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The Vamos Brigade Awards 2017
by MAC

 
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

Rafa Nadal
©MAC for vamosbrigade.com


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

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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

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

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

Embed from Getty Images

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

Embed from Getty Images

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

Rafa Nadal
Massimo Ferrari - www.ars-media.it

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

Rafa Nadal
www.radikal.ru

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

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"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

Rafa Nadal
@AMarshallSport

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

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A very healthy and happy 2018 to everybody!