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crack_van2012-01-07 11:44 pm
Fandom Overview - Men's Professional Tennis RPS v 2.0
updated draft on July 9, 2013
This is actually the second fandom overview for Men's Tennis RPS fandom. The first overview was written back in 2007. This is a fandom in which change is inevitable, as players usually retire around the age of thirty and there's always somebody new to replace them.. To paraphrase from the original overview, to make a list of all the players that are slashed would be quite difficult. It’s probably easiest to say that if they’re in the Top 100, they’re fair game though even that’s not a guarantee.
Retired players I’m including when necessary but I’m only reccing stories in which they’re paired with current players. In other words, don’t expect something like McEnroe/Borg – even though they decided to partner up in the men’s underwear business – or Agassi/Sampras – even though they publicly bicker over money.
As you can see, it doesn’t take much to fuel the slash. Photos and video clips do help, between the post-match exchanges which can include anything from intimate hugs, pats on the back (or lower), caresses, kisses to each cheek. If you’re on the same side, whether in doubles or Davis Cup, there is a lot of happiness to spread around. The required post-match press conference and interviews can also lead to inadvertent slips of the tongue. Davis Cup and Grand Slam winning celebrations also have parties and alcohol-aided hijinks. There’s “evidence” for pretty much any couple you could want.
Much of this fandom begins with the top of the rankings. Players who are closely associated with a top player, whether from the same country or other connection, do seem to weave seamlessly in. With that in mind, I’ll start with the elite players and branch from there.
(All Information current as of July 9, 2013)
The Big Four
So called because there'd been hardly any change in the Top 4 of the rankings from late 2008 to the end of 2012. Still referred by this nickname for publicity purposes even though technically no longer true.
Roger Federer - World #5
Age: 31. Country: Switzerland. Seventeen-time Grand Slam champ – the most any male player has ever won. Had been at the top for so long that he's accustomed to being the ringleader of the fandom – as you may notice when you read the popular pairings section of this overview. Was known for having a temper in his early years but learned to curb it in order to become a champion… not just any champion but the Greatest of all Time (GoaT). Fluent in four languages (Swiss-German, German, English and French) and always eager to learn more make him easy to pair. Paired most with Rafael Nadal at this point, though Andy Roddick, Marat Safin, Novak Djokovic and fellow Swiss player Stanislas Wawrinka were quite common. There's also his wife Mirka, the only case in which the significant other is usually not ignored since the world doesn’t really know Roger without Mirka being there: Miroslava “Mirka” Vavrinec was a Swiss tennis player who began dating Roger in 2000, around the time of the Sydney Olympics. They played mixed doubles together in Hopman Cup in a ridiculously cute video. Injuries curtailed her career so became Roger’s manager and constant presence at his matches; married in March 2009 and had twins that summer.
Rafael Nadal - World #4
27. Spain. Nickname: Rafa. Twelve-time Grand Slam champ who especially loves the clay courts (he's won eight French Open titles). He is a bit of a prodigy, being part of Spain winning Davis Cup team back in 2004 (at age seventeen - before he'd even won his first French Open). Though initially written as a bit of an innocent - especially in connection with his idol Carlos Moya - this image has faded over the years, especially if you've seen that Shakira video "Gypsy" or his work with Armani. Due to the hype regarding their rivalry, it makes sense that even casual fans can see Roger/Rafa and that’s why it’s the most popular pairing in fandom. That said, he’s been paired nearly every elite player because, with very rare exceptions, nobody on tour ever says a bad word about Rafa. There's a whole sector of Spanish Armada fic (below) that has exploded in popularity due to residuals from Rafa's success; in these kind of stories, he’s usually the young one being taught about life by the older players. On the other side of the spectrum, pairing him with Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray is common due to all being at the top of the game, friends off the court and being around the same age. His Uncle Toni, who is also his coach, is sometimes mentioned in an effort to reel him in.
