My Novak-Djokovic-Experience

Super delayed post.

But definitely something that needs to be noted down to remember, nonetheless.

On the 24th of November, me, LX, Woogui and friends flocked to the O2 Centre to watch a potentially great showdown between two of the most talked-about names in the tennis world:

Rafa Nadal vs Novak Djokovic

(credits to Woogui and her amazing DSLR)

NB: On a side note, Rafa's outfit DEFINITELY deserves a mention of credit here. The colour combination is soooo amazing!

To be fair, it was just the first round of the Barclays ATP Finals 2010, but a showdown between these two was something I had been anticipating for a realllyyyy long time. Simply because I had already seen Federer and Murray play last Wimbledon, and by watching these two, my Tennis accomplishments were now complete, having watched the Top 4 in the world play within this year.

Okay, looking back retrospectively, I am able to put this in words calmly and enthuse about how lucky I was to be able to watch Djoker play the World No. 1 Nadal. But on the night before when I found out the Order of Play, I was absolutely bubbling with excitement. Elated, was probably an understatement in itself.

To FINALLY watch my Djoker play!!! (gasps)

Yes, he fails to bring his performance level THAT much higher every time and would be lucky to have a tenth the determination that Rafa possesses, but still.....perhaps I just like people who are Second Best. (Or tenth, in Liverpool's case)

After very entertaining and lengthy bus rides, we arrived at The O2 and managed to flock to the Fan Zone to check it out before the Doubles matches started:

We got our picture taken by a Professional Photographer with the Barclays ATP Finals Trophy that Roger 'FedEx' Federer got to hold in his arms as the Champion after. On the other side was the Premier League Championship Trophy and IRONICALLY, a picture of Torres, which I refused to take a picture with because obviously Liverpool will not be lifting it any time soon =P

There were a row of posters that the Top 8 (i.e. the participants of this Barclays ATP Finals) had artistically created. This is Djoker's. All of them were painted from tennis balls being hit (on target obviously) at a cut-out paper silhouette of themselves.

And this was the racquet he used. Not Babolat, unfortunately, but it is still Djoker's masterpiece after all ;)

Lynn and I then proceeded into the court, where we were greeted by a nice surprise! Djoker was practising with some unknown friend or tennis player.

After multiple attempts to take a picture of me with Djoker in the background, we came up with this:

Ahhhh, he is oh-so-gooodddd lookiinnnnnggg!! :) And brings much sentimental value as well, because it was him winning the Australian Open in '08 which sparked my exponentially increasing interest in Tennis.

Despite Rafa Nadal trashing my Djoker in straight sets, (Corneal Abrasion much? AHEM Inside Joke) my money was well-spent, the freezing journey into and out from the O2 Centre worth EVERY moment. No regrets, whatsoever. This year has been an awesome one in terms of my dapple with Professional Men's Tennis, and I am grateful for having all these incredible opportunities - being in this amazing city where all the happening stuff occurs - to be able to watch these guys play.

Also, much thanks and love to my Tennis buddies LX and Woogui for being so willing to come along with me every time I drag you to an event ;)

For the moment, I am glad that Rafa was FINALLY defeated by Federer, but this 24-year-old Spaniard definitely has a LONG way to go in terms of his career as yet.