Farewell Rafa

[jimlosaltos]

Seems like Rafa's farewell has been approaching slowly for a decade; now, suddenly, it's here. It will be strange watching the Australian Open without him, and more so the French Open.

This month's Tour Portrait "Farewell Rafa" is a bit different. I didn't select my best photos, but instead tried to convey a sense of the span of his career, all while keeping this to less than 80 pictures

For example, this is an emotional favorite of mine, simply because it was the first time I saw Rafa play in person, a semifinal at BNP Paribas Indian Wells that he lost to Ivan Ljubicic. Excellent match that led to Ivan's only Masters' title. Dig the diamonds with stripes <g>.

I'll dig out a couple more from memorable moments to discuss here later.

filedata/fetch?id=106075&d=1730827043&type=thumb

#

[jimlosaltos]

This was an alternate to the cover image for this month's "Farewell Rafa Tour Portrait". What we went with emphasized the "Farewell" part more but I like
this because it's a great example of his most definitive shot, Rafa's inside-out lefty forehand from, well, anywhere on the court -- here from his backhand corner in beating Carlos Alcaraz.

( Also because I figured out how to do the title both behind and in front of the subject. Little thing I know but personally satisfying).

filedata/fetch?id=106101&d=1733861455&type=thumb

#

[stotty]

Jim, you're probably the best tennis photographer out there. Awesome, you're on par with Rafa's forehand as a photographer...well, almost.

[stroke]

I just watched a couple of days ago a replay of a 2003 Hamburg Masters 1000 match vs Carlos Moya. Nadal simply outhit Moya in the match, winning in 2 sets. Moya was in his prime at that time, easily one of the top 5 clay courters in the world, Nadal was 16 years old or so. It was something listening to the the commentary on this match about this unknown up and comer.

[jimlosaltos]

Jim, you're probably the best tennis photographer out there. Awesome, you're on par with Rafa's forehand as a photographer...well, almost.

Thank you! Greatly appreciate it.

I wasn't going to share this but it might amuse you. An acquaintance who did a best selling book on Federer is doing a book on Rafa. He asked if I had any photos for consideration and after I sent a a link to several he replied that he liked them but "Do you have any shots of Rafa on clay, since that's what my book is focused on. Clay will be in the final title."

Since I don't, I sent him this, ah, modified version of Rafa literally playing in a sandstorm at Indian Wells instead. It got a chuckle at least <g>
As for the Rafa comparison, when he was hitting his forehand in a sandstorm I was taking my pictures in the same sandstorm. Does that count?


filedata/fetch?id=106105&d=1733872828&type=thumb

#

[jimlosaltos]

I just watched a couple of days ago a replay of a 2003 Hamburg Masters 1000 match vs Carlos Moya. Nadal simply outhit Moya in the match, winning in 2 sets. Moya was in his prime at that time, easily one of the top 5 clay courters in the world, Nadal was 16 years old or so. It was something listening to the the commentary on this match about this unknown up and comer.

Imagine being there live, what that would have been like. Precocious.

[stroke]

Imagine being there live, what that would have been like. Precocious.

He was playing with the same racquet as Moya, the Babolat Soft Drive. I think it was the following year Babolat signed him up and developed the Aero line.

[jimlosaltos]

One more picture with a story -- When Rafa and Fed met in the quarterfinals of 2013 Indian Wells it was a special moment. They two were still riding the height of their personal battle but hadn't met in a while. Everyone was excited. We caught an earlier flight to the event just to see them that Thursday night, and the plane was filled with people talking about the match. We got nosebleed seats at the last minute.

The stadium was electric. Buzzing, filled to the brim with over 16,000 people, some celebrities. Even John Yandell, who walked by us with a cameraman up the steps of the upper bowl ! Didn't see us wave, he was on a mission .

Fed had defeated Rafa in the semifinals there the prior year. I recall that vividly. The match was literally stopped for a rain delay with Fed having match point. So, Fed calmly walked out after sitting in the chilly air for perhaps 20 minutes and hit a service winner. After, on TV Brad Gilbert interviewed Fed and about gasped when Fed admitted he changed his service target after tossing the ball and seeing Rafa's position. Anyway, everyone was excited for the rematch.

But something was wrong. You could tell before play in the 2013 quarter even started. Fed's back was out, a recurrence of the injury that plagued him through 2008, I believe it was. Fed couldn't bend over to lace his own shoes. Most players would have pulled out, but Fed doesn't do walkovers -- and he wasn't going to let down the sold out crowd. So he tried. He could serve. But Rafa quickly realized Fed couldn't move to his forehand. Literally, anything to his right and Fed couldn't move.

The two seemed to reach an unspoken agreement mid-rally. Fed hit a sharply angled forehand that Rafa retrieved at his backhand, service box sideline -- and hit right back to Fed's forehand. The pair then hit the ball back and forth without changing court position, along this strange diagonal. Big hitting, no movement. I guess the match turned into an accidental exo. At the end, the two talked at the net. Reporters later said Rafa asked, "How's your back?" and Fed replied, "Not good."

Strangely, nobody seemed disappointed. It was so exciting and the two were such good friends, everything seemed positive. "Fedal" would continue to be a competition of two greats and great friends, what sportsmanship is supposed to be about

A photo looking down from the nosebleeds.

filedata/fetch?id=106118&d=1733940968&type=thumb

#

[stroke]

That's a great story. I love tennis, but I am picky, only like to watch when I am a live spectator up close. All my best memories of watching was at Key Biscayne at the Grandstand court right behind the baseline, first 3 or 4 rows. I saw a lot of unbelievably great matches through the years.

[jimlosaltos]

That's a great story. I love tennis, but I am picky, only like to watch when I am a live spectator up close. All my best memories of watching was at Key Biscayne at the Grandstand court right behind the baseline, first 3 or 4 rows. I saw a lot of unbelievably great matches through the years.

Awesome.

[stotty]

That's a great story. I love tennis, but I am picky, only like to watch when I am a live spectator up close. All my best memories of watching was at Key Biscayne at the Grandstand court right behind the baseline, first 3 or 4 rows. I saw a lot of unbelievably great matches through the years.

I know what you mean. Over the years at SW19 I have seen some great matches. The outside courts are the best. You can sit real close to the action and get really involved/engrossed in the match. Watching live is real...TV isn't, not really...just isn't quite the same.

[stroke]

I know what you mean. Over the years at SW19 I have seen some great matches. The outside courts are the best. You can sit real close to the action and get really involved/engrossed in the match. Watching live is real...TV isn't, not really...just isn't quite the same.

No, if one never has never sat behind the baseline up close and watched ATP tennis, and has played and loves tennis, one can never get it.