Novak Djokovic - World #1
26. Country: Serbia. Nickname: Nole, Djoker. Six-time Grand Slam champ. The jokester has pretty much been leading the pack the last two and a half years, after being third to the Roger and Rafa show for several years in a row. Fandom tends to go in the direction of its number one so a shift is taking place from Roger to Novak. He was known for impersonations of Rafa and others but tried to curb that tendency after someone (believed to be Roger since that one is no longer in the arsenal) got offended. Never misses an opportunity to ham it up for a crowd, sing terribly, or throw in sexual innuendo. He grew up in a war-torn nation and his family devoted everything toward his tennis, a lot of expectation to heap on anyone yet seems to have no resentment. Most often paired with others in the Big Four (I’ll explain in more detail in the pairings section), as well as Ernests Gulbis due to their teen years in Germany and Andy Roddick due to various exhibitions they’ve done (there’s been both friendly and not-so-friendly times). Novak’s younger brothers Marko and Djordje are both on the lower levels of the tour and are beginning to appear.
Andy Murray - World #2
26. Great Britain (Scotland to be exact; it does matter). This is the entry that required the most modification from the end of 2011 to now. :) He'd been runner-up four times at majors before a remarkable summer of 2012 that led to two medals, gold (in singles) and silver (in mixed doubles with Laura Robson), at the London Olympics and winning the US Open. Oh yeah and he literally just won Wimbledon! So, prior to all this, he'd been playing with a cloud over his head and a nation on his back... since no British man had won a major in 76 years... but has shown more of his light-hearted side since winning. Obsessive over sometimes-useless details. At this point is paired mostly with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, due to being friends with both of them from a very early age, and the retired Tim Henman (lack of Brits on the ATP tour). Andy’s brother Jamie is also on tour (age: 27, doubles rank: 64) and they occasionally play doubles together. Jamie won the 2007 Wimbledon mixed doubles; he is generally written into fic as either an advisor or a hassle but it's all rather good-natured teasing.
Honorable Mention - have been at the top and still have significant influence in fandom
Andy Roddick - Retired in 2012
30. United States. 2003 US Open champ and former #1. Great for a soundbite in press conferences or entertainment at exhibitions. He'd been at the top for so long yet always had Roger in the way of greater success, having lost to him in four different major finals as well as other big matches. Prior to 2008 and the Federer and Nadal Show really picking up steam, Andy/Roger was the predominant pairing of tennis fandom due to all their clashes at majors. Another common pairing in that time period had him with Mardy Fish because they grew up together; interestingly, not written so much now that Mardy is actually famous for reasons other than Andy. Andy has been written with many other players over the years, especially non-American players such as Novak Djokovic, Marat Safin (Andy has both bonded and publicly clashed with these two), and Richard Gasquet (pairing nickname: lacosteslash, after their clothing sponsor). It should be noted that there’d been a significant decrease in fic with Andy since he married Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker in 2009.
Marat Safin - Retired in 2009
33. Russia. Won the US Open at age 20 and the Australian Open at age 25. The pot-stirrer for so long, he's been retired from tennis for years yet still a factor in fandom. Temperamental, seductive and downright dangerous. This is a guy who showed up at a tournament with two black eyes from a fistfight in a bar and brought a bevy of ladies to Grand Slam matches. Moved to Spain as a teen so quickly became independent-minded. Most often paired with Roger or Andy Roddick, though also Juan Carlos Ferrero, Lleyton Hewitt and probably anyone you can think of. Since retiring has been a member of the Russian Olympic Committee and got elected to Parliament. His sister is Dinara Safina, age 27, #1 player in the world in 2009 but a persistent back problem has derailed her game and is unofficially retired; he is quite protective of her and she idolizes him.
Sectors of Fandom
Spanish Armada
Spain has been the most dominant country in the rankings the last few years. When the tour is in the clay court portion of the year, it is not unusual to see the draw loaded with Spanish players. The country's Davis Cup success (they won in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011) has inspired quite a lot of fic. Due mostly to their interactions in this team setting, you could pretty much make a case for pairing any two Spanish players together. That there's a whole lot of pretty to these teams certainly does not hurt. I direct you to this lovely picspam illustrating the point.
David Ferrer - World #3
31. Nickname: Ferru. The reason the marketing campaign "Big Four" is now misleading is thanks to this guy, who just this year made his first Grand Slam final at French Open. That said, he does appear to have a significant mental issue when it comes to facing members of the Big Four, especially fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal. Significantly admired by other players due to his work ethic and Everyman style of play (at 5'9", is quite a bit shorter than most of the elite players). Comes off as quite shy when speaking in English so it's difficult to pair him with anyone not comfortable speaking Spanish. Usually paired with Juan Carlos Ferrero, Tommy Robredo (all three around the same age) or Rafael Nadal (now that David is the higher ranked). Picspam.
