#spanish tennis players

[janesurlife]

I can't help but think

[conandaily2022]

2023 US Open results: Will Spain's Carlos Alcaraz win men's singles in New York City?

tennis tournament: US Open Tennis Championships edition: 143rd dates: August 28, 2023 – September 10, 2023 venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York City, New York, United States event: men’s singles defending champion: Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) WINNERS PLACEMENTTENNIS PLAYERSChampionChampionCountry1st runner-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalistsCarlos AlcarazSpainAndrey…

[onscarlitos]

Roger Federer documentary, quote from Rafa: “The feeling before a Grand Slam final against Roger, it’s different.”

It’s Different

strikes again. And yeah I’m sobbing after that

[seizethenightagain2]

Carlos Alcaraz 💜💜💜

In appreciation of the now x2 (back to back) Wimbledon Men’s Singles Championship Winner 🏆 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

The 21 year old Spanish Tennis 🎾 player is a force to be reckoned with and will likely only get even better in time 💜💜💜💜

And not to forget the fact that he’s as hot 🥵 as Hell

💜💜💜💜💜

[idksmtms]

nobody on this earth can tell me that Carlos in his Spain kit, and Juan Carlos Ferrero in the Spain kit in the players box, ain’t the hottest duo on the streets.

[elenitrack]

Paula Badosa 🇪🇸

2023 Madrid Open

[batsplat]

the best thing about pedro acosta is that his ex-best friend turned enemy, fermin aldeguet, is arriving to the grid next year. if you’ve ever seen a video of the two of them interacting – the vibes are rancid. like, they grew up together, from the same town, fought in the same competitions, traveled together, slept next to each other and now when pedro has to shout out people from his hometown that made it up the ladder, he is always like “ana carrasco 😁 the other one too i guess 🙄”

oh yeah, I've seen some of those clips, they're great!! they have a fantastic dynamic, very bad vibes! and yes, even better because they do known each other so well, and now it's like..? pedro isn't even actively hostile towards him, it's basically just kinda blanking him! pretty cold! I'm hoping that in about a decade's time we'll gradually have been fed enough bread crumbs to put together what exactly's going on there (wonder if there's a link there with pedro's 'I'm not here to make friends' 'rabid rivalries are good for the sport, actually' stance... insert speculation here! maybe he's withdrawn deliberately from that friendship because he doesn't think it's a good idea to be close to a rival, hm?)

that being said, do need fermin to pick it up lol. I'm a big believer in the 'not every rivalry has to be conducted between equals and a lot of the best ones aren't' principle, but the thing is this kind of rivalry does kind of depend on that. it'd maybe be interesting if the more successful guy were warmer than the less successful one, but this way round? makes it too easy for one bloke to just dismiss the other. obviously, I'm not writing off fermin because of a rocky moto2 campaign... still, being the fourth of four boscoscuros isn't ideal, and it'd be good to see that the late 2023 form wasn't just a fluke. let's see how the rest of the year goes and then, far more importantly, how he makes the jump to motogp. certainly hope we'll get some competition at the very top between the two of them though, feels like it has great narrative potential

[janesurlife]

"There is a new man at the helm of men's tennis" And its a Spaniard

[pedrigavi]

reminder that carlos alcaraz is a fascist just like rafa nadal

[muirneach]

okay this is selfish but i had wanted to see a carlitos-rafa match at madrid this year…. or i guess any tournament would do but yk how good both of them on spanish clay are

[ujusttry]

Revealing the Emergence: Carlos Alcaraz's Path to Tennis Excellence 🎾🌟

In the fast-paced world of professional tennis, where legends like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have reigned supreme for over a decade, a new star is on the rise. His name is Carlos Alcaraz, and at just 18 years old, he’s already making waves in the tennis world. The Turning Point 🌟Playing Style 🎾🕶️Rise Through the Rankings 📈Memorable Matches 📺The Next Gen Contender 🌟🏆Off the…

[maxivstappen]

congratulations for 1k, you really deserve It !!

for your event: can i ask for a carlos sainz fic based on "break my heart, and I swear i'm moving on with your favorite athlete" by sabrina carpenter in good graces

thanks xx and ily

౨ৎ YOUR FAVORITE ATHLETE ! ‧₊˚.

