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Wimbledon 2013
by MAC

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Tempted as I am to pretend this never existed and go straight into shirtless pics from Ibiza, I can't avoid the fact that Rafa did play at this tournament.

I was there, along with quite a few members of vamosbrigade.com and a couple of Twitter friends who were seeing Rafa in the flesh for the first time. I do hope that this experience hasn't scarred them for life.

It was impossible to tell anything about his form from his warm-up session. Mainly because positions with any kind of view were at a premium.

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© Electricwitch for vamosbrigade.com

loobyloo captured the scrum as he left the court.


I would dearly love to know where all these people were when Rafa was struggling on court one. The place was heaving with the kind of "tennis fans" who believe that it is only played for two weeks of the year like those people who think they are religious because they go to church at Christmas for the carol services.

It was mob mentality that made the Croydon riots of 2011 look like a relaxed shopping expedition. Whether it was disgruntled queuers who couldn't get centre court tickets or just a bunch of lads who love the sound of their own voices it was hard to tell.

However, Rafa was, of course, beautiful and classy despite being unable to bend or move properly.

Here is a selection of gorgeous pictures taken by my wonderful travel and queue companions, JLB and Electricwitch.

Rafa Nadal
© Electricwitch for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com
Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© Electricwitch for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© Electricwitch for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Rafa Nadal
© JLB for vamosbrigade.com

Obviously, we were pretty gutted about the result at the time but seeing how many players pulled out with injuries over the next few days made us grateful that Rafa had not suffered any further damage.

It's obvious from the paparazzi pics that he is enjoying an unexpected holiday and we hope he takes the opportunity to recharge the batteries that have to have been running near empty after his outstanding achievements since his return from a seven month layoff.

Whatever his results, we will always love and support him and, to quote Rick Blaine in Casablanca, "We'll always have Paris".

Vamos!