Fancy Silver Jackets
by queridorafa
Amid all the…whatever we want to call yesterday…I forgot to make mention of this lovely photograph, posted on Rafa’s FB page yesterday (although, once again, given that Carlos is assistant tournament director in Madrid and somewhat defending the blue clay, it’s sort of funny to think of how their conversations are unfolding; maybe they just agreed to not talk about it?). It’s quite the nice antidote to the generalized bewilderment/dramz incited by Rafa’s somewhat bizarre loss yesterday. Yes, that’s what we’ll call it. Generalized bewilderment/dramz. Dramz. I like that word. Dramz, dramz, dramz. Dramzy. Dramz….Anyways, the photo was in fact posted before the match, so I guess it’s more of a pre-antidote. Or a post-pre-antidote, at this point. Rafa also posted this picture after the match, wearing his fancy silver jacket. I believe that’s what they call them in the fashion world, fancy silver jackets with little tab/lapel things at the neck. Yup. That is some highly sophisticated fashion jargon I’m using there.
So yes, Rafa left Madrid (the tongue says it all) right after his match and made a pit stop in Mallorca, before jetting off to Rome in the presumable near future. I read on Twitter that apparently he said something about having less confidence going into Rome due to what just happened in Madrid, and honestly, I simply cannot deal with that right now. Nope. Refuse. Rafa needs to watch a tape of the Monte Carlo final again, and eschew all of his bad blue clay thoughts, because his emotional wrangling/crisis in confidence during Rome/RG last year was, you know, a lot to deal with. We deserve a break this year. Also, Rafa does too. 
In other news, Fer lost to Berd-man, 1 and 2 today. Not surprising. Let-downs after big wins are almost more common than non-let-downs (the same thing happened to Dodig and Mayer after their wins against Rafa last year), and Fer had spent a lot of time on court during this tournament, so fatigue was likely an issue as well. I do have to say though, that Fer’s assertion that he beat Rafa on clay did not go over well with me. I mean, it’s not really clay. So, yeah. He beat him, yes. But on a unique surface. Not unlike how Isner beat Roger on a unique surface at Davis Cup. It still counts, but, because it is unique, I’m not sure it says much about the match-up overall, or Fer’s ability to beat Rafa “on clay.” #stillslightlybitter Anyway, so one semi is set: Berd-man vs. DelPo, while Novak vs. Janko and Roger vs. Ferrer are later today. I haven’t seen either Berd-man or DelPo play at all lately, so my opinion is fairly useless, but I’m kind of leaning toward Berd-man. He moves better, excels on quick surfaces, and I don’t know, something about his personality kind of meshes well with the blue clay, i.e. they’re both kind of unpopular and yet seem to enjoy it. (The blue clay is totally a sentient being, I believe.) It will be interesting to see if Novak gives his best effort against Janko, or if he sort of allows himself to lose. Probably not, I’m guessing (maybe in the semis?), but given Novak’s comments about not playing next year and feeling like whoever wins will be the one who survives the week, uninjured, this tournament has become a giant bag of awkward for him. David will have his hands full against Roger, obviously, but this just might be his best chance, if ever is going to beat Roger–on a surface Roger is not completely comfortable on, and coming off a strong/perilously-close-to-toppling-Rafa-performance in Barcelona. So yeah. My first choice to win it is David, obviously, because he so deserves a Masters, then Berd-man or DelPo, then Janko, then Novak, then Roger. Just a coincidence Roger’s last, of course…
“i.e. they’re both kind of unpopular and yet seem to enjoy it”
A co-worker just asked me why I was giggling (couldn’t; too long to explain to a non-tennis fan).
Please warn people that your blog is NOT SAFE FOR WORK !
Best
This is one of the few times it is good to be in a different time zone. This comment cracked me up but I’m laughing my butt off safely in my own home. I do feel for you trying to remain composed at work. It must be a challenge.
Thanks, glad you liked!
I have a weird affection for Berdych (when he’s not playing Rafa, of course)–something slightly refreshing about his bluntness/social unawareness/lack of artifice. Plus, I really do like his game–clean hitter, great mover for his size!
I’m also pulling for a Berd-Fed final (now that my backup plans have all come to naught!)… Fed is playing scary good tennis and I think Berd has the best chance to beat him. Also, I think it will be the most interesting match-up.
Besides, ever since I saw Tomas live and witnessed his niceness to the ball children–even when he was getting trounced–I’ve liked him more.
