Nice Cheryl, nice article. I also want to mention Ion Tiriac. His appearance is totally ridiculous. Without the trophy, Madrid is one of the most weird tournament I've ever seen. BTW, some "ballkids" are very pretty :D

Did Roger receive a similar plate last year?

cheryl: i love the way you write!

my favourites:

"...the very small and very crowded makeshift stage..."

"I was half-expecting the tournament officials to pull out napkins and forks and direct them both to the buffet line."

?Should I try to bite this thing, or start a game of Frisbee with Roger?"


well...it's over. they're not going to replace it. i thought it was weird but i was too happyto let it rain on my parade!!

well done rafa especially after a tough 11 months.

nice blog cheryl!!
and as alwas, the introduction part is amazing!!
frisbee..
nice idea!!
the problem here is not that rafa got a plate(you get one in wimby, ladies, i mean)..
the problem here is rafa got exactly the same plate as roger..
and i have never seen winner and runner up getting the same trophy of same model. absolutely no difference in size and shape..
or was there some difference??
if there was a difference, it was microscopic..
is that how they differentiate a winner and a runner up??
pathetic!!
even last year the winner and runner up got different trophies..
but don't know what got into tiriac's head this time around!!

A game of frisbee would have been awesome to watch :P

But yeah weird that they got the same "trophy"

The commentators thought it was odd too...whey they mentioned it I was glad that I wasn't the only one who noticed it. Maybe the organisers were trying to make the point that to reach the final and be in the final is a monumental task in itself so both trophies should be the same size?

cheryl...TOO GOOD....congratulations to you...its one of ur best iv read

vamos cheryl!!!

"And people who keep animals like snakes and spiders as pets and then say ?I never thought Damien would slither out of his cage and swallow Fifi! He seemed so sweet?..?

did this come out of any personal experience cheryl??? just curious!!

Tiriac wasted all the money on these clumsy slut-looking ball....., thus no funds left for the trophey. Next year he'll paint the clay blue, and there will be no tropheys at all.

vmk - I just looked it up. Last year, Rafa got a little bowl and Fed got a large-ish oval platter.

vrael - no, but I've seen such things on the news a time or two. That's not to say that I don't know people who WOULD say that if their snake got out of it's cage and ate the dog. just saying. :D

Oh, and for the record - I don't take issue with the "ball model" thing because I have something against models. I take issue with it because they don't do a very good job (though better this year than others), and because I think kids should get the opportunity.

haaaaaaa, all of us have such ppl in our lives actually......nobody likes taking the blame

saw an anaconda swallow a chicken alive....a very fat chicken at discovery channel once....i was a child then,it scared the hell outa me...;)

cheryl,
I have seen a winner without a trophy : Ginepri at Indianapolis last year but that's a smaller tournament and they've lost it to Atlanta this year.
It was very puzzling here though. Fer'dasco got 3 trophies and Sod got 2 at Barcelona. I do know that the economy in Spain is in shambles with over 20% unemployment, the euro is in freefall and they, like Greece, will soon need a bailout to avoid default. Perhaps there were no sponsors to provide a trophy or they're just cutting back as part of the austerity measures.

no kidding they're scary. I've seen those large snakes swallow all SORTS of things. gotta love the Discovery Channel. :D

chr -

I know all about Spain's money issues, believe me I do. The thing is that it's not the country of Spain that is responsible for making sure that the tournament has the right....equipment, let's call it. It's Ion Tiriac's job - and he isn't hurting for cash.

it's just another of his inexplicably bad decisions - like the blue clay idea.

Really funny blog, Cheryl! Like everyone else I was puzzled by the twin salad plate trophies. So last year it was a meat platter and a salad bowl? Maybe Ion's got an old dinner service he's handing out. Next year the winner gets a coffee cup and the loser a saucer?

As for the ball-models...maybe he could just bring them in during changeovers and let them dance or lead cheers?

Another thing I thought was funny was that they started to play "when I ruled the world" at the beginning of the ceremony. Not quite sure what that meant or if it was just next on the playlist. At least it wasn't "Gypsy".

cheryl, thanks a lot for this, yesterday I commented on the trophy that Rafa got because I've never seen the winner get a tray. Last year they did both the ladies and men's presentation together, and both winners got an oblong tray with a sculupted edge and the runners up got something that looked like a small fruit bowl. Here is the link here for the presentation last year -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RZxB2sUsiQ

They have presented different trophies in the two years that the tournament has been going, and the trophies also look cheap.

