I was having a discussion about tennis with someone yesterday, and they told me that the last time we had talked tennis, I had used the word ‘bromance’ in respect to Roger and Rafa and that they couldn’t get it out of their head.
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While the first thought into my mind was clearly, ‘wow, I am an linguistic genius!’ that got me thinking a bit about Roger and Rafa, the King and the Boss, the two dudes we have at the top of our game today. How rare is it – how incredibly rare!? – that the two men that are dominating our sport actually like each other?
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I’m not saying respect – even though it is clear that there are oceans of respect between these two. I’m saying genuine friendship. Sure, they may not hang out every night and they may not have braided each other friendship bracelets or anything like, and I’m sure there is, to a degree, a language barrier – but I get the feeling that there is a bond between these two that doesn’t exist, say, between Nadal and Djokovic, or Federer and Murray. Who can forget the vision at the end of the Australian Open final, when Federer was in tears and Nadal comforted him? Sure, there are vast amounts of competition and both will fight tooth and nail for that #1 ranking – but off the court, they are gentlemen. They like each other.
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We are so lucky to have these two. It would be so easy for them to seriously dislike each other, for the game to get in the way. But with Roger and Rafa we have – forgive the pun – a fine bromance.
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Today’s Results
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Monterrey Open (Monterrey)
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Marion Bartoli def. Michaella Krajicek, 6-2 6-4
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While the first thought into my mind was clearly, ‘wow, I am an linguistic genius!’ that got me thinking a bit about Roger and Rafa, the King and the Boss, the two dudes we have at the top of our game today. How rare is it – how incredibly rare!? – that the two men that are dominating our sport actually like each other?
*
I’m not saying respect – even though it is clear that there are oceans of respect between these two. I’m saying genuine friendship. Sure, they may not hang out every night and they may not have braided each other friendship bracelets or anything like, and I’m sure there is, to a degree, a language barrier – but I get the feeling that there is a bond between these two that doesn’t exist, say, between Nadal and Djokovic, or Federer and Murray. Who can forget the vision at the end of the Australian Open final, when Federer was in tears and Nadal comforted him? Sure, there are vast amounts of competition and both will fight tooth and nail for that #1 ranking – but off the court, they are gentlemen. They like each other.
*
We are so lucky to have these two. It would be so easy for them to seriously dislike each other, for the game to get in the way. But with Roger and Rafa we have – forgive the pun – a fine bromance.
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Today’s Results
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Monterrey Open (Monterrey)
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Marion Bartoli def. Michaella Krajicek, 6-2 6-4
Flavia Pennetta def. Jill Craybas, 6-1 6-0
Agnes Szavay def. Pauline Parmentier, 6-2 6-2
Iveta Benesova def. Shahar Peer, 6-4 6-2
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova def. Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7-4)
Roberta Vinci def. Arantxa Rus, 6-4 2-6 6-2
Petra Cetkovska def. Jarmila Groth, 6-3 6-2
Melinda Czink def. Alla Kudryavtseva, 7-5 6-1
Mariya Koryttseva def. Lenka Wienerova, 6-4 6-1
Vania King def. Klara Zakopalova, 6-1 6-4
Magdalena Rybarikova def. Edina Gallovits, 6-4 3-6 6-3
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1 comment:
Well, it looks like Brother Boris is looking to fuel a bit of enmity (albeit on court) between Roger and Rafa - more from the former's side. I kinda agree with him because I reckon it leads to Roger feeling inferior and choking etc...
Have a bit of (healthy?!) hate for your opponent!
Was there not a lot of mutual respect and friendship between Sampras and Agassi?
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