౨ৎ 1K EVENT — short n' sweet series (not posted yet) ౨ৎ

pairing — carlos alcaraz x reader / carlos sainz x reader

summary — break my heart and i swear im moving on with your favorite athlete! angst & sweet revenge (again lol)

warnings / disclaimer — none, just my not so perfect Spanish (please correct me)! hope you liked this <3 thank you lots for your support and sorry for my absence - school is really time consuming at the moment :( i'll be updating more frequently again soon — masterlist (not updated sry) / prev. work

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12th of January - TWITTER

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4th of February - @.yourusername ✓ just posted on INSTA !

liked by landonorris, alexandrasaintmleux and 1,723,981 others

yourusername girls just wanna have fun or whatever 😝 love ya @.alexandrasaintmleux

view all 31,821 comments

user1 omg why did she unfollow carlos?

user2 @.user1 she follows carlos wdym

user3 @.user2 no they mean carlos alcaraz the tennis player, y/n‘s boyfriend (if they’re still together). I suppose you’re an f1 fan?

user2 @.user3 yes haha sorry i didn’t know that, and I don’t watch tennis so that’s why i was confused

alexandrasaintmleux ✓ my only love🥹 never ever leave me again!!

-> ♥️ by @.yourusername ✓

charles_leclerc ✓ @.alexandrasaintmleux what do you mean ‚only love‘?? don’t you think you’re missing someone?

alexandrasaintmleux ✓ @.charles_leclerc so sorry, of course i love my baby leo just as much🥰

charles_leclerc ✓ @.alexandrasaintmleux 😔

user4 oh they’re so HOT

user5 @.user4 CARLOS FUMBLED IF WHAT I‘M THINKING IS TRUE

user6 ONE CHANCE Y/N JUST ONE

landonorris ✓you can finally focus on the better sport now 🙌

-> ♥️ by @.yourusername ✓

user7 @.landonorris WHAT DOES THIS MEANNNNN

user8 @.user7 i think carlitos and her broke up 😭

yourusername ✓@.landonorris only saying that cause i keep beating you at tennis

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5th of February - TWITTER

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5th of February - TEXTS

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6th of February - @.yourusername ✓ just posted on INSTA !

liked by carlitosalcarazz, carlossainz55 and 1,576,971 others

yourusername if i speak i am in trouble 🤭

view all 26,933 comments

landonorris ✓ AHHHHHHH

yourusername ✓ @.landonorris AHHHHHHH

user9 @.landonorris LANDO SPILL

user10 guys alcaraz liked😧

user11 @.user10 HES JELLYYYYYY

alexandrasaintmleux ✓ hope you had the best night ever☺️

yourusername ✓ @.alexandrasaintmleux wasn’t as fun as it would’ve been with you🙂‍↔️

alexandrasaintmleux ✓ @.yourusername let me take you out next time 🤭

carlossainz55 ✓ @.yourusername @.charlesleclerc they’re flirting again😞

charles_leclerc ✓ @.carlossainz55 they will never stop😞

user12 THE LAST PIC

user13 @.user12 MYSTERY GUY SPENT THE NIGHT

user14 @.user13 THATS CARLOS SAINZ

user15 @.user14 i was about to call you delulu but…. i think you’re right

user16 @.user15 guys go get some sleep it’s okay … delulu isn’t always the solulu 😚

user17 HES HOLDING HER SHOES

user18 SOFT LAUNCH BUT WHO TF IS SHE LAUNCHING 🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥

carlossainz55 ✓ ❤️

-> ♥️ by @.yourusername ✓

user19 @.carlossainz55 @.user18 WE KNOW WHO SHES LAUNCHING🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

user20 @.carlossainz55 OHMYGAWWKDKSKALSKSKS

user21 TENNIS WAG TURNED F1 WAG AND IVE NEVER BEEN HERER FOR IT

user22 @.user21 you’ve never been what?

