90% number being high, did you not see, or should I say hear the US Open final?

I know quite a few Roger fans that watched tennis well before Roger. I don’t know any tennis fans personally whose interest in tennis begins and ends with one player. They are the exception in my opinion.

December 16th, 2015 at 8:40 pm

@Jane:

I checked Sam Shepard’s bibliography before answering your post. I am not always quite clear in my answers, but the main reason I never tried to read his works is because I didn’t saw a French translation on the shelves in the libraries.

But in the last 20 years, I started reading in English too, especially linguistics. But I read Kerouac “Desolation Angels” in English, “The Dubliners”, “Shogun”, Cornwell’s “Sharpe’s rifles”, etc. But I stopped reading “serious” novels in English. The truth is mainly because contemporary West European (especially after Grass) hasn’t much to offer, and on the continent, we always thought that, in the second part of the XX century, Anglo-American literature was mostly irrelevant, especially compared to South-American or East-European writers. I like Carver very much, though, and even wrote a short story with his name as a title. Haven’t published it yet — wouldn’t give you such an easy clue about my identity.

But in truth, Sabato, Fuentes, Hrabal, Kis, Grass, even Kundera (although I wrote the same book all his life), are a league for themselves (and you’ll notice that I didn’t mention Tchekhov, Dostoyevsky, Kafka here). When I see that a moron such as Amelie Nothomb is so popular in France, I go back to Rabelais immediately, and I ask myself what has happened with my people.

I don’t say that it’s the truth. Steinbeck is a good writer, I liked Hemingway, I read Joyce, Beckett, and your classics, of course, Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Jack London, Harriet Stowe, I even read the five tomes of the “Little house in the prairie” (I’ll just mention Bayron, Shakespeare — I know Prospero’s monologue in four languages, and of course Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle), but then, I also read Caesar in latin, Apuleus, all the classic Greek tragedies, Herodotus, god knows what else — just bragging…

But it has no end. That’s why today, I read “seriously” just a few books. There’s always something to discover, and you notice how you changed, since, obviously, the book didn’t. You got tired, old, or, sometimes, wise. But wisdom is not a good thing.

December 16th, 2015 at 9:27 pm

@elina:

90% is way to much. We already wrote about it, if I remember well.

BTW, my previous post is put on moderation, and sometimes I would really like to know why.

December 16th, 2015 at 9:30 pm

fair enough that you don’t know them personally elina, but just google up fed heads, as one example of that type of fan. i.e., who just started watching due to one player and may indeed stop watching when said player leaves.

yes indeed, i heard and saw the us open final; however, that was a specific location, a specific group of people, and at a certain point in a player’s career. fed and novak have played at the us open before and the crowd has not been that raucous or lopsided. the rome final was more evenly split. in asia novak gets much support, as he does in australia. i think at this point in fed’s career, people are trying to will him on to another slam, etc. it’s sentimentality to some degree. though he obviously has millions of fans.

if you just go by Facebook, fed and rafa have about 14.4 mill fans, and novak has 6.4 mill, with andy around 3.4 mill. so as you can see novak and andy have lots of fans too. millions of them! :) not as many as fedal, but not less than 10% between the two of them either.

and that’s not even counting other players, non-facebook fans, etc.

so i still maintain that your estimate of more than 90% of all tennis fans being those of fed or rafa fans is high. that’s just my opinion, of course, but i think watching the whole tour bears that out.

——-

wog boy, cool story. i started watching tennis with tracy austin and j-mac. i don’t recall seeing a lot of borg…i think he retired just after i started watching. or thereabouts.

December 16th, 2015 at 9:31 pm

mat4,

If your previous post is under the moderation that’s because you are probably after me again, and moderator is my man..

December 16th, 2015 at 9:41 pm

Errata: …although HE wrote…

@WB:

I even thought that YOU are the moderator…

December 16th, 2015 at 9:44 pm

… Could I be banned if indeed you are?

December 16th, 2015 at 9:49 pm

What is in for me, so I don’t ban you? Let’s call it appreciation money instead of that ugly word “bribe”.

December 16th, 2015 at 9:59 pm

Come on, WB… You are the one working in a reach country, while I worked in Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia… Do you really think I made a lot of money under Ceaușescu and Zhivkov?

Another deal would be more… appropriate: a little appreciation money and I will support you whatever you write…

Another bargain: I would like you to quote some poetry. In any language. Nothing’s happening in the world of tennis, so a few verse… just for me.

December 16th, 2015 at 10:15 pm

Look what I found:

Tonight, my forehead gleams
and sweat drips in each eye;
my thoughts blaze through dreams,
tonight, of beauty I shall die.