Feliciano Lopez - World #30
31. Nickname: Feli. Even though he’s never been higher than #15 or gotten beyond even the quarterfinals of a major, he’s a longtime presence in fandom (he predates even Rafa's success). Left-hander who excels on grass as well as in high-pressure Davis Cup situations. Has been known to get especially emo, whether on the court or on twitter. Some say he’s more focused on his appearance than what he actually does on the court but his results sometimes catch up to the attention. That said, only he could have a match at Wimbledon in which the issue of his opponent’s mother lusting after him becomes the main story in the papers! (If you hear the nickname Deliciano, it’s in reference to this) Once his buddy Fernando Verdasco made a mark on the tour in 2008, this became the dominant Armada pairing but Feliciano has also been written with Rafael Nadal, Marat Safin, David Ferrer, even the great Roger Federer, who can appreciate the pretty. Generally portrayed in fic as the sex fiend and quite dramatic in nature.
Fernando Verdasco - World #35
29. Nickname: Nando, Fer. Once in the top 10 and had been sooo close to beating Rafa in the Australian Open semis in 2009, utilized that position into dating lots of beautiful women and modeling in his underwear for Calvin Klein. Can be very temperamental on the court, to the point where he actually seems to go crazy. Fell into a severe slump lasting at least two years, which finally got lifted thanks to a surprise run at Wimbledon in 2013. While definitely popular in his own right, in terms of slash he’s almost exclusively paired with Feliciano Lopez. He’s not even paired with other Spaniards very often unless forced by a challenge to do so (threesomes are much more likely).
Juan Carlos Ferrero - Retired in 2012.
31. Nickname: Juanca, Juanqui. 2003 French Open champion and former #1 player in the world. Highly respected and credited with helping in the explosion of Spanish tennis for his success on all surfaces prior to Rafa coming on the scene. Often is looking at the big picture, having started a tennis academy and owner of Hotel Ferrero. As a result, is usually written as in control and all-knowing. Usually paired with either David Ferrer (close friends who own an ATP tournament together in Valencia) or Marat Safin (due to the teen years in Spain).
Tommy Robredo – World #28
31. Has been in the Top 10 in singles and quite good at doubles as well. Had been on and off the tour with injuries the last two years but 2013 has been a remarkable year (in particular, coming from two sets to none down in three consecutive matches at the French Open). Usually paired with David Ferrer but often instigating when it comes to others in the Armada. This lovely picspam does a better job.
Nicolas Almagro - World #16
27. Nickname: Nico. Often overlooked member of the Armada. He's been in the Top 10 but often forgotten because he doesn't seem interested in the spotlight (that he hasn’t had much success at the majors or Davis Cup doesn’t help). Clay court specialist. His 2013 has been marred by several matches in which he badly choked away huge leads. Has quite a bit of firepower as well as a scary temper, which has been under control of late. Usually paired with David Ferrer or Marcel Granollers, but definitely on the outskirts of the group.
Marcel Granollers – World #41 in singles, #4 in doubles
Marc Lopez - World #3 in doubles
27, 30. Nickname: M&M. Marcel had teamed up in doubles with many different Spaniards over the years (Robredo, Almagro, Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez) and has had some singles successes (especially if he's playing in Valencia); that versatility had him be part of Spain's Davis Cup squad. Marc was best known for being a friend of and playing doubles with Rafael Nadal. These close friends decided to play doubles together at the beginning of 2012 and hit the jackpot with an unorthodox style of play. They made quite a few finals, accumulated enough points to finish in the top 8 and qualify for the World Tour Finals... then surprised everyone when they actually won. Marcel has been paired with Tommy Robredo in the past but now it's purely M+M being involved in Armada hijinx. Picspam of mostly Marcel
Carlos Moya - Retired in 2010
35. He was once #1 in the world, even won the French Open in 1998. But he's likely better known now as the guy who mentored Rafael Nadal. Both Rafa and Carlos are from the island of Mallorca and this was a very popular pairing when Rafa was a young lad beginning to make his mark on the tour. Carlos is ten years older than Rafa so it’s also the pairing most likely to have the underage or age-difference kink. In older fic (pre-2006), Carlos was paired up with most of the elite players of the time.
