The Vamos Brigade Awards 2009
by MAC
Once again we have voted for the stand out things of 2009. Thanks to all the people who took the time to make the nominations and to the 200 plus who voted.
As usual the ceremony was noted for the fountains of champagne and glamorous attire of all who attended. It's just a shame it was only me there.
By a huge margin (90% of all votes cast) the not so surprising winner was the Australian Open. We will never forget our joy as Rafa claimed his first hard court slam/major (whatever you prefer to call it) to become the first man ever to hold a title like that on three different surfaces simultaneously.
There were 11 nominations for this category which does at least show that we had plenty of matches to enjoy this year. In third place was the Madrid semi final against Djokovic and the runner up was the Australian Open final.
The winner (with 55% of the votes) was that amazing marathon semi final at the Australian Open against Fernando Verdasco. It took a phenomenal 5 hours and 14 minutes - the longest match in the history of the Australian Open. Final score 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(2) 6-7(1) 6-4. Credit must also be given to Fernando Verdasco for playing superb tennis and for being incredibly gracious in defeat, both on court and in his press conference after the match.
Among the seven nominations three points stood out - all from the Australian Open. In third place (with 21% of the vote), the point to get break point in the 5th game of the 4th set of the final, Federer serving at 2-2, Deuce #4 (starting at 6:09). In second place (with 26% of the vote), the "banana shot" from the semi final. Verdasco serving at 4-5 deuce, 2nd set, point to give Rafa set point (starting at 3:38).
The one that just edged it though (with 29% of the vote) was the game point of the 8th game in the 4th set of the semi final.
Again the honours go to the Australian Open. From ten nominations the winner (with 41% of the vote) was Rafa wishing on a dandelion in the semi final. Ahhhh.
Just to prove that we are nothing if not reactionary, the winner (with just under half all votes cast - 47%) was the iconic sleeveless outfit he wore to play doubles in Montreal.
An honourable mention goes to the runner up - the night outfit worn at the Australian Open. This got just over 60% of the rest of the votes which leads me to believe that the majority of us think that collarless is a preferable option.
This year we had some crackers to choose from. The voting was pretty close for the four nominations.
The combination of two-tone green polo shirt with check shorts worn at the Beijing Open, Shanghai and Paris Masters got 33% of the vote.
The pink polo shirt worn for Roland Garros just edged it with 34%.
Marc Lopez helped Rafa to the title at the Exxon Mobil Qatar Open as well as partnering him in Indian Wells and Miami. He won all our hearts with his speech in Doha. With 63% of the vote, he was way ahead of the rest of the field (Ignacio Coll-Riudavets, Francisco Roig and Juan Monaco).
There were 9 nominations in this category and a couple of interviews did well. the TVE interview by the pool at Porto Cristo house got 29% of the vote and the one with with Tio Toni and Rafa as shown in Toni Nadal, "el mago" got 16%.
The winner (with 38%) was his indefatigable cheering on of David Ferrer in the Davis Cup final.
Only three nominations in this category and the outfit below got 50% of the vote. You just can't beat a leather jacket when it's teamed with a Harley.
It was nip and tuck between three quotes.
In third place with 27% - On being kissed by a fan after his 4th Round match at the US Open: "No, for me it wasn't a problem. The guy was really nice...Yeah, he was a great fan he said 'I love you' and he kiss me."
In second place with 28% - After winning the Australian Open: "I just win for sure an important title for my career. But I no better five hours before than now, no? That's the true, no? When you win an important match, but you have to know before the match who you are and after the match you have to know who you are, too. You are the same, no?"
And the winner with 31% -
After his loss at Roland Garros
"No, defeats never make you grow, but you also realize how difficult what I achieved up until today was, and this is something you need sometimes. You need a defeat to give value to your victories."
It's been a difficult job to narrow down a winner from the 50 pictures that we have chosen as our Pic of the Week throughout the year. The winner comes from way back in January. It was taken during his 3rd round match against Tommy Haas at the Australian Open (of course). *María Laura* found it on Yahoo and Denizen made the original proposal.
Finally
There were a lot of nominations -
Regain the number 1 ranking
Win at least 3 majors
Remain healthy all year
Win Roland Garros for the 5th time
Win another hard court slam
Win Wimbledon again
Defend all his points
Win a Masters 1000 tournament that he hasn't won before
Happy Rafa
Win more Master Series Titles so that he becomes the player that's won the most Masters titles ever
All of the above
People had two votes here because we feared that if spoilt for choice many people would opt for "All of the above". A happy Rafa, winning Wimbledon again and winning Roland Garros for the fifth time were popular choices.
After the events of 2009 it is not surprising that if push comes to shove and we only get one wish the single thing that would make most of us happy is if Rafa were to remain healthy all year.
As usual the ceremony was noted for the fountains of champagne and glamorous attire of all who attended. It's just a shame it was only me there.