user23 @.user22 you need to learn matching people’s freak fr😣

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A Couple Weeks Later - TEXTS

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20th of October - @.carlossainz55 ✓ just posted on INSTA !

liked by yourusername, charles_leclerc and 3,445,912 others

carlossainz55 won the race and got the girl😉 great work from the team (and me)

view 1 comment

yourusername ✓ love you baby

- comments have been disabled -

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20th of October - @.yourusername ✓ just posted a story on INSTA !

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hope you liked it <3 guys please correct my spanish PLEASEEEEE (the question marks are weird like that on purpose because i’m a lazy bitch)

gen / sns taglist :: @norrisdriver @1655clean

[kindestofkings]

challengers 🎾 🌟 🍓

charles leclerc x (tennis player!) reader

authors note: 2024 has seen me get obsessed with tennis, so I thought I'd combine my two sporting fixations! enjoyyyyy tell me what you think <33

p.s: all the dates are so all over the place I apologise in advance x

yourusername

liked by landonorris and others

yourusername back training in my favourite place (barcelona) and focused on the next slam 🎾

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ynfan1 wooo I can't wait to see you play at the french open !!

carlitosalcarazz lets gooooo 💪 🇪🇸

yourusername time to slay no?

ynfan2 ayee my fav tennis besties training together

ynfan3 besties? surely they're dating ynfan1 nooooo they've been friends since they were kids and constantly say platonic with a capital P ♥︎ by author

f1fan1 hello lando in the likes 👀

ynfan4 he wishes f1fan2 she's half english so maybe they know each other?

charles_leclerc

liked by carlitosalcarazz and others

charles_leclerc this was a fun day 🎾 congrats to @carlitosalcarazz @atptour

view all other comments

charlesfan1 okay fits 🔥🔥

f1fan everyone is a carlos fan

ynfan1 he was sitting beside my fav tennis player! worlds colliding

queenynupdates

liked by ynfan1 and others

queenynupdates yn is at carlos' match in monte carlo today !!

view all other comments

ynfan1 omg she's soooo beautiful

carlosfan1 wag era fr

ynfan3 they're FRIENDS ffs ynfan1 she's a top ten tennis player in the world be for real

ynfan3 thinking about our shy queen as she sits beside charles leclerc

ynfan1 wait as in the f1 charles ??? ynfan3 yup the very one!

f1fanupdates

liked by ynfan1 and others

f1fanupdates charles was seen sitting beside yn ln today at the tennis! she's a tennis player herself by wasnt playing this tournament due to injury

view all other comments

ynfan1 damn the notoriously shy tennis player was yapping with lightning mcqueen 😔

charlesfan1 guys I hate to say it but I kinda ship it...

charlesfan2 was thinking the same they would be such a pretty couple

ynfan2 sitting kinda closeeeee  🤭

carlosfan1 noooo she's cheering for carlos (the love of her life) !!

ynfan1 BE FOR REAL

pierregasley 👀👀

charlesfan1 BAHHAHA you are sooo messy pierre I love it charles_leclerc gasly im warning you

yourusername just followed charles_leclerc!

yourusername

liked by charles_leclerc and others

yourusername my beef with the french open / clay courts unfortunately continues.