The French Quarter (dubbed in the press sometimes as the New Four Musketeers)
These four are lumped together due to all having similar levels of success, in hopes they'll succeed at the level of the original Four Musketeers in the 1930s. There are clearly close friendships among this group, all being around the same age. When you have at least two of them together, you're just asking for trouble.
Picspam (slash with Gael and Jo, side of Gilles) and the site ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif){kind=small}
french_affaire(registration required) is excellent for this.
Richard Gasquet - World #9
27. Of the four, he's the one with the greatest presence in fandom due to his rise coinciding with Nadal's (they are ten days apart in age) and being the first of the French players to make a mark on the tour. Has a history of buckling under pressure. He has been paired off with Rafa, Roger, Novak, Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, Marat, other French players... there’s a pretty wide range. If he's a teen in the story, it's likely about corrupting him - otherwise, damage has already been done. Must be pretty well liked on the tour for so many to back him after he was suspended for testing positive for cocaine in 2009… and believably getting cleared based on the defense of kissing a girl. It took a long time after this was cleared before he regained his confidence and got back to pre-suspension level.
Gilles Simon – World #18
28. Even though hasn't made much of a mark at majors, Gilles was in the top 10 in 2008 by beating some great players - in particular, still seems to like to play Federer. Sometimes written with non-French players as well but is quite close with both Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, making this a common threesome. He’s a really skinny guy and seems shorter than 6’ but quite feisty and the most outspoken of the group, which usually gets him in trouble in fic in an NC-17 way. Depending on the timeframe, his looks have him compared to pre-downfall Joaquin Phoenix, Wolverine, and more currently Robert Pattinson (I personally don’t see this last one but Novak Djokovic, who is a big Twilight fan, started calling Gilles “Robert").
Gael Monfils – World #60
26. Was in the top 10 as recently as two years ago but has had many injury issues. Breakdancing life of the party whose play borders on recklessness. Quite dominant as a junior (winning three straight majors) but his best results on the main tour have come in front of French crowds (semis at the French Open, titles in other France-based tournaments). Has a tendency to play too much to the crowd and make easy matches complicated. Gets very defensive when it comes to others being critical of French players, especially "my boy" Jo. I must use his own quote about his play at times: “Maybe something is missing upstairs.”
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – World #8
26. Of the group, seems to do best at big moments in majors, having made the Australian Open final in 2008. Factoid: he’s the only player to have beaten Rafa, Roger and Novak in Grand Slams! Jo is the coolheaded one who resembles Muhammad Ali more than a tennis player. Seems to be rather quiet but his smile is capable of lighting up a dull room, especially when combined with his victory celebration.
But ultimately, any configuration of these four works. If any two play each other in a big match, it’s inevitable to find pics of the kiss to each cheek post-match (Gael is especially good for that). There’s also celebratory or consolation stories based on Davis Cup results.
Other French players that pop up:
* Benoit Paire (World #27) - rising quickly up the ranks, as well as in fandom due to his friendship with Stanislas Wawrinka.
* Sebastien Grosjean (retired in 2010) - was ranked in the Top 5. Fic pair him generally with either Arnaud Clement or Richard Gasquet. Still present in fandom due to being Gasquet's part-time coach.
* Paul-Henri Mathieu (World #82)
* Jeremy Chardy (World #25)
Croatian/Serbian Branch
Janko Tipsarevic - World #14
29. Serbia. Seen as a bit of an oddity for years for his love of classic literature, various tattoos, and DJing between tour stops. Pushed by Serbia winning Davis Cup in 2010 and Novak’s winning streak at the start of 2011 to make his way into the Top 10 – but had been good for giving elite players problems for years. Usually paired with Novak though stray paired with others as well.
Viktor Troicki - World #52
27. Serbia. Won the clinching match in Davis Cup in 2010, making him a national hero, but otherwise has a tendency to blow leads in big matches. Wide-eyed idolizer of Novak and is actually slightly older than him, though doesn’t act that way. Surprisingly not written much in fic unless as someone in Novak’s past but figured I’d include him just in case that should change. It allows me to link to this parody of Shakira’s video “Gypsy” (I warn you that Novak plays the Shakira part. Viktor seems to be more into the dancing than Rafa was in the original video). Or if you want something not scarring, there’s this lovely commercial.