The soul’s core is passion deep
in night’s abyss, a blazing cone.
Hush, weep in silence. Let us weep
and let us die. We’ll die alone.

Now, you have to name the author. I know you him.

December 16th, 2015 at 10:21 pm

You are reall quick of the mark, just like Nole, you turned in no time from defense to offense, I’ll consider your offer..

There is a place between Sydney and Melbourne where monument was erected to dog who guarded the tucker box of his owner by sitting on it. One day owner didn’t come back but dog kept guarding his tucker box, it is place where I always stop and it is called “Dog on the Tuckerbox”, inspired by the poem of anonymous author:

Bullocky Bill

As I came down Talbingo Hill
I heard a maiden cry,
‘ There goes old Bill the Bullocky –
He’s bound for Gundagai.’

A better poor old beggar
Never cracked an honest crust,
A tougher poor old beggar
Never drug a whip through dust.

His team got bogged on the five-mile creek,
Bill lashed and swore and cried,
‘ If Nobbie don’t get me out of this
I’ll tattoo his bloody hide.’

But Nobbie strained and broke the yoke
And poked out the leader’s eye,
And the dog sat on the tucker-box
Five miles from Gundagai.

anon

And this is how beautiful that part of Australian countryside is (Aussie outback), when you come with your son to play AO, I’ll take you there:

http://youtu.be/5nqHC4ZfD9U

December 16th, 2015 at 10:39 pm

You really love Tin Ujevic, don’t, I love him too.

Now you have to excuse me, my wife is coming back in two hours and I was supposed to clean windows and house, “slava” is coming this saturday..and I am scared of my wife.. but I’ll be back as soon as I finishe my homework..

December 16th, 2015 at 10:44 pm

OK, since you asked, I’ll quote a bit of poetry I like… perhaps not of the ‘official poetry’ kind, but good enough for a lonely taxi driver ;-)

Did they get you to trade
your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
Did you exchange
a walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?

etc…
and some more

We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl
year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

December 16th, 2015 at 10:50 pm

Ohh s.it, I just noticed this is Rafa thread and not Nole one, double trouble for me, my wife is coming home and I haven’t done anything she told me to do and we hijacked Rafa thread.. Good Lord help me, please..

December 16th, 2015 at 10:53 pm

@WB:

I am very tired, it seems. I wrote “reach” instead of “rich” in one of my previous posts, and “I” instead of “he”.

I won’t ever go to Australia. I don’t think I’ll live more than five years more. If I had a wish, it would be to finally visit the Uffizi palate, and see that famous Del Sarto’s “Madonna of the harpies”, or, at least, to see Naples once again.

A song for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlmsK59ncHs

December 16th, 2015 at 10:55 pm

Hi, Travis.

I know that song by heart. I have “Wish you were here” on vynil still.

Glad you’re here, to help me hijack Rafa’s thread.

December 16th, 2015 at 10:58 pm

shine on you crazy diamonds! :)

December 16th, 2015 at 11:02 pm

And a cover version of Dylan for all of us nolefans here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8cfK_mF7Yc&html5=1

Don’t worry, it’s better than the original.

December 16th, 2015 at 11:05 pm

mat4,

Thanks, great song and lyrics, just what I needed.
BTW, mat4 and Travis Bickle, feel free to call me as a back up if you get in trouble on Rafa thread..

December 16th, 2015 at 11:06 pm

^^Both songs are great

December 16th, 2015 at 11:08 pm

Hi, Jane. Where have you been so long?

Travis, you have a great Gilmour’s unplugged version of that song on YT.

Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j8mr-gcgoI&html5=1

December 16th, 2015 at 11:08 pm

mat4, working, alas! :(
but i am popping in periodically to read and listen so keep on posting please; i need the distractions

December 16th, 2015 at 11:15 pm

Hi mat4 @ Wog Boy,
I enjoyed going throughout the exotic songs and poetry you posted here and on another thread- I especially liked that Russian ballad – didn’t understand a word but it felt sad in a good way…

jane,
I’ll take that as a compliment!
Any comparison with Syd Barrett is good in my books!

December 16th, 2015 at 11:16 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmHWBo46iow

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here.

December 16th, 2015 at 11:19 pm

@Travis:

Mark Bernes was a famous Russian singer, and the song is truly sad.

Indeed, we should try to know each other better — the Russians, like the Americans, are a great people. I was in Leningrad (then) when I first saw the celebration of the end of WWII, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was such a majestic event and I felt ashamed that we stopped honouring our great past (we won the 100 years war, BTW, just to write it once again) the way they honour theirs.