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ynfan1 we're still so proud of you !!

ynfan2 no shame in losing a final, you'll come back stronger 💪

pierregasly if you have beef with the french open you have beef with me

yourusername im okay with that frenchie. pierregasly so rude

f1fan1 charles in the likes and pierre in the comments hmmmm whats going on here?

pierregasly

liked by francisca.cgomes and others

pierregasly channeling our inner @yourusername and @carlitosalcarazz today before this weekend's gp !

view all other comments

yourusername paddle is a fake sport please do not associate me with it !!

charles_leclerc I thought you said I was good at it 😔 yourusername you looked too happy to hear the truth, I'm sorry charlie 🥺 charles_leclerc make it up to me this weekend ? f1fan1 what in the ?? ynfan1 what on earth is going on in the house of commons

carlitosalcarazz we must meet on a real court ! a spain v france doubles

yourusername france? oh carlito you've set him off.. charles_leclerc IM MONEGASQUE carlitosalcarazz oops 😬 charles_leclerc I just invited you to the monaco grand prix as well ...

ynfan1 im living for the f1 x tennis players crossover

f1academy

liked by charles_leclerc and others

f1academy we had tennis superstar @yourusername join us in the paddock this morning for our first spanish f1 academy! Here's what she said when our reporter caught up with her:

"This is my first Grand Prix weekend!! I'm so excited to be here supporting a dear friend of mine in the F1 race. I wouldn't miss the F1 Academy race for anything—it's vital to cheer on these amazing women and show that their hard work and talent are truly valued."

view all other comments

ynfan1 she is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside <33

ynfan2 love to see girls supporting girls

charlesfan1 is the dear friend in f1 charles ??

charlesfan2 has to be ! theres so many rumours going around of them dating

yourusername I had SO much fun ! might not come back tomorrow, who needs to see 20 boys driving around in circles after today 🤣

♥︎ by author

yourusername

liked by charles_leclerc and others

yourusername we're off to the races ! I'm really not used to being the spectator, how does everyone do this?? Im so nervous!!

view all other comments

charles_leclerc now you know how I feel !

francisca.cgomes bonita wow

yourusername oh stop not you too! I haven't stopped blushing since I arrived at the paddock

ynfan1 so so so so so gorgeous

charlesfan1 the note. yall im sick

charlesfan2 charles being a softie is too much to handle charlesfan3 especially on such a big weekend for him !

landonorris what happened to our friendship bracelet 🥺

charles_leclerc she wants you to lose yourusername GASP that is NOT true landinho don't listen to him! just the orange doesn't match my dress ... landonorris well time to start buying papaya dresses ! charles_leclerc no no she wears red if anything, only if you want to though mon amour yourusername such a softie sharl

ynfan1 i'm begging you please PLEASE hard launch each other we all know you're in love

f1wags

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

liked by ynfan1 and others

f1wags pictures of charles' (suspected) girlfriend across the spanish gp weekend!

view all other comments

f1fan1 I didn't realise she was there all three days ! thats unusual for celeb guests no?

charlesfan1 not if shes going out with charles

charlesfan2 all three days?? bit of an overkill! the rest of the wags only attendant sunday MAYBE saturday aswell

ynfan1 omfg y'all are unhinged. Imma hold your hand when I tell you this but charles is not gonna fuck you ynfan2 say it louder for the people in the back 🗣️🗣️🗣️

ynfan1 also put some respect on my icons name thats THE yn yln, tennis extraordinaire !!!!

ynfan3 shes so beautiful my gosh

yncarlosfan1 cute she brought her bestie to meet her boyfriendddd

charlesfan1 for a minute I thought you meant carlos sainz not carlos alcaraz yncarlosfan1 lol nooooooo

queenynupdates hope charles comes and supports her at a match soon..

wta and atp

liked by yourusername and others

wta and atp taking a break from their training for wimbledon yn yln and carlos alcaraz are a late entry into this weekends charity doubles round-robin ! these besties have been playing together since birth 🎾 💪

view all other comments

ynfan1 omg yayyyyyyy a joint slay

carlosfan1 love to see it !!

ynfan2 I hate to make it about HIM but yet another match he did come to support her

charlesfan1 if you're talking about charles we dont even know if they're dating ynfan2 she's been to like 3 grand prixs this year even though shes at the top of her game ?? thats a thing you only do for love

yourusername

liked by francisca.cgomes and others

yourusername red for monaco <33

congrats to team ferrari for their incredible wins this weekend !!