What was your favourite tournament of 2009?
By a huge margin (90% of all votes cast) the not so surprising winner was the Australian Open. We will never forget our joy as Rafa claimed his first hard court slam/major (whatever you prefer to call it) to become the first man ever to hold a title like that on three different surfaces simultaneously.
What was the best match of 2009?
There were 11 nominations for this category which does at least show that we had plenty of matches to enjoy this year. In third place was the Madrid semi final against Djokovic and the runner up was the Australian Open final.
The winner (with 55% of the votes) was that amazing marathon semi final at the Australian Open against Fernando Verdasco. It took a phenomenal 5 hours and 14 minutes - the longest match in the history of the Australian Open. Final score 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(2) 6-7(1) 6-4. Credit must also be given to Fernando Verdasco for playing superb tennis and for being incredibly gracious in defeat, both on court and in his press conference after the match.
Which do you think was the best point of 2009?
Among the seven nominations three points stood out - all from the Australian Open. In third place (with 21% of the vote), the point to get break point in the 5th game of the 4th set of the final, Federer serving at 2-2, Deuce #4 (starting at 6:09). In second place (with 26% of the vote), the "banana shot" from the semi final. Verdasco serving at 4-5 deuce, 2nd set, point to give Rafa set point (starting at 3:38).
The one that just edged it though (with 29% of the vote) was the game point of the 8th game in the 4th set of the semi final.
What was your favourite on court moment?
Again the honours go to the Australian Open. From ten nominations the winner (with 41% of the vote) was Rafa wishing on a dandelion in the semi final. Ahhhh.
What was your favourite on court outfit?
Just to prove that we are nothing if not reactionary, the winner (with just under half all votes cast - 47%) was the iconic sleeveless outfit he wore to play doubles in Montreal.
An honourable mention goes to the runner up - the night outfit worn at the Australian Open. This got just over 60% of the rest of the votes which leads me to believe that the majority of us think that collarless is a preferable option.
What was the worst on court outfit?
This year we had some crackers to choose from. The voting was pretty close for the four nominations.
The combination of two-tone green polo shirt with check shorts worn at the Beijing Open, Shanghai and Paris Masters got 33% of the vote.
The pink polo shirt worn for Roland Garros just edged it with 34%.
Who was your favourite among Rafa's doubles partners?
Marc Lopez helped Rafa to the title at the Exxon Mobil Qatar Open as well as partnering him in Indian Wells and Miami. He won all our hearts with his speech in Doha. With 63% of the vote, he was way ahead of the rest of the field (Ignacio Coll-Riudavets, Francisco Roig and Juan Monaco).
What was your favourite off court moment?
There were 9 nominations in this category and a couple of interviews did well. the TVE interview by the pool at Porto Cristo house got 29% of the vote and the one with with Tio Toni and Rafa as shown in Toni Nadal, "el mago" got 16%.
The winner (with 38%) was his indefatigable cheering on of David Ferrer in the Davis Cup final.
What was your favourite off court outfit?
Only three nominations in this category and the outfit below got 50% of the vote. You just can't beat a leather jacket when it's teamed with a Harley.
What was your favorite Rafa quote?
It was nip and tuck between three quotes.
In third place with 27% - On being kissed by a fan after his 4th Round match at the US Open: "No, for me it wasn't a problem. The guy was really nice...Yeah, he was a great fan he said 'I love you' and he kiss me."
In second place with 28% - After winning the Australian Open: "I just win for sure an important title for my career. But I no better five hours before than now, no? That's the true, no? When you win an important match, but you have to know before the match who you are and after the match you have to know who you are, too. You are the same, no?"
And the winner with 31% -
After his loss at Roland Garros
"No, defeats never make you grow, but you also realize how difficult what I achieved up until today was, and this is something you need sometimes. You need a defeat to give value to your victories."
Pic of the Year 2009
It's been a difficult job to narrow down a winner from the 50 pictures that we have chosen as our Pic of the Week throughout the year. The winner comes from way back in January. It was taken during his 3rd round match against Tommy Haas at the Australian Open (of course). *María Laura* found it on Yahoo and Denizen made the original proposal.
Finally
What would we most like to see happen in 2010?
There were a lot of nominations -
Regain the number 1 ranking
Win at least 3 majors
Remain healthy all year
Win Roland Garros for the 5th time
Win another hard court slam
Win Wimbledon again
Defend all his points
Win a Masters 1000 tournament that he hasn't won before
Happy Rafa
Win more Master Series Titles so that he becomes the player that's won the most Masters titles ever
All of the above
People had two votes here because we feared that if spoilt for choice many people would opt for "All of the above". A happy Rafa, winning Wimbledon again and winning Roland Garros for the fifth time were popular choices.
After the events of 2009 it is not surprising that if push comes to shove and we only get one wish the single thing that would make most of us happy is if Rafa were to remain healthy all year.