For Just Once

the british royal family breaking up and 'come out ye black and tans' getting to no 1 in the Irish charts is NOT how i expected 2020 to go, but i am loving it nonetheless

Did some say Guide To The Top 10 ATP Players Plus Notable Others? No? Well here it is anyway. Please watch this hot mess with me 

tag yourself i’m sascha and andy

Alexander Zverev, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer of Team Europe spray champagne after winning the Laver Cup on the final day of the Laver cup on September 24, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic.

A few years ago Rafa did a feature on his website where he talked about some of the most important matches in his life. It was deleted when his website was updated but I’ve just found a copy of it!

Some highlights (all real quotes):

“In the semi-finals, I faced Federer, and it is true that I felt plethoric on clay… as true as the match seemed intimidating, I felt respect. I am not saying fear. Never. My start was explosive. I knew that Rogerio (as I friendly call him) was not used to hitting so high and would take a few games to get used to my lifting.” - RG 05

“Another final against Federer. I correct. It is never ‘another’, it is never ‘one more’. Every meeting is the first and the last, and this would be no exception: a victory of sweat and courage, with flashes of great tennis.” - Monte Carlo 06

“I jumped on to court in front of more than 15,000 people. I looked at my parents and then at Federer. I was ready, or that is what I thought. Roger gave me a real thrashing in the first set. He soon got 5-0 up, and showed tremendous solvency and serenity: drives along the line, a concluding, resolving backhand at the net.” “Federer is not only a champion, but also a gentleman and an elegant rival. He did not try to humiliate me, he did not draw blood. I don’t think he wanted to win like that against a frightened opponent who hardly put up any resistance. He wanted to win against Rafa Nadal.” - RG 06

“I know Federer beat me in the final, although as far as I am concerned, I played the best tennis of my career. Wimbledon was Rogerio’s garden, his private domain. He strolled around the court sweeping away any opponent who dared to tread on his grass with overwhelming superiority.” “The game that Fed-Ex develops on grass is… well, you know what I am talking about. I am not going to write an ode (he has got his own web for that, hasn’t he? ;-D) though sometimes I felt the impulse to stay there watching his technique.” “Roger, an extraordinary fellow with or without his racquet, spared me no praise in his declarations, congratulating me for a great match and addressing me a few words that consoled any twinge of disappointment, ‘you also deserved it.’” - Wimbledon 07

“I am not capable of putting into words what this victory meant to me. Maybe I need perspective, maybe I still haven’t taken it in. Since I came on to the professional circuit, even before his, I related the word 'Wimbledon’ with 'Roger Federer’. It is something subconscious and automatic: the All England’s Club court is something like his garden.” “Nothing around me was important, time stopped, the voices faded and the stands were no more than mist. Roger and I were alone.” “I was aware that Roger and I had just played the best tennis match of all time; that I had just won the most prestigious tournament on the circuit; that… I had made my dream come true.” - Wimbledon 08

LAST WEEK WE CAN USE THIS SOMEONE HIT THE PANIC BUTTON

Tennis players on the Titanic

Roger Federer: Everyone in the 1st class knows him and respects him. Always dressed impeccably, best manners by far, can hold conversation with anyone and not appear snobbish. When the disaster strikes, he’s offered a place in the lifeboat but it’s out of question he’d take it while they are still women and children on board.

Rafael Nadal: While everyone’s having brandy, stuffing themselves in the restaurant and boasting about their wealth, he’s in the gym. Joins everyone only after dinner, out of politeness (and to be with Roger). When the ship starts sinking, he’s out trying to help everybody. He’s last seen giving his warm coat to a lady.

Sascha Zverev: Half of the 1st class call him “son” despite him not being related to anybody. When the ship strikes the iceberg, he’s already asleep, so he appears on board half-dressed and really confused. An officer spots him and figures he’s tall and strong and they need men to row, so they put him in a lifeboat. Worst decision ever, because Sascha can’t row at all.

Jack Sock: The one merry passenger of the 3rd class who is really nice and polite and wouldn’t hurt a fly, but once the ship starts sinking, he will break as many doors and rules as he has to because he will not let the people die.

Andy Murray: Comes from a totally matriarchal family, so doesn’t get half of the gentlemen’s sexist jokes. Approves of the ship’s construction, but constantly complains about the quality of tea. When the disaster strikes, he blames himself for it, just because he’s British.

Nick Kyrgios: That one problematic passenger that constantly gets into fights with the crew over trespassing and destroying things. Survives, because it’s Nick, and then sues the hell out of the company.

Novak Djokovic: Everyone in the 1st class hates him because he constantly makes inappropriate jokes and impersonates fellow passengers. Tries to appear brave first, but finally bribes an officer to get a place in the lifeboat.

Jeremy Chardy: Doesn’t know how he got on the Titanic, probably won the tickets in poker or something. Doesn’t know how he got in the lifeboat, probably just wandered there when nobody was looking. Utterly confused all the time.

Diego Schwartzman: The one 2nd class passenger you don’t even notice, because he minds his own business. Survives, because in the dark and chaos he gets mistaken for a child.

Denis Shapovalov: The ray of sunshine, having the time of his life on the Titanic. Asks for seconds during dinners and everyone thinks it’s cute. Tells everyone there has to be a happy ending, because it’s his birthday (April 15th). Literally the last person on board to lose hope.

Dominic Thiem: Too nice and shy for the 1st class smoking room. Spends afternoons drinking tea with elderly ladies, who all want him to marry their granddaughters. When the ship starts sinking, he cries, because he can’t save everyone. Survives, but suffers from major survivor guilt.

Grigor Dimitrov: Only there to seduce the ladies, major gold digger, has the largest wardrobe. Is on the Titanic because everyone who means something is on the Titanic, but actually fights with being seasick.

David Goffin: Is so inconspicuous and polite he gets mistaken for a steward a couple times. A brilliant student who’s just graduated and is traveling to see the world and have a break (everything covered by his parents, of course). Helps old ladies and children get in the lifeboats.

Stefanos Tsitsipas: Pretends he’s very rich and heir to some estates, an exiled Greek prince or something. In fact he’s completely broke because the life he leads is not compatible with his bank account. The last money he spent… yes, for the tickets. Luckily, will get compensation after the sinking.

Marin Čilić: Had a premonition that the ship will sink, very pessimistic, doesn’t even leave his cabin and sleeps with the lifejacket on. Feels the urge to tell everyone “I told you this would happen!” while the ship is sinking.

  Selfie time

let me share this collection of poorly made old gifs with everything else that breaks my heart about australia ‘09, besides the obvious:

roger angrily mouthing “shit” to himself when he can’t get his tears under control 

the twitch in rafa’s cheek and the way he looks like he’s in literal pain watching roger fall apart up there 

the achingly boyish way roger cries, those sweet clumsy gestures  

little reassurance thigh/tiddy taps 

“rog, sorry for today, I really know how you feel” and roger’s brief flicker of a smile and the way their eyes lock (again) and his little nod 

the way rafa turns and looks on as roger leaves like all he wants to do is go after him. the way he looks lost for a moment standing there alone.

and I guess we don’t need a gif to know what happened later that evening…