view all other comments

iamrebeccad the most beautiful this weekend

yourusername stop that or I will cry yourusername YOU ARE THE BEAUTIFUL ONE

ynfan1 this is not a drill she posted charles !!!!

susiewolff thank you so much again for all your support for f1 academy ❤️

yourusername absolutely no thanks needed! we always love attending the races xx charlesfan2 we as in... charles perchance?

aurelianobels16 thank you so much!!

charlesfan1 she my favourite wag for sure

yourusername really! you're so sweet !! my favourite is lando :)) landonorris Im going to regret asking but whos wag am I ? yourusername danny ric ofc! danielricciardo how could you even forget?? landonorris so sorry pookie

vogue

liked by charles_leclerc and others

vogue we caught up with @yourusername this month as part of her feature as the face of this month's vogue! This young tennis prodigy, with spanish and english heritage, is preparing to compete at wimbledon. she's on the brink of making history as the youngest grand slam winner ever!

view all other comments

yourusername dammmm okay vogue making me look way cooler than I am xxx

yourusername it was truly terrifying being infront of the cameras for so long but this is such a pinch me moment, thank you vogue !!!

ynfan1 so endearing how camera shy she is, literally the best tennis player at the moment

charlesfan1 ugh cant escape her

ynfan2 @charles_leclerc hey buddy get out of the likes and publicly support your iconic girlfriend !!!

carlitosalcarazz ¡Vamos! 🎾💪

celebspotters

liked by ynmyqueen and others

celebspotters it seems like half the f1 grid is in attendance for the wimbledon ladies final !

view all other comments

yncarlosfan1 carlos looks soooo stressed watching this match

ynfan1 I mean thats his bestie out there !

ynfan1 YAYYYYY Charles finally you came

charlesfan wow he really brought the whole fam

landofan1 lando and his hat has me WEAKKKK

yourusername

centre court, wimbledon

liked by charles_leclerc and others

yourusername just like that a grand slam winner 🎾 🌟 🍓

view all other comments

ynfan1 what a gameeee

ynfan2 your reaction had me crying in my living room

charlesfan1 no same!!! when she climbed up to charles and carlos it was game over yncarlosfan1 her climbing up the stands was so rafa in 2008 coded !

scuderiaferrari forza yn !!!

rogerfederer congrats! all that hard work payed off 💪

charlesfan2 tag yourself, Im charles sobbing with tears of joy in the stands

charles_leclerc

liked by yourusername and others

charles_leclerc so proud of you, as always ❤️

view all other comments

yourusername would be nowhere without your support this year charlie <33

carlossainz congrats yn !!!

landonorris killed it queen

yourusername thanks pookie xxx

pascale.leclerc.355 félicitations belle !!

yourusername merci thank you for dinner tonight <33 ynfan2 awhhhh not the fam dinner, so cute

ynfan1 awhhh hardlaunch for the grand slam

charlesfan1 charles in his wag era fr

ahhhh what do we thinkk???

[woso-dreamzzz]

The Teens

Teenage Dirtbag

Dirtbag -> From Teenage Dirtbag and Teenage Dirtbag II -> Norwegian -> Ingrid's little sister -> Vincent Van Gogh the cat 🐈 -> Artist

Head in the Clouds

Mcdreamy -> From Head in the Clouds and Head in the Clouds II -> English/Spanish -> Fries the ferret and Ham Sammy the Hamster 🐹 -> Former Chelsea Academy Player -> Barcelona Professional Player -> Striker -> ❤️ Sniper

Proud

Sötnos ->From Proud, Proud II, Proud III and Proud IV -> Swedish -> Asexual -> Aromantic -> Magda and Pernille's daughter -> Former Linköping Academy Player -> Former Arsenal Professional Player -> Bayern Munich Professional Player -> Sweden National Team Player -> Centre Forward

New Girlfriend

Pumpkin -> From New Girlfriend and New Girlfriend II -> English -> Lucy's daughter -> Lara Croft, Princess Zelda, Clementine and Ezio Auditore the mice 🐁 -> Future Game Developer

