Gioco Rafa

Rafa's through to the semis in Rome. He ousted Stepanek after losing the first set. As I was watching this funny-looking bloke, I wondered if I could ever root for him if it wasn't Rafa he was playing against. As unsporting as it sounds, I picked out 2 out of my 3 favoured players just by a chance glance. That would be Rafa, back when he was actually wearing baggy shorts and not the white clam-diggers he has taken a fancy to. And Coria, when he had this sorta bowl-cut. Spotting them this way and then taking an interest in their history and later on following their progress closely may seem like a strange way to turn into a fan, but it got me thinking how other fans came to be. Not just in tennis, but in soccer, motogp or any other sport. Do you pick out the current favourite and root him on ? Do you single out an athlete from the way he plays, see his potential and go on to follow his rise ? Or do you just pick out one that looks appealing and cheer him on ?

Can't say that I picked out Rafa or Coria because they were particularly good-looking either. Rafa looks slightly horsey (although he's Spanish Stallion in my eyes) and Coria looks like a pale, squinty-eyed imp (not my usual image of tanned, sultry Argentinians). It's just that look, maybe it's the sort of thing that's programmed into my DNA that makes them attractive to me.

However he had been picked, he's one of the Chosen Three. So, after angry clenched fists at Stepanek whenever he wins crucial points, lying down and upside down on the sofa, sitting up with hands around my head, there's that little tingle of victory in seeing that orange stallion strut around, pumping his fists in the air at game, set and match.