So what did rezai and venus get? And ppl, plz dont insult the ballgirls personally (slut-like etc). Its not THEIR fault they were hired for d job.
Ramara, are you talking bout coldplay's "i used to rule the world" song. Thats 1 of my fav! But not appropriate for the occasion offcrs! ;-)

Yes, I agree with ekattor. No need for name-calling. This is on Tiriac's head, not the models.

well what is the issue that all are discussing here??
that rafa got a trophy that resembled a tray??
or that both winner and runner up got similar trophies, and thus they made no effort to differentiate between the champion and the runner up??

both, actually. A plain silver dinner plate has no business being the trophy of a Masters event....but the fact that Fed got the same one is just plain wrong.

"A plain silver dinner plate has no business being the trophy of a Masters event..."
what about venus rosewater dish??
it is also a plate, if i'm not wrong...
and it is given at the most prestigious championship..
ok, it is in wta, but it is still given at the highest level..
or does it make a difference if a plate is presented to men or women??

yeah,they give these plates to wta winners at wimbledon......that irks nobody??

VERY VERY GOOD article Cheryl!!!
We were so surprised about IT also when we were watching the awadrs ceremony! ...we were arguing about the size of the plates!!!
That's FUNNIER than the LAST SHOT of the match!!!

The women's trophy at Wimbledon is not a plain silver plate, though. It's intricately engraved - and it's imbued with history. if they were to choose a trophy today, I'm sure they wouldn't have chosen that. But still, there's something about it...

the plates they gave out yesterday were the type you get from the local store to give to people in your wedding party. They're ridiculous on all counts.

fair enough......hope ion tiriac coordinates things better next year...madrid is scheduled better too next year...mr coordinator needs to think abt this tournament seriously!!

Roger is the classic greatest. Always Love Roger

i researched a bit for the wimby trophy

here it is

http://orvillelloyddouglas.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/venus-and -trophy.jpg

this trophy is hardly a plate...its much grander...madrid's trophy is just nothing in comparison

Nadal. Shout. Overaction. Slowness at time. Other players are always made to wait.


Useless time. Retire. Always annoying. Annoying of movement when win.



yucky nadal.

well i guess you are right..
but personally i feel what a tounament chooses as the trophy shape is upto the designer or whoever does it..
the worst we can say about it is that whoever chose the trophy has no aesthetic sense..
but the bigger problem here is that they gave the same thing to both champion and runner up..
now that is clearly undermining a champion and his capability to remain undefeated..

tennislove - THE BITTER TASTE OF DEFEAT,,,YET AGAIN!!!

VAMOS RAFA!!!! Let the arrogant EAT CLAY!!!

tennislove..
i don't know how u are related to rogerlove..
but you have the same way of speaking..
however you are plain obnoxious..

Roger got the same trophy last year. Why are ppl making such a big deal about it? At least it's not like the trophy for the Paris masters.

lolz RAFANS !!! quite obvious some fedfans are dancing in perfect harmony while singing JEALOUSY.

McQ: LROF, not only EAT CLAY, but bury them all alive.

clayking...tennislove could be tennislover lover ... lolz.

@ekattor: Yes, they played a bit from Coldplay's "I used to rule the world" song when Roger came to get the runner up plate. It's one of my favs, too, but not in good taste at that moment, I thought. They changed the music for Rafa, but I didn't recognize that one, couldn't hear it that well really.

LOL.I Iove Andy.Roger.Pete.Tim.Del potro.Tomy... nadal is always annoying.A yucky fan is blind.

Fedfans JUST ACCEPT Rafa's victory and everything will be peacefcul!... Why do you provoke us to still RUB IT ON YOUR FACES!
Just say.... VA.....MOS.......RA......FA!
PEACE!

Cheryl - great article. There were, as you said, many things to ponder - why? Normally the size of the Finalist's award/trophy is smaller than the Winner's even if the same design. I noticed this year the women's awards were both the same size. So the only difference was the engraving on the award trophy. Strange.

Also the 'ball girls' weren't especially skillful at their duties. I think ball kids from the local tennis academies would have worked better.

I also notice your comment about the condition of the clay. Thank You. I noticed that too; Rafa was not moving / sliding in his usual manner which reflected the difference in the condition of the clay court; even Robbie Koenig mentioned the condition of the clay and how it affected the players.

The music changed for Rafa to Tina Turner - can't remember title of song, something about being the best, better than all the rest.

I thought Rafa's platter was as large as Roger's was last year, and Roger's platter this year was slightly smaller. Must be my eyes.

(The ladies' championship and runner-up platters were distinctly different sizes.)

But Cheryl I'm most with you about that teensy little stage. Why was it so much smaller than last year?
And why no confetti? *pouts*

I won't even get into the clay thing. I heard this rumor that Tiriac is contemplating putting in *blue* "clay" next year. What is he thinking?
Anyone? Bueller?

Do you all realize from the ATP website photo that Fed/Rafa holding the plates together will mislead anyone that they have won a doubles match together as a team?