Wiped Out

Klumpig -> From Wiped Out -> Swedish -> Frido's cousin -> Brick the Guinea Pig 🐹 -> Barcelona Professional Player -> Sweden National Team Player -> Left Winger

Sisters

Hermana -> From Sisters -> Spanish -> Irene's Sister-in-Law -> Barcelona Professional Player -> Centreback

Leaving

Menor -> From Leaving and Leaving II -> Spanish -> Alexia's little sister -> Tennis Player

Icy

Tontos -> From Icy -> Norwegian -> Toast the bearded dragon 🦎 -> Former Brann Professional Player -> Barcelona Professional Player -> Norwegian National Team Player -> Right Winger -> The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived by Taylor Swift

Nagging

Mignon -> From Nagging and Nagging II -> French -> Former Olympique Lyonnais Academy Player -> Barcelona Professional Player -> French National Team Player -> Attacking Midfielder

Foster

Chipmunk -> From Foster -> English -> Beth and Viv's foster daughter

Different

Clover -> From Different -> Irish -> Katie's daughter -> Future Wildlife Photographer -> Dyspraxia

Prodigy

Sniper -> From Prodigy -> English/French -> Former Chelsea Academy Player -> Olympique Lyonnais Player -> Centreback -> ❤️ Mcdreamy

Idol

Cielo -> From Idol -> English -> Former Bristol City Player -> Barcelona Player -> Playmaking midfielder

[alacants]

if you saw the full video of carlos alcaraz and his team watching rafa's retirement announcement, perhaps you noticed that his coach seemed, dare i say it, reluctant to join in. if you follow juanki and/or jcf academy on social perhaps you noticed that amidst effusive tributes from across the spanish tennis establishment both were conspicuously silent. why the seeming reticence from one spanish great to the spanish great? well. WELL.

juanki, rafa, and the case of the green-eyed monster

("but user alacants, in creating this post aren't you ignoring the vagaries of human nature in favor of imposing a narrowly crafted narrative onto a twenty-year relationship that is probably both more complex and less contentious than you make it out to be?"

of course i am. what are you, new?)

davis cup 2004

prior to 2004 juanki was Mr Davis Cup. he often cites the 2000 cup (where his win decided the tie) as the most meaningful title of his career, more so than roland garros. then 2004 rolls around, spain makes their third final in 5 years… and the day before the tie begins juanki is dropped from the lineup in favor of some 18 year old who's never even played a match at roland garros. (<- actually. isn't that crazy??)

"obviously i am not jumping up and down with happiness." and to be fair to him everyone else sounded baffled as well. and then… the 18 year old had the nerve to play andy roddick in front of a record-breaking 27k home crowd and win.

to twist the knife: at the last minute juanki got named to the doubles match alongside tommy robredo and they got CRUSHED, just absolutely destroyed, by the bryan brothers. held serve once in three sets. 

so it is maybe not a surprise that afterwards juanki does not exactly look happy despite nominally winning a major trophy.

it's noticeable enough to make the news. rafa is forced to tell the press nooooo, it's not true that they don't get along. juanki then goes on the record to say that on the trip back from sevilla the captains were only paying attention to nadal and moya, the winners, and ignoring him and tommy, the losers. while this may be true there is no way to make it sound good that you're saying it, yk.

(if you click through you will see that in the same interview he describes himself and rafa as "good friends." rafa goes on to describe them as friends on several more occasions! juanki does not.)

three months later, spain went out in the first round of the 2005 cup, 4-1 to slovakia. juan carlos was not part of the team lmao. and indeed a qualification play-off in september would be his last taste of davis cup action for several years. (that last call-up was ferru's first btw. red string of fate. SORRYYYY I KNOW IT'S NOT ABOUT THEM.)

roland garros 2005

unfortunately if you're juanki it did not get better. here he is in 2005 "[accusing] spanish media of a nadal obsession." (that link will also give you a taste of the contemporary fan discourse lmao.) he was baited, but also, they baited him because they knew he'd rise to the occasion.

rafa nadal btw had just played his first roland garros, which he won. juanki at rg: "unlike the media-designated extraterrestrials i'm just a HUMBLE PLAYER trying to win matches. i'm not one of the favorites but maybe if i keep trying…" he was then forced to deny he was jealous.