A cover I like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipsMdo0cpwI&html5=1

December 16th, 2015 at 11:40 pm

Hi, jalep. I just wished you were here too. You remind me of Conty, a poster I liked very much. I still believe she was a pretty blonde, and I always imagined, like Apollinaire, that

On the coast of Texas
Between Mobile and Galveston there is
A grand garden all full of roses
It contains also a villa
Which is a grand rose

A woman walks often
In the garden all alone
And when I pass on the route bordered by limes
We look at ourselves

Like this woman is mennonite
Her roses and and her clothing have not buttons
There are of them lacking two on my vest
The lady and me follow the same rite.

December 16th, 2015 at 11:46 pm

And a song for Contador,
who doesn’t post here any more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7YDOhz7jxo&html5=1

December 16th, 2015 at 11:54 pm

That’s interesting, trig/mat4. I’m no beauty but please keep imagining it ;)

That’s a sweet poem “The lady and me follow the same rite. Love it.

On another note, if you are still here, maybe you can help me with this – found it on the CyclingNews music thread and it’s beautiful, it’s sung in Russian…the person who posted it didn’t say anything about the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EepdzqFZXNU

December 17th, 2015 at 12:06 am

ah, that’s a beautiful version of Scarborough Fair …

December 17th, 2015 at 12:10 am

You can find here the information you need:

Yanka Dyagileva wiki

I don’t know much about her. The translation of the song:

A Hundred-Year-Rain

A hundred-year-rain
Wellington boots in wet sand
Eyes on the rusty ceiling
Merry delusion has been wasted carelessly
Chain links of trouble have been connected laughing

A hundred-year-rain
Dreams have gathered above the abyss of spring
And early gulps of the big grief
April scratches the wall with its nails
As if there were flowers blossoming behind the wall
As if you could see them from above

A hundred-year-rain
We’ve lived a hundred years – the dinner’s ready
It’s made of soap bubbles of the wet day
Of bones of deciphered poems
And memory off the boot soles
Salted through with fire crystals

A hundred-year-rain
Words slowly make their way through the quiet zone
And the crumpled leafage falls in
The pre-last sentence has been executed
All fees for April have been paid
And dreams float above the ice-hole of spring

A hundred-year-rain
A hundred-year-rain
A hundred-year-rain

December 17th, 2015 at 12:28 am

BTW, it’s Trigg…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWybcrAbnc0

December 17th, 2015 at 12:32 am

Thank you so much mat4. Really appreciate the translation.

December 17th, 2015 at 12:37 am

You’re welcome, jalep.

And, finally, in this ethereal world we can be who ever we want. I am sorry you didn’t play the game — I didn’t write that you were C., just that you reminded me of her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbeAtz9pwYM

Another sad song.

December 17th, 2015 at 12:49 am

Mat4 she can speak for herself,but Jalep is in fact the poster formerly known as Contador/Conty/Carlo etc,cant rememeber all the nicks,her real name is Elizabeth,and ive seen a picture of her on the bracket challenge and shes a rather attractive looking lady,as is Kimberly too ;)….

Anyway thanks for all the songs even if they were for the Nole fans,Amy Nuttal was in a British soap called Emmerdale,then she left to do theatre,but i never knew she could sing like that though,and i love Pink Floyd,was it Olivia Newton John singing in that earlier link about the dog?and Only Fools makes me howl with laughter everytime i watch it….

BTW No need to worry about hyjacking a Rafa thread,as long as you dont trash him,or feel the wrath otherwise lol….

December 17th, 2015 at 5:49 am

GG:

Admit it — in secret, you’re a nolefan too…

December 17th, 2015 at 5:51 am

Okiegal @10.33am December 16th,i loved the Beatles,and pretty much all their songs,even if i wasnt born their music will still live on for generations,even my young nephews listen to them,favorites were HEY JUDE,HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE,and IN MY LIFE which all resonate with me and makes me cry whenever i hear it,i wish i could do links,as i would put something up for you,but if you ask Mat4 nicely he might he he….

December 17th, 2015 at 5:59 am

Mat4 ssshush ….

December 17th, 2015 at 6:00 am

GG,

Yes, it was Olivia Newton John and thak you for sendig her to Aussieland, check the same song while back when we were still young, me and Olivia, you are still young GG:

http://youtu.be/2_qjJR885cs

December 17th, 2015 at 6:11 am

Wogboy im 48 is that young?anyway loved Olivia in Grease,and all the males ive ever known love that scene at the end of her changing from saint to sinner in the black leathers,John Travolta was hot in that film too,they made a great pairing….

December 17th, 2015 at 7:19 am