Yin and yang, black and white, and so and so forth. The world is full of such complimentary elements. When it comes to tennis, one pair best models this mystique right now: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Below you'll read why.
1. Seeing a person constantly win does become kind of predictable and the match somehow loses its shine. There needs to be some spicing. So enter Rafa, who can give Roger a run for his money and more rarely have a greater win-loss record against the tennis heartthrob.
2. Every right-handed player needs to be complimented by a left-handed one. Also, it is a case of history repeating itself. Wasn't Bjorn Borg succeeded as the World No. 1 by a left-handed player named John McEnroe?
- B/R Ticket Guide
3. Sir Issac Newton's third law of motion states: "To each and every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." But I say: "To each and every controlled emotion there is an outburst of overflowing emotion." Also, subtlety sometimes needs to be overshadowed by pure and naked aggression.
4. Every artistic and sublime fall to the ground merits a matching fall of absolute tiredness and hard-fought perseverance.
5. Any record equalled demands that an equally tough record be equalled.
6. The level of consistency and mettle contributed makes it absolutely necessary to have a player who can put in the same amount of consistency and mettle on the opposite side.
7. There needs to be no confusion regarding the champions in the natural surfaces: clay and grass. If there is one who rules the grass there has to be one to rule the clay, i.e equal distribution of surfaces.
8. Every kiss to a trophy needs to be counter-balanced by a bite to the same.
9. Sublime and classy shots need accompaniment in the form of ruthless and stubborn ones.
10. And finally and most importantly: "Two's always company" and so we need a Rafa to make a perfect "Awesome Twosome."
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about 1 month ago
8. Every kiss to a trophy needs to be counter balanced by a bite to the same. - That's the stand out line.
about 1 month ago
"For Every Roger Federer" ???
There is only one Roger Federer.
And also there is only one Rafael Nadal.
No tennis player ever had a more complete tennis game than Roger Federer does.
And God cannot create a more effective player than Rafa to beat the most complete player ever.
So you probably meant your title for other sports.
Such as Tiger Woods could use a Rafa Nadal of golf, right?
about 1 month ago
There is no disputing that these two tennis greats are the ying and the yang and that they have raised the competative bar to an new level. It is such a wonderful time to have these two fighting for the titles that it makes it to eaiser to handle the often disappointing highs and lows in womens tennis as of late. It is also great to see that the "latest" crop of men's competitors is challenging this two "kings" as well. What a delicious season we're in for in 2009. Lets hope the ATP gets its scheduling issues smoothed over so that the greats are falling apart at the end of a much too long season. I miss tennis already but I would rather watch happy, healthy competitors than watch them give the year end title to a good player and not necessarily the best. (sorry ND.)
about 1 month ago
This rivalry between these great athletes is turning into something more than a tennis match. Opinions on Nadal and Federer seem to have polarising the nation, resulting in some frequently critical comments about a pair of generally decent individuals who are not only at the top of their game but respectful of each others talents and achievements.
Why is this? Attractive men who would both turn the heads of most females and are admired by most men, they are nevertheless like chalk and cheese in appearance, in character and in their sport. Nadal has the masculine, pumped swagger and the glowering stare; Federer the sexy amble, the smouldering glance. Off court, Nadal is the slightly gauche, slightly shy, while Federer exudes sophistication and confidence. And then there is the way they play. One is all muscular power backed up by a vociferous soundtrack, with long pauses between explosions. The shots are heavy, looping, bouncing, the body darting, pounding, hurtling. The other is fluidity personified, silent and deadly as poison, in a rhythm that demands continuity. The balls skim and dart, gravitate to corners and achieve absurd tangents, the body fast, balanced, air-born.
Both are awesome.
But how would you compare Gene Kelly with Fred Astaire? With Kelly, the athleticism, speed and power were impressive but always got in the way of the dance. Astaire was as fit as any finely-honed athlete and worked harder than any, but you only ever saw the beauty of the dance. This is the gift that he and Federer bring to their endeavours – you revel in the artistry rather than how it is achieved. It is the simple yet perfect line of a Matisse drawing rather than the overworked Michelangelo. For my part, I’m a Fred-and-Fed girl. But there’s room in the world for Gene and Rafa too, even if it’s only to gild the image of their rivals.
from about 1 month ago
great to see you posting here Clarabella. Once again love your prose.........and indeed Rafa and ROG are like chalk and cheese in every respect. Give me the languid, sexy amble, smoudlering glance, sophistication and confidence matched with fluidity, grace, artistry and absurd angles of the ball any day.
Awesome does not begin to describe ROG
Kazzie
about 1 month ago
clarabella, you are a sophisticated woman! I enjoyed your comment: the elegance, artistry and precision in your writing would make you an excellent writer. Compliments, Bijan.
And the article is good as well, very balanced
about 1 month ago
im not much of a science geek but the comparison of newton's law is great and funny :)
about 1 month ago
This is my favourite tennis article! Its brilliantly written!
great work Rohini! You are amazing!
cheers
about 1 month ago
No .9 was stand out for me!
about 1 month ago
hmmm... honestly didn't think much of the article - idea got tired very early on and some examples just didn't make sense. think clabarella should write the next one - rohini iyer is a hack. numbers 5 and 6 make me laugh out loud - and he knows how sh*t they are.
oh, and federer for the win. rafa is the lamest number 1 ever.
just my $0.02.
from about 1 month ago
A little harsh? There were some interesting ideas in here and it's provoked some varied responses.
I'll be a little while getting new articles (and ideas) up and running here - new to the BR and feeling my way a bit! And the full-time job gets in the way, too. But I hope I can eventually live up to your expectations!
about 1 month ago
i think this is your best work, rohini.......
great...
more ones will come i hope ...
niks.
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