I think the tournament director has regretted giving out the salad bowl last year for the runner-up, so he decided to give out a plate this time. Since last year's winner got a plate, its not nice to change it to a trophy this year, so they stick with the plate. The thing they should do is giving out different size plates to distinguish between winner and finalist, just like in some tournaments, they gives out bigger and smaller bowls to winner and finalist.

So poor Roger receives two plates, whether he is winner or finalist. I think they will stick with the plate for the winner for next year, maybe it will stay that way always.

Poor Roger receives two plates, he's got enough cups hasn't he, he could do with some plates. What they should have given Rafa was a crown, as he is the King of Clay. That's an idea for next year!!!

Vamos!

Haha Luckystar thats true.. one could make the assumption that they just took home the doubles titel

mara -
the platter last year was larger and oval - looked like a meat-serving platter...and Rafa got what looked like a little fruit bowl. this year, they both got a dinner plate. Tiriac wanted to do the blue clay THIS year too. Rafa and Roger both raised a stink about it though.

luckystar, I hadn't thought of that, but you're right. LOL.

LOL! Great article, Cheryl!
Great news! I found the plate in question. Here it is in all its glory, on sale for only 9.29 pounds, plus 4 pounds for engraving.
http://www.allsportsawards.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Trophies_SP5-WB.ht ml
Talk about budget-conscious!
You would think that it being Rafa and all they could have splurged for the larger one (19.75 pounds).

This one is the exact mach... and a bit more expensive. But still...

http://www.walshbrothers.co.uk/Update/silver_salvers.htm

I think Tiriac is sending a message to the players that they can take up waitering after they hang up their racquets. Why not, the tips are very good!

Seriously speaking though, the plates are a disgrace to Tennis. Is there any other sport that gives out plates as trophies? Anyone know?

Tiriac is a disgrace to tennis. I can't believe Santolo agreed to a stupid plate for the winner.

I remember the fruit bowl. It reminded me of that strange looking fruit bowl at Rotterdam 09; I just thought all the sponsors were being a little cheap.

I'm not understanding the blue clay thing at all.
Why would you want to pursue a surface your two top draws are heavily against?
That makes no sense.

grafight: good bit of sleuthing.

grafight - that's outstanding. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

tennislove = atr.... is a hater and hater belongs to hell.... Vamos Rafa!!!!

Nothing could compare to that gorgeous giant "Barca" trophy anyway. Rafa can hide #18 behind the other 17 and no one will ever notice.

Cheryl - hilarious blog. Many aspects of the Madrid tournament are questionable - and the trophies are near the top of the list.

Thanks for another great blog, Cheryl. They are one of the main reasons for returning to this site.

got a big dose of laughter.....many thanks GRAFIGHT!!!

LOL so sad it's comical! If they paid more than $250 apiece they were screwed! Everyone got the same plate, so they must have gotten a deal for a large order.
But seriously, I was both shocked and ashamed to see this tray for sale online. Spain has a long tradition of jewelry artists and artisans. Couldn't they get a local jeweler to design something for such an occasion??
After all a tournament like this should generate millions in advertising alone, not to mention ticket sales and media rights.

rafa looks happy with his frisbee in this pic

http://rafaelnadal.com/content/rafas-plans-week

the plate is very similar to the one you gave us to see!!

BTW, I used to work at a Bronze shop/foundry. I designed artwork which was sculpted, then cast in bronze using the lost wax method (same as other metals)... It's not that hard and many would've been happy to do it for free, just for the prestige.

vrael, the second link I posted shows the exact same tray!
http://www.walshbrothers.co.uk/Update/silver_salvers.htm

yeah.....exactly the same....this tiriac guy must be ashamed!

tiriac is doubles grandslam winner himself...he must know the importance of trophies

Hahaha

Thank you grafight for that and after all the pressure Tiriac put on Rafa to turn up for the event and Rafa receives exactly the same plate as the runner-up (and a cheap one at that). I mean what a joke.

I agree, this tourney was poor alround, the ball girls may look pretty but are far too slow! and the trophy handed to Rafa after all his accomplishments was a joke, damn that Tiriac jerk!

afrodite7: Pretty? You're joking surely. They were loosely described as 'models' but that has become an all purpose word to cover a variety of jobs - like standing around at exhibitions handing out leaflets. Not one of those girls was a professional model.
And not one of them had a clue about tennis or what they were supposed to be doing. They were far to busy looking to see if the camera was on them to notice if there was a ball to be retrieved or the players were waiting for the balls.

I think that they orginizer (aka Tiriac and his lackeys) were afraid that Roger might win again so just to make everybody feel good they made bothe trophies look the same;
I remember the fruit bowl Rafa got last year; he kept looking at it in a bemused way like what shall I do with this; oh well; at least the dinner plate trophies can be stacked on top of each other!! at the rate Rafa is going his room must be full of sundry Cups, plates , bowls ...!!