Perhaps because my life has allowed for so little time to read tennis media this week, I’ve been less emotionally impacted by the blues of the Madrid surface… but now the risk of Rafa’s seed slipping to #3 at RG is setting in, so I need Tomas (or Delpo) to step up on Sunday! Pleaseandthankyou. Also, it would be best for Rafa to go ahead and win Rome.
Just noticed that I’m already writing Janko out of the tournament. Yeah. Go ahead, surprise me Tips.
I like how your posts have stayed witty and warm even in the hard times, QR.
I know, I would not enjoy seeing DelPo get walloped by Roger again this year! Haha, I knew Tomas had a heart of gold beneath that prickly exterior!
It WOULD be best for Rafa to win Rome. Which is why I’m slightly enraged by the draw.
And thanks…although obviously I’m hoping/wishing/hoping the “hard times” are oh-so-fleeting…
So true, so true.
belated tiriac apology:
http://www.digibet.info/topnewsgbtease/00_20120511153707_Tiriac_promises_improve_to_slick_Madrid_blue_c.php
“The court is slippery and I apologize,” said Tiriac. “We wanted to make sure that we had no player injuries, no ankle problems.
“As a result, the court experts rolled the base with too much pressure. When the blue sand was put on top it was unable to mix with the base; that created the slippery conditions.”
Surely this proves this was a con job, he laid the court with blue sand not blue clay……………..
Rafa was right all along to not trust this surface……………………..
Well, better late than never. It’s nice that it’s at least acknowledged, somewhat, although obviously it doesn’t help change what already happened.
On the other hand, today I did hear via Toni’s interview (posted here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PleXS6qB-sY&feature=g-all-u), that Tiriac apologized to Rafa after the match. And Toni said this action came “too late.”
All of a sudden it felt like Rafa was the King of Spain or something, to warrant a personal apology. Not that Tiriac meant it in the altruistic way, anyway. Still, I thought, ‘Rafa’s great and all, but come on. He’s just ONE out of many tennis players disappointed by the conditions of the court.’ In my opinion, of course : ) [Do you watch the Good Wife? If so, you’ll remember that judge who wanted all the lawyers to follow up their arguments with “in my opinion.” Heh.)
I would never be allowed to say the above in some Rafa fan forums, by the way. So thanks for being open.
Interesting–I think I saw on Twitter that apparently Tiriac denied that he apologized? He said he just ackowledged Rafa/touched him on the arm or something. Guess Toni read into it differently. I also read apparently in a new interview, Tiriac made some insulting remarks about Rafa, saying he basically didn’t care if Rafa didn’t play next year and that Rafa was a puppet of his team. Really unnecessary. The guy sounds completely crazy and I think it’s really sad that he’s in charge of such an important tournament.
Interesting article. Doesn’t sound like they are going to change back to red clay next year. I don’t know about the comment where he said it has created “unbelievable pictures”. To me the, color is dull and boring. Bring on the earthy, gritty red clay!!!
Of course the best result for Rafa would be if Daveed or Delpo won. Anyone except Fed (or even Nole, just as a confidence-booster). Tipsy is half way there, having won the 1st set. Maybe this is beat-your-better-compatriot tournie. The other 1/4 should be interesting to watch, now that we feel no pressure. Just sit back and enjoy a game of tennis. Just think what it would be like for us if that were always the case.
Yeah, at this point it’s looking like Berdych might be the only hope to beat Roger; if he’s “on” and serving well, he can hit through him. That’s a big IF though. Can’t see Tipsy or DelPo pulling it off, but then again, you never know I guess!
‘Maybe this is beat-your-better-compatriot tournie.’
LOOOL omg laughing so hard right now!
I love Rafa’s ‘fancy silver jacket’. It’s so..fancy!
it should be a wardrobe staple, much like THE purple sweater 
That picture of Rafa with his tongue out while riding in that car with the big bold ‘Mutua Madrid Open’ on it is pretty priceless! #hiddenmeaning
I know, Rafa is such a fashion plate these days!
Well, Nole’s out now too. The plot thickens.
Totally rooting against Federer! I’ll even root for Berd-man at this point (still sore about his whole crybaby routine at Oz).
I have to say, his interview after that Almagro match, refusing to back down or apologize as the crowd vociferously booed him, was one of the funniest things I’ve seen in tennis in a long time!
I find Berd-man hot (though strangely aloof with beautiful eyes), so I think I’ll root for him ’cause of that, LOL.
No, seriously, Fed will be #2 if he wins this; that’s kind of annoying. But not even that annoying. Seriously, I like that Fed. He makes me laugh almost every time he opens his mouth. I’d rather Fed not win, but if he does, life goes on.