Mario Ancic - Retired in 2011
29. Croatia. Unfortunately had to retire from the game at 26, Mario was often at the center of angst due to various health issues (most seriously, two cases of mononucleosis). Best results were at Wimbledon, where he made the semis in 2004. With all the time he lost on the tour, passed the bar exam and became a lawyer. Usually written as either wallowing or a mischievous sex fiend (likely due to getting the nickname Baby Goran, after the crazy Croatian tennis player and national hero Goran Ivanisevic). Paired with Goran, Marin Cilic, Marat Safin, or Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Marin Cilic - World #13
24. Croatia. The heir apparent to Mario Ancic in terms of being Croatian and looking a little like him... but without the serious health issues. Quite quiet and gangly and awkward. Paired with Mario (for very good reason, thanks to 2009 Davis Cup pics), Ernests Gulbis or Juan Martin del Potro (both likely due to being so close in age and height).
American Sector
Mardy Fish - World #61
31. It's scary times for Mardy right now as he's dealing with a heart condition and anxiety issues stemming from that, which is a pity as he'd finally made the Top 10 in late 2011. His presence in fandom had been mostly as Andy Roddick's lower-ranked best friend for many years.. Back when the most popular pairing was Federer/Roddick, Mardy would be written as either a third wheel or paired with Tommy Haas.
Bob and Mike Bryan - World co-#1, Doubles
35, 35. Twins who’ve been the #1 team in the world forever and winners of 14 major men's doubles titles. Born a few minutes apart and rarely thought of separately (though a little more apart now that both have families of their own). Mike is a righty and Bob is a lefty, the only way to really tell them apart when they play. They have their own band The Bryan Brothers Band, which often performs along the ATP tour – notable for the great singing contribution to this world “Autograph” (why, yes, that is Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray “rapping” on this song – and that sounds about as bad as you think it would but I'll link anyway). Their celebrations come off as somewhat incestuous (not so much the chest bump they’re renown for as when one jumps into the other’s arms), though Davis Cup does lead to one or both paired with Andy Roddick or Mardy Fish.
Sam Querrey - World #21
John Isner - World #19
25, 28. John is from North Carolina, graduated from college and is devoted to American football and wrestling. Sam is from California, has a surfer mentality and looks like he’d fit perfectly on a baseball field. Play doubles together a lot (pairing nickname: Quisner or Twin Towers). It's tough to pair a 6'9" guy like John with anyone so 6’6” Sam works visually as well. Of the two, John has delivered better against big name opponents, having victories over Federer and Djokovic, and getting Nadal to a fifth set at the French Open. Then again, Sam can say he's beaten Murray in a final. Either one occasionally paired with Andy Roddick, both look up to him (figuratively, of course). John is forever linked in tennis history with Frenchman Nicolas Mahut (singles rank: #80) due to them playing an 11 hour match at Wimbledon in 2010 that ended 70-68 in the fifth set after three days of play; there’s a couple of stories surrounding that.
Odds and Ends
not specifically linked by country but important in fandom
Stanislas Wawrinka - World #10
28. Switzerland. Just recently returned to the top 10 but will forever be in the shadow of countryman Roger Federer. Roger sees Stan as a little brother; the fact that Roger generally wins their matches easily proves it. Roger and Stan won the Olympic gold medal in men’s doubles in 2008. Stan married, had a daughter, then separated from them at the beginning of 2011 to devote time to a new coach and put everything into his tennis career (I really wish I was exaggerating that for effect but I’m not) but then came to his senses, dumped the coach and is now reconciled with his wife. Most fic either pairs him with Roger or has him angsting over Roger; however, his friendship with Frenchman Benoit Paire has allowed for some lighter fic of late.
Ernests Gulbis - World #36
24. Latvia. Spent his teen years at the same German tennis academy as Novak Djokovic. Seen as the heir apparent to Marat Safin due to speaking Russian, quirky interviews and fiery temper on court but is also lackadaisical due to growing up in a very wealthy family. Thinks nothing of picking up a prostitute for a lovely night (his words about that: "When I meet a girl, I don’t ask her what her profession is" and "everyone should spend a night in jail"). When he’s actually healthy and focused, the sky’s the limit - he's in a good patch right now. Usually paired with either Novak or Marin Cilic (due to being so close in age).
