It's 2009 AO final, Cheryl :hug: In 2008 he didn't even played it :D

whatever, AC. :rollseyes:

er...I mean, thank you for that correction, Miss! :D

Seriously, it does seem like an extension of the 08 season for some reason. I get it wrong all the time.

Cheryl,I tried the link but am not getting anything.Others have better luck?

No, I can't get the link to work either.

it keeps coming down from youtube. That's the second link I've had to use, actually.

Thanks for all your great Cincy blogs Cheryl.
I was watching the end of the Hewitt/Soderling match and you could hear the alarm going off ( over and over ), it was really loud, but the players kept on playing.
That video clip of Rafa/Roger is too dear for words ... Roger is such a goof and Rafa is just trying to keep it together.
Those shorts will haunt you ... it seems. Lol.

Has anyone found a new link for the R & R giggling session - or has it been completely deleted from YouTube?

The thing about those shirts [shudder] is that they are designed for the average man to wear - and the average man likes to wear them evidently. You can bet the wife of that man rolled her eyes when he wore them, but hey [shrugs] as long as he feels comfortable...
I still wish you had all the blogs up. I like reading old blogs and posts for all of you - so I will always check to see if you've put Kelli's posts back up! Or, failing that in an archive that we can access when we want. Please.

I would like to second Blessed's request for an archive on TT. It may be too late to capture past material (more's the pity) but it would be great to be able to backtrack in future.

Nike knew they were on to a good thing getting Rafa to promo their 21st century men's wear in checks and stripes, and it looks as it they were dead right, they are selling like hot cakes.

Cheryl, have you got no taste???..........Lol.

Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFqcS4X4WCI

Carrie, they took that one down too. Sigh.

"...or maybe even pay people to take them??"

I saw them on the rack at GoodWill. No one wanted them!

Lloyd - I wouldn't be surprised.

Carrie - I don't think 2 misguided souls count as "selling like hotcakes". And I have PLENTY of taste. All of it bad. :D

The checked shorts might not be my favourite, but I think Rafa Nadal can carry off any look. He even looked good wearing just a pair of jeans in that Shakira video...

aside from the clothing... and back to the title theme of your blog post, I wholeheartedly agree... and one of the things that makes this duo fascinating is how they defy the convention and stereotype people wanted them to fit originally. Roger was meant to be the perfect polished master and gentleman, with Rafa the untamed powerful beast, primal forces destined to face each other like to opposite extremes in every way.
But as we have gotten to know them over the years we discover more about the true personalities, we see that the master has a mean streak and many insecurities, while the "charging bull" is gentle, kind and respectful to a fault... at least outside the court, while his tenacity and quirks appear to be pure torture to many of his rivals.

Well put grafight.

Neither are as virtuous or terrible (depending on who you ask) as they are made out to be.

But the very fact that they can sit next to each other giggling for 20 minutes is so utterly charming and ingenuous you just can't help but smile.

don't worry, Cheryl, I tend to see it that way too, sometimes :D And i understand that many people want to block from they mind the fact that Djokovic ever won a GS :p

ahahahahahahaha. Poor Nole. Always getting beat on....:D

The amazing thing is, for Nadal to play an exhibition match for Federer's charity foundation, shows that their cordial relationship is no fake, they really do like and respect each other, which is so unusual for sporting rivals.

I really must add that all of the top 4 seem to get on very well, Novak and Rafa seem to have a very friendly relationship, and everyone knows that Murray and Rafa have mutual admiration for each other, and Novak and Murray have been friends for years. I think there is a little friction between Roger and Murray, but I don't think it's very deep.

it's back on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjvDJ3uEGos

probably not for long though

Still just as funny.

Yep. I watched it again and it made me laugh again. It's really Roger that's the culprit. Every time Rafa looks at him with his eyebrow cocked, he can't help himself.

Seriously, whats with continuously dissing Pete and Andre. And including Pete in it? You can't get over the fact that Agassi is a tosser; deal with it :P

Not in the same league as the famous giggling video but nonetheless this shows each of them taking time to give interviews to two young teenage girls:

http://www.usposttoday.com/video-rafael-nadal-and-roger-fede rer-at-cincinnati-masters-tennis/

You need to close-up the space in fede_rer

ed, I think those two young girls should be interviewing all players ... they were great. :)

I had exactly the same thought. They were completely relaxed and not at all in awe being in the presence of the two great men. They had also obviously done their homework and were well prepared. What age would you say they were - 14, 15 at the most?

those 2 girls sat down the aisle from me in the press room. VERY cute. big Federer fans. I think they liked Mardy Fish too. =)

http://mais.uol.com.br/view/pdlcfx539y51/federer-e-nadal-com-crise-de- riso-04029A3372D4A113C6?types=A&
another link for the giggling video.

It's gone already!

http://usopen2010.nikemedia.com/#/Rafael_Nadal

oh my lovely outfits for rafa for the us open , especially the black one ! fed's aint bad either :)

This is the first time in a looonnggg time I've liked Rafa's outfit! Carrie, mark it down! :D

Love Fed's navy blue one, hate the other one.

Thanks for the link VR. Lol Cheryl ... you are definitely not very adventurous when it comes to clothing.

Which rivalry would you say is the greatest in men's tennis?