That seems to be my attitude these days about Rafa. You know he’ll give it 110%, and that is all the man can do.
So Fer’s proudly puffed up like a turkey ’cause he beat Rafa on clay? Okay, Fer, sure. Enjoy it. Let the man have his moment. A Barcelonian on another forum mentioned that for the Spaniards, it really is a HUGE GINORMOUS deal to beat Rafa…on a level we just can’t comprehend. So all is forgiven, FeVer!
VAMOS ROMA!!!
I find Tomas pretty hot too, except for his shoulders & legs & voice
Those eyes *are* pretty!
“except for his shoulders & legs & voice”
LOL. for me, it’s “except for his personality” ; )
It’s true, there’s no point worrying about the ranking. Truthfully, Roger will deserve it if he gets it; he’s won more tournaments/performed at a higher level overall so far this season. Rafa’s had some bad luck, w/ injuries and close matches lost, etc., plus having so many more points to defend. Just normal parts of tennis. Roger will have a ton of points to defend next year, from Rotterdam, IW, etc.
You’re very cool to be so open to–and respond to—so many, even at times grumpy perspectives. Thanks, lady!
Oh yeah, of course! Definitely not a big deal at all for people to express different views–there’s usualy a lot of different sides to everything, after all!
That smile…I still don’t understand how Rafs can be so adorable and hot at the same time. Just, baffled.
“I don’t know, something about his personality kind of meshes well with the blue clay, i.e. they’re both kind of unpopular and yet seem to enjoy it. (The blue clay is totally a sentient being, I believe.)”
Hilarious
Now come on Tomas, do it and I’ll name the blue clay after you. #berdclay
IF he somehow gets a match point and screws it up like he did against Novak at the WTF though, I’m locking him in the basement with Janko (who has been there since this morning).
But here’s the thing…if Rafa and Novak *had* to face each other at RG, I’d rather they do it in the semis. I can’t see Novak letting this one go when he is just one match away.
Ah whatever, can’t think about that right now. #rome
Lol, berdclay! So perfect. I think he even made some comments yesterday about how much he liked it. Figures.
I agree w/ you about the RG scenarios. Obvi, beating Novak in the semis and then potentially Roger in the final would be a tall order, but, there’s a good chance Rafa would have to face Novak either way, since Novak could very well beat Roger in the semis if the seeds/draw worked out that way. And no matter what, the goal is always obviously for Rafa to play PHM in the semis, and Querrey in the final.
Don’t put too much weight on Rafa’s loss to Tabasco. Won’t be surprised if Rafa thought “oh go on take this one, I just want to get the hell out of here”.
Yeah, it’s a pretty easy loss to kind of forget about, hopefully. The Rome draw is kind of the big concern now, though, ugh.
Well, so much for the return to the red clay of Rome! I just woke up to find out that after a 1R bye, Rafa gets Raonic in the 2R!!!! It gets better and better, doesn’t it? Of course, Nole gets Tomic, so not so much better, I suppose.
I know, it’s a terrible draw. I would say Tomic is actually a lot better than Raonic though; Tomic has not proven himself to be much of a threat on clay. His serve/groundstrokes are not overpowering and he doesn’t move that well. I’d take Tomic over Raonic for Rafa any day; unfortunately, that’s not an option.
Well, Tomic gave Nole fits at Wimbledon last year. So there’s hope…
But Milos, no games for you! Come back one year!
“Twitter that apparently Tiriac denied that he apologized? He said he just ackowledged Rafa/touched him on the arm or something. Guess Toni read into it differently. I also read apparently in a new interview, Tiriac made some insulting remarks about Rafa, saying he basically didn’t care if Rafa didn’t play next year and that Rafa was a puppet of his team.”
Yeah, I read that, too, so who the hell knows what Ion really did. I have come to the conclusion that Rafa played this tournament despite Toni’s opposition because (1) it’s in Spain; 2)his friends are part of the leadership, and Rafa hates to disappoint his friends; and (3) he’s continuing his psychological individuation from Toni.;)
In my opinion….
Yeah, I agree with you–I think Rafa probably felt obligated to at least give it a chance. Of course, they have vowed to improve the courts next year (although it’s unclear if they will be blue or red), but who knows if they actually will succeed? The tournament obviously has not earned the trust of the players. I think it’s fine if players like the surface/tournament and want to play, but it’s also fine if they’ve had enough and want to skip. Particularly in Rafa’s case, i.e. he’s earned the right to skip one Masters w/out penalty.