Juan Martin del Potro - World #7
24. Argentina. Nickname: Delpo, Juma. 2009 US Open champion – this is especially noteworthy as he’d been the only player to break through the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic dominance with the Grand Slam trophies in a stretch of seven years. The gentle giant (6’7”) with the explosive game is also quite emotional, as noticed when he won the bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics. No regular pairing but there's stray fic pairing him with quite a few players (note: unfortunately, I can’t rec any of it due to the main writer deleting her journal. So if you see a heading for Delpo fic on tennisslash that leads to a dead link, I hopefully have it saved or can track it down and will email it to you).
Lleyton Hewitt - World #64
32. Australia. Two time Grand Slam champ and former #1 player in the world. Still one of the toughest fighters on the court though mellowed off-court since marriage, kids and injuries. He actually goes against the rule about the number one being the leader of the fandom because he’s in fact very tough to write without making him a villain. Most often written with Marat Safin or Andy Roddick since they were all at the top of the game before Federer’s reign started.
Tommy Haas - World #11
35. Germany, though also an American citizen. He was the number 2 player in the world back in 2002, has had the worst luck in his career with injuries and tragedies derailing him. In the middle of another comeback that has amazed all fans - he has beaten both Federer and Djokovic in the last year en route to being on the edge of the Top 10. Despite many setbacks, rarely written as angsty - more often written as an accessory to sexual hijinks. Usually paired with American players Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish because he’s lived in the US since he was a kid but also with Marat Safin (two hot guys at top of game at same time) or Roger Federer (longtime friends).
Jurgen Melzer - World #33 singles, World #34 doubles
32. Austria. While there isn’t much written, there are two very different sectors of fic. Jurgen had been lurking around the tour for a long time, an underachiever who seemed to excel at blowing big leads and opportunities; he was usually paired with Marat due to the volatility. In 2010, after ten years on tour, something clicked. He’s beaten big names (most notably, came from 2 sets to none down to beat Djokovic at the French Open quarterfinals), briefly was in the Top 10, and won two Grand Slam doubles titles with German player Philipp Petzschner. Full-on love fest with those two, despite the fact Jurgen married his mixed doubles partner Iveta Benesova in 2012.
Robin Soderling - Inactive since July 2011.
28. Sweden. Nickname: Sod. Two-time French Open finalist and usually written as the thorn in Rafael Nadal's side because he's the only player to beat Rafa at the French Open in nine years. He’d already gotten under Rafa’s skin years earlier for imitating that butt-picking move during their match at Wimbledon. Written as either a villain or misunderstood; other players used to say that he wasn’t all that friendly but it turns out he’s more focused and a bit awkward around non-Swedes than actually mean. Has been off the tour the past two years due to mononucleosis but many fans hope he comes back, partially due to Rafa's clay dominance.
David Nalbandian - World #187
31. Argentina. Nickname: Nalby. Wimbledon runner-up in 2002, lingered around the Top 10 for a long time, but now basically lives and breathes Davis Cup competition. Has no purpose for being nice when he’s on a mission (just ask del Potro and his father or that linesman that got injured when he kicked a wooden barrier) so often comes off as a villain. Paired with other Argentines or stray paired with other players of his generation such as Andy Roddick.
Common Pairings
Sometimes pairings come from picking names out of a hat. Literally. So to write all the pairings would hit the character limit. Certain main draws to pairings include: common country, common language, a memorable match (or ten), ranked at the top of the game at the same time, slashy hugs at the net, post-match team celebrations, photos from promotional shoots, awesome quotes, twitter conversations, players are attractive, players are not attractive… the list can go on and on.
Roger Federer/Rafael Nadal (Fedal)
Head to Head: Nadal ahead 20-10. They’d been the rivalry in tennis for many years so it’s logical it’s the most popular pairing. Epic finals, tears (normally from Roger), nothing but praise (mostly Rafa though both deferential). Strange to realize that Roger may be considered the Greatest of All Time but essentially has this Achilles heel in Rafa. It does seem that Roger’s influence has rubbed off on Rafa over the years as Rafa has evolved from this kid in a beast body and looking like a pirate to similar refinement and respectful of the history he’s become more and more a part of in the game. Then again, Rafa does seem to bring out the emotions in Roger whether in Roger being a goofball or the tears after a loss (complete with Rafa giving a rather warm hug).