McEnroe - Bjorg
Agassi - Sampras
Nadal - Federer

jngannex... I'll answer that one after Sunday.

I don't think there can be any doubt that it's Nadal - Federer. They've played for so many important things so often...I can't imagine it will ever be replicated.

nadal federer wins it hands down...no debate

Very debatable. Borg-McEnroe was the most competitive of the rivalries; and along with Sampras-Agassi, the stark contrast between the players involved made it all the more interesting. Sampras-Agassi was superb in 1995, and definitely had its highlight moment in 2001, but wasn't as competitive as the other two. In terms of head to heads, Nadal Federer is the most lopsided - so its not overwhelmingly the greatest; its very debatable.

sampralica, that's why I said wait till Sunday. If Roger & Rafa meet, it will go a long way to make the rivalry the greatest ever. It will make them the only rivals to ever meet at all 4 Majors, and it will come at a time when people thought the rivalry was over and neither player would be able to dominate as they previously had.
Gilbert said last night that he's been waiting for this match for years, and it could be the "greatest final of the open era". So, a lot of historical meaning for this possible final. We shall see...

0MG..... RAFA AND FED... YES THEY ARE... nobody can doubt.... for all the times!!!

Rafa the Charming looks gorgeous in the outfits he wears during his matches, both the black and yellow&black one! I have already written somewhere that the design of the outfits emphasizes his perfectly proportioned body.

sampralica - I don't think it's borg/McEnroe for the simple fact that that the really didn't play all THAT many times. 14 over the course of basically 3 years.

Roger and Rafa have met 21 times over the course of 6 years and neither one is really anywhere near retirement.

The only argument for Borg/JMac is that the matchup didn't significantly favor one player over another. THey ended their career at 7 wins a piece. Still, Rog and Raf have played a whopping 17 finals. Borg and JMac played in 9 finals and only 4 of them were Slams.

As for Rafa's ruthless on the court and friendliness off the court, You could watch a video "But on the court, my friends..." on site http://www.nadalnews.com/ (Sept.3).

How bout nadal, fed and nole are the best top 3 the world has ever had - with some stats to back it up -
http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2010/08/31/the-trio-that-owns-mens-ten nis/

stu ... I liked Djokovic's press confrence ... he talks about ( a little), the Nadal/Federer obession. He is such a grounded young man ... and funny.
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/interactive/video/index.html?promo =PhotoInNav&category=press

yeah, he seems so relaxed and quietly confident. drama-free at the uso for a change. maybe that will be a key factor?

Cheryl, Federer and Nadal have played in 17 whopping finals - fair point, but the record stays at 12-5 to Nadal. I think a rivalry is only a rivalry when both players bring out the best in each other and aren't intimidated by either player. The very sight of Nadal across the net makes Federer freeze. How many times have we seen Federer lose just because he is scared to win/lose? Its true, Nadal doesn't bring out the best in Federer.

Validation for this blog!

The greatest rivalry in tennis is not over!! It might be skewed due to the huge year difference between them but the Federer at 29 can still dominate nadal and is maybe on the right strategical path to beat him more often!

2011 will be delicious!!

TMF - The Uber Tennis Player

Federer at 29 can still dominate nadal and is maybe on the right strategical path to beat him more often!

FEDistheGOAT , 11/28/10 9:40 PM

I guess you can dream but I wouldn't count my chickens before they are hatched. Don't forget Federer beat Nadal on Nadal's worst surface and Nadal already beat Federer on all the other services and he is getting better also. I agreed though that 2011 will be indeed delicious!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztZr9Iz9o18
What a dramatic ad! Flow Vs Force!

THE Rivalry continues!

(substitute 2011 for 2009)

Yeah: great ad.

But of course ads, commentators, fans we all like to come across as not too nuanced, not too wishy-washy and so we end up greatly exagerating the differences, e.g. flow versus force :-).

I feel a film coming on of THE RIVALRY.

rafaNfrEver, thanks for the link.


Rafa is the ultimate tennis player
Vamos

Another great article on the rivalry:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/533113-rafael-nadal-and -roger-federer-becoming-greater-than-tennis-itself

"How have they done this?

By being stuck up, controversial and demeaning like most superstars?

No. they have done it by being good, respectable people and massively talented at the same time.

Have you ever seen such ambassadors in any other sport?

Wherever they go they are respected, and no one ever has anything bad to say about them.

Their rivalry, character and talent have managed to make tennis arguably the second or third biggest sport globally, trailing only Football and maybe Formula One."

@rafanadalfanforever , 12/3/10 7:15 PM

You beat me to it, just read the above on The Bleacher Report.

Tennis Update: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to play for charity

http://blogs.bettor.com/Tennis-Update-Rafael-Nadal-and-Roge r-Federer-to-play-for-charity-a47372


Come Christmas, tennis-lovers will be getting an early present: Federer and Nadal announced today that they will be playing back-to-back exhibition matches for charity. According to Nadal, the pair ?wanted to take advantage of our head-to-head rivalry over recent years ... and help people who need it."

Nadal is the sweetest!

Can anyone tell me if the exhibition matches will be televised: if so, what are the dates and times?

Let google fight this fight: :P

http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=Roger+Fede rer&word2=Rafael+Nadal