It's the same trophy as last year's.

Wayne Odysnik has been suspended for two years for the growth hormone problem.

bolbol - it is not the same trophy as last year. Last year, Federer got a large oval platter and Rafa got a little...Ice cream dish.

Hee hee ... ice cream dish. Well they both have so many trophies getting something practical might not be such a bad idea.
nadline I love your post from: 5/17/10 11:20 PM

Very disappointed with the Spaniards at the Madrid Open Men's Final. When Roger made winners, very little clappers, but when he made errors, tons of clappers from the Spaniards. Shame on the Spaniards and nadal

lolz don't get disappointed with the clappers, pay attention with that whip your loveroger had missed. He attacked the ball while rising (with full confidence) plus eyeing Nadal at the same time makes him missed it bwahaha, very good. How do you feel about that Rogerlove? ohh okay, I agree with you, Roger is sick.

;)

this is soooo funny! REALLY!

'Shame on the Spaniards and nadal'???!!!!!!!!...AND Nadal? What did Rafa do?.....oh yes.......he BEAT Federer?!!!!

Actually giving the winner a plate, whatever its size was, is a disgrace.

Raindrops yes, Roger was sickness. so?

stupid spectator. Nadal seemed always to be glad. nadal is the always own pace. slow and noisy. It doesn't think about other players.

Rogerlove, if Roger was sickness (haha), come, come, come, you are welcome to become a Rafan, Nadal is very very nice man, he is not arrogant no bad talk to other players and very very good player.

p.s. when you decided to join us Rogerlove, strictly no excessive obsession at all so you can enjoy tennis, that's the general rule for the Rafans.

*** Roger is the classic great AND his god is Rafa***

I always thought that the tournaments had the same winner and runner-up trophies that they present at the ceremony, then give the players a small replica to keep, so that they don't have to buy a decent trophy every year.

Perhaps tennis fans should have a whip-round and donate a decent trophy to Madrid. It's ridiculous to present different trophies every year for the same event.

nadline - that's traditionally what happens, yes. Honestly, I don't know what Tiriac is thinking. The man is a mystery.

"It's not their fault they were hired for the job." That's just a little bit disingenuous isn't it?

The phantom enclosed statement to the Madrid Mens Tennis 2010 - I summit the reason they felt the need for repercussion or change is mobile. They want composure of peace.

The mnemonic period is suddenly in need for respect, concerning human rights and so forth.

About for many years as is now, Nad was sitting comfortably on the 'ritual' he must bite corrodingly each shield/trophy he exult achieves where Fed weeps of the triumphant hunt. Always, it is how it surely could be.

Deep thanks - C h e r y l M u r r a y for the opportunities to also share our points of views!! I sincerely appreciate it!!!

Raindrops. haha. The fan of nadal is really annoying. I do not like play style of nadal. Plays while always shouting.

Annoyingness of movement before it plays. Muscular defense tennis.

nadal vomited saliva many times. in Madrid. Overestimation. Arrogance. Blindness.




All players have the fault.

Roger's fan. Other players' fans. They are smart. understood well.

Roger is the classic greatest. Love Roger

...giving you a nondescript silver dinner plate, while your opponent is holding up the antlers.

That may be the most awesome statement in the history of tennis.
Thanks!

Well Madrid has unveiled a brand new trophy this year, it looks good, and I hope Rafa gets his teeth into it on Sunday.


Vamos Rafa!

^^^ I saw that, nadline. Apparently Tiriac didn't enjoy being made fun of. :D

No doubt it was because of this blog post, cheryl! Well done.

The ball models are conspicuously absent as well. It's almost like a real tournament now! :)

Now if they made the court surface a true claycourt surface :)

Let's not get crazy, chlorostoma. :)

No big trophy for Rafa again. I loved it.

número, I see your purpose here at this blog is to irritate the Rafa fans. Why so happy that Rafa didn't have the trophy? Fed also didn't have it, are you happy? Or it's just Rafa? Fed and Rafa are past winners of this tournament, so I suppose their names would be engraved on this trophy, if Ion Tiraic is smart enough to do so, for there's no guarantee that Fed would ever win this trophy in the future. Rafa may even skip this in future as I can't see him playing four tournaments before the FO every year as he grows older and Madrid is the least favorite tournament to him among the four. He can choose to skip this tournament, now that he has amassed more than 600 match plays in his career. Better to have the names of these two greats
engraved on this trophy to add value to it, which I think Ion Tiriac is happy to do so.

luckystar, you have a point there. Rafa might sacrifice the 600 points next year and just skip Madrid now that he is not the defending champion it won't matter that much.

numero, you can gloat all you want, Rafa is already a legend and he's extended his h2h with Federer to 16-8. How about that wiping the smile off your face.


Vamos Rafa