Rafael Nadal/Novak Djokovic (Rafole)
Head to Head: Nadal 20-15. This is the “new” rivalry of tennis. Since Novak had been #3 for so long, he was the antidote to the rather quiet Rafa and Roger. They had been very friendly (and Rafa was usually the winner) before Novak decided to turn their head-to-head record on its ear starting in 2011 by beating Rafa seven times in a row, all in finals. They’ve gone to football matches together, nothing but kind words. Rafa is even okay with Novak impersonating him to his face! Rafa has admitted that Novak has gotten in his head, something he’s never experienced as a tennis player, adding a new dynamic to this pairing.
Head to Head: Djokovic 11-8. There was a time when Novak’s family was considering having him play for Great Britain because of a lack of funding from Serbia. Can you imagine if that had actually happened? These two (born a week apart) were best friends as teens. It is suspected a falling out occurred because Novak’s progression up the ranks went faster than Andy’s. Whether it was Novak’s swelling ego or Andy hating to lose that was the issue is debatable. Fences have been mended and they have been so wonderfully slashy ever since (the pic above is from the exhibition Rally 4 Relief, which was a great showcase in how Novak really brings out the goofball in Andy). While the rivalry may be a little too friendly to top Djokovic-Nadal on the court, this pairing is the more popular within fandom.
Roger Federer/Novak Djokovic (Fedvic)
Head to Head: Federer 16-13. If Rafa is Roger’s Achilles’ heel, Novak has been more like the thorn in Roger’s side. Roger does lead the head-to-head though Novak has won most of the recent matches. Roger had been irked early on by Novak’s brasher attitude and took great pleasure in ending Novak’s 43-match winning streak, ending it with a wag of his finger. It is believed that Roger is the player who led to Novak curbing back on the impersonations for a few years, before Novak realized this is part of who he is.
Rafael Nadal/Andy Murray
Head to Head: Nadal 13-5. Andy admits that he moved to Spain at age 15 because Rafa was just too good to resist. Okay, so it was really due to Rafa having access to the best while Andy was toiling away in Scotland with few options – but Rafa was 16 at the time so the explanation works in a very slashy way (that even Andy's parents comment on this is too much). Andy does gush a bit too much about Rafa, especially after Rafa has beaten him in an important match (unlike Roger Federer/Andy Roddick, at least Andy Murray has occasionally won the big match against Rafa). Even so, their matches have been rather epic battles. Andy’s retaliation appears to take place in their video game competitions. 
Roger Federer/Andy Murray
Head to Head: Murray 11-9. Probably the least-written configuration of the Big Four but was in the spotlight in the summer of 2012, thanks to their meetings in the Wimbledon final (won by Federer) and Olympic gold medal match (won by Murray). Andy won many of the early matches despite Roger being a dominant #1 in the world but Roger won all three of their meetings in Grand Slam finals. There have been times that are less than nice due to Federer's aggravation with those early losses, which would've worked nicely to push one possible mash-up name, Murderer.
Feliciano Lopez/Fernando Verdasco
The one pairing that seems to practically write itself. Play doubles together, especially in Davis Cup, the slashiest times of the year. They recreate the Titanic "king of the world" pose in just tiny shorts and sing "With or Without You" to each other. They are both very involved in their physical appearance and are quite a hit with the ladies. Both have dramatic falling outs with others (as well as, apparently, each other for at least a year - fans felt it was like a divorce). This pairing also lends a lot to threesome fics. 
Roger Federer/Andy Roddick
Head to Head: Federer 21-3. Yes, that’s twenty one wins and three losses (though Andy did win their very last match). Of special importance was they’d played four Grand Slam finals and three other times in earlier rounds in majors - all won by Roger. Andy was the number one player in the world before Roger came along and he’d done everything in his power to beat this guy, it reaching its last peak when they played the 2009 Wimbledon final that Roger won 16-14 in the fifth set. It’d been called a “rivalry” but it’s so completely one-sided that it’s not really a rivalry, as Andy points out. Essentially Roger is the reason Andy is such an angsty mess in fic, but as Andy himself once said, “I’d like to hate him but he’s just too nice”. 
Roger Federer/Stanislas Wawrinka (Federinka)
Head to Head: Federer 13-1 (and the one loss occured when Roger should have been on his honeymoon). It’s inevitable given Stan is the only other even moderately successful Swiss player on the men’s tour that slash would be written between these two. Of course, their friendship certainly played a role in Stan’s rise and there’s no way Stan can escape questions about Roger. Then the 2008 gold medal match in doubles took place and we have the Slashiest. Celebration. Ever (around 2:45 mark). The fic is generally on the angsty side because Stan sees Roger as so far above him (not to mention both are married with kids). In a classic press conference, Roger goes into how he'd help Stan win his Davis Cup match.