(this was shortly after rafa beat him for the title in barcelona, resulting in this cheerful take: "when you're on a high like nadal is everything seems to go right - but it doesn't last forever.")

rafa, meanwhile, is not helping:

QUESTION: Other than Carlos Moya, were there any other Spanish players you grew up watching, admiring? Did you follow Juan Carlos at all when you were growing up? RAFAEL NADAL: No, my favorite was Moya.

rome 2008

the hits continue. by 2008 rafa nadal is THE spanish tennis man, he's the guy everyone thought juanki was going to be. (ouch.) and now they are about to meet in rome. rafa btw has been undefeated on clay since the famous federer hamburg final, for an overall record of 117-4 since 2005. he's never lost in rome.

so imagine the reaction when juanki actually wins.

—wait did you think it was something like "ferrero shocks king of clay in tantalizing return to form." lol of course it's not, it's "nadal suffers freak loss due to blisters." harsh? rafa didn't think so: "i congratulate juan carlos, but today for sure was not my best tennis."

never mind that juanki was also playing through injury, bad enough that it took him out of barcelona then functionally killed his roland garros. (safe to assume that after 2004 he's more or less always injured.) this is typical sports media syndrome, nothing new or particularly unexpected. but once again: juanki is not, like, shy about expressing his thoughts.

QUESTION: The fact that Rafa was injured - he complained about the foot injury at the press conference here - what does that take away from your win? Do you feel it takes a little bit of shine away from your win? JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: [...] When you go to the court and you decide to play, I think the injury is not reason to say yes or no… You know, at the end I play a little bit better than him. I don't know if it was big reason to don't play at his best level, the injury. QUESTION: How much do you think this loss and the injury is going to affect Nadal's preparation for Roland Garros? JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't know. Maybe you have to ask him. 

fortunately (???) this match was immediately followed by an explosive spanish tennis row that ended with top players including juanki and rafa joining hands in solidarity to push the president of rfet out of his job, so this did not become the topic it might have otherwise. 

davis cup 2009

it's now 2009. juanki hasn't played a davis cup tie since 2005. he's just dropped out of the top 100. and then… rafa and ferru get injured. juanki gets a dc call-up. he heroically saves the qf tie! he wins his sf rubber! his teammates are tossing him in the air, the crowds are chanting his name! he doesn't make the final roster bc everyone is healthy but he's a reserve, he's there with the team. they sweep the tie, the heroes are undisputedly his special friend ferru (epic comeback) + verdasco/lopez (deciding win over undefeated opponents). …and then they go for the obligatory meeting with the prime minister who's like, RAFA YOU WON THE DAVIS CUP FOR US THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH WE LOVE YOU.

a lot of people were unhappy about this, presumably (??) including actual rafa. afterwards, juanki says, "most of the team thought it was disrespectful." one wonders who was not included in "most."

(honestly? probably feli lopez.)

valencia 2013

speaking of actual rafa, did he notice and/or care about anything of this? i mean he definitely noticed. but i assume he didn't care. (rafa experts are welcome to chime in here.) after all, a couple years later rafa spoke at juanki's retirement ceremony. there was a hug and everything!

so like, ok, they are cordial, they are friendly, rafa's place is cemented in history and juanki is retired anyway. THEN less than a year later rafa pulls out of juanki's beloved valencia open to enter a different more lucrative tournament instead and he is fully dead to juanki who is calling him out in the press like, i think it's his DUTY as a SPANIARD to support a spanish tournament.

which event did he choose instead, btw? Roger Federer's Basel™. which he hadn't played since 2004. and then he ended up withdrawing anyway. there was some conspