The Vamos Brigade Awards 2017
|
What a difference a year makes. After the last two years I'm not sure any of us were that optimistic at the start of 2017. In our awards we always ask people to vote on what they'd most like to see happen in the next year. In 2016 what most (48%) hoped for was a 10th Roland Garros title, with winning the Australian Open to complete a double career slam in second place with 25%. He achieved the first and was really close to getting the second. Only 1% of respondents dared to hope that he'd regain the year end ranking so that was a fantastic bonus. One sad thing I must mention again here is the loss of our beloved Elise. Among all her other contributions, she put in a lot of effort to set up and administer these awards. This year's are dedicated to her memory. Without further ado, let's get the show started. What was Rafa's best tournament of 2017? Nominations: Roland Garros US Open La Decima had to be one of the options but that 3rd US Open title was a great way to break the long run without a hard court title. And the winner is... Roland Garros 
What was the best match of 2017? Nominations: Roland Garros final Monte Carlo final There were some wonderful matches this year but there is always something special about a match that ends with a trophy bite. Especially when it's the 10th at that tournament. And the winner is... Roland Garros final What was the best point of 2017? Nominations: Forehand winner from the French Open final Screeching winner v Diego Schwartzman in the Monte Carlo quarter final Amazing passage of play in one game between Rafa and David Goffin in the Madrid quarter final There were some amazing points from Rafa this year. I was lucky to be present when all the above shots were made - I may have even had my eyes open for all of them. My personal favourite was the play in that Madrid quarter final. However, the winner was... Forehand winner from the French Open final What was your favourite on-court moment in 2017? Nominations: When Toni brought in one more full-size trophy replica that RG is giving Rafa to take home instead of the usual mini replica Official naming ceremony of Rafa's court at Barcelona The moment in Monte Carlo when the ball kids formed the number 10 after the victory in the final My heart leapt when I saw the ball kids at Monte Carlo but, once again, Roland Garros took the glory. The winner is... When Toni brought in one more full-size trophy replica that RG is giving Rafa to take home instead of the usual mini replica What was your favourite on court outfit? Nominations: US Open night session outfit Roland Garros Asian / indoor autumn hardcourt US Open day kit Clay season kit And the winner is... US Open night session outfit What was your least favourite on court outfit? Nominations: Australian Open & Acapulco USO day kit The Australian Open outfit has won many times in the past and it was no different this year. The winner is... Australian Open & Acapulco What was your favourite off-court outfit?
Nominations:Navy suit worn with a thin knit sweater underneath Outfit worn at the draw ceremony before MC tournament Small check jacket, white shirt & jeans Dark blue shirt, jeans & black loafers Grey suit, white shirt & blue pocket handkerchief During his Beethoven shoot for MCY and the magazine Barche In his Nike la Decima T- shirt Beethoven photo shoot back in the summer Cosentino, London Sleeveless shirt worn in practice during the Australian Open This was a hotly contested category and the winner is... Beethoven photo shoot back in the summer for his MCY 76 yacht manufacturer Monte Carlo Yachts 
A sub category was - What was your favourite bathing suit that Rafa wore in 2017?
Nominations:White trunks with horizontal blue & red stripes, from June 17, aboard Beethoven off Formentera White trunks with side blue & red stripes, from July 16, aboard Beethoven off Ibiza The winner is... White trunks with side blue & red stripes, from July 16, aboard Beethoven off Ibiza 
What was your favourite off-court moment?
Nominations:When Rafa met Dyan the koala in Brisbane back in January Rafa receiving a fishing reel for his birthday at Roland Garros Rafa placing his RG trophy in the museum case And the winner is... Rafa receiving a fishing reel for his birthday at Roland Garros What was your favourite quote by Rafa?
Nominations:About defining winning mentality during one of his pressers at Paris Bercy Reply to a daft journalist question regarding Federer From Toni's blog in El Pais on August 21 The winner is from Toni's blog in El Pais on August 21 As reported by @genny_ss on Twitter "While educating Rafa on perseverance, Toni told him something he'd heard from some retired players: "If I started again today I'd try harder." Rafa's answer can't be more telling. It defines Rafa's essence (& why we love him so much): " "Toni, I don't think that will ever happen to me.
The day I retire from this sport, I'll do it with the peace of mind of having done everything that has been within my reach." What was your favourite quote about Rafa?
Nominations:Vince Lombardi on the Roland Garros site Lionel Chamoulaud Steve Flink - (writing for TennisChannel.com) at the 2017 Miami open Spanish journalist Alejandro Ciriza (El Pais) after 2017 USO victory And the winner is... Steve Flink - (writing for TennisChannel.com) at the 2017 Miami open "Nadal is a unique individual across the board, a superior sportsman through and through and a gentleman to his core" What was the most iconic photograph of Rafa in 2017?
Nominations:Rafa wearing a tank top in a practice session on April 5 at his Academy in Manacor Rafa wearing a tank top in a practice session on April 6 at his Academy in Manacor Rafa sitting on his chair at Wimbledon Rafa looking at the eclipse during the US Open And the winner is... Rafa looking at the eclipse during the US Open 
What would you most like to see happen in 2018? Nominations: Winning another Australian Open Winning another Wimbledon Winning a tournament on a surface other than clay It is a given that our primary wish is for Rafa to remain healthy and happy throughout the year. This year we had fewer options than previously. Winning his eleventh Roland Garros was sadly missing from the nominations. From the above options the winner is... Winning another Australian Open A very healthy and happy 2018 to everybody! |