Andy Roddick/Marat Safin, Roger Federer/Marat Safin
I grouped these together because the pairings have some serious overlap (it was once the most commonly written threesome). In Marat, Andy has a partner in mischief who can make him seem sane in comparison and Roger has someone who can bring him down a peg (unlike Andy, Marat has beaten Roger in a major match – semifinals of the 2005 Australian Open). That Roger did once have the temperament that Marat is most famous for is another common bond. Due to Andy and Marat being the best quotes, they have both bonded and clashed over the years. In fic, there’s a lot of sexual hijinks with these pairings.
Rafael Nadal/Carlos Moya (Rafalos)
While this is a pairing that has faded since Carlos' retirement, it was such a major part of fandom that it must be included. When Carlos hit the peak of the sport, he decided to mentor a young boy from his home city of Mallorca. That association played a huge part in how Rafa made such a mark on the sport as a teenager. In terms of fandom, Rafa was mostly written with Carlos in his early days on tour but as other Spanish players have made their mark and Carlos' career was hit with injuries, this pairing faded. Not helping was that Carlos dated WTA player Flavia Pennetta, then cheated on her with the woman who is now his wife (Flavia wrote a book detailing this).
Communities
General Tennis
ATP World Tour site
Tennis.com - for news on both the ATP and WTA tours.
Men’s Tennis Forum – forum for literally everything you can think of regarding men’s tennis. I warn that it can get rather vicious there if you're not careful.ontd_tennis
Beyond the Baseline – Sports Illustrated’s blog (the same person previously created Forty Deuce, an irreverent look at the sport)
Most of the players have their own Facebook pages and/or Twitter accounts in addition to their webpages. I won't list them here but they're all easy enough to find.
General (Slash) Fictennisslash– fic headquarters (moderated membership)netcord– anthology of tennis RPF. There is challenge fic there twice a year.playsuspended– archive by author up to date to 2010. Warning: gamesetmatch, the community that predates tennisslash, no longer exists so fic written pre-2006 is either gone or tough to find (moderated membership)
* Archive of our Own collection (RPF tennis)
* fandomspotting podcast and assorted fandom links.
Specific Sectorsfedal_slash– your spot for Roger Federer/Rafael Nadal slash (open membership)slashy_armada– Spanish themed slashiness (open membership)french_affaire– French themed slashinessallez_federinka– Roger Federer/Stan Wawrinka (moderated membership)rograt_slash– Roger Federer/Marat Safin (moderated membership)
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I truly didn't remember Shana's was part of netcord until I saw the link this morning. I was being all Evil and Mysterious about the other.
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Oh you.
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I love you. And him. And this post. Which is basically made of awesome, and must have taken you AGES. ♥ in all directions
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End result looks great! Keeping on eye out on the recs when I'm on lj, when you're done with the month maybe you could link it to ts or onto tennis if you haven't already? Might interest someone and I hope these at least one person takes something away from these recs :) hopefully AO will have some slashy moments to lure people in haha.
Applause again for doing this!
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At the end of the month, I intend to have a more broad list, including stories that would have otherwise made the list but are locked on tennisslash. Then add locked-to-individual-journal: I was so bummed when I realized The League of Extraordinary Tennis Players was friends-only since that was supposed to be my introduction fic.
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I figured that it did make sense to put them in the overview because of the high profile of their matches. Hoping it does inspire people to write it (or any fic, period).
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Yes, their matches are really exciting, quick rhythm, agressive forehand and so on. Rafole looooooong rallies are tiring and kind of boring. But people tend to think they hate each other, just as what you write, Roger has criticised Novak several times, especially during early years when Novak was an arrogant asshole. Perhaps this is why this pairing isn't popular...
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But what's on the court doesn't always translate to fic writing. I don't think Roger and Novak hate each other anymore but it's more a grudging respect, I guess. They were actually more interesting when Novak was an ass.
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Personally I don't think it's a grudging respect. There's maybe nothing we can call as friendship between them, like Andy and him, but Novak showed respect for Roger even when he was an ass.
As to his family...quite annoying. A journalist said Novak had forbidden his parents to enter into locker room since last year. He guessed he did this to improve his relationship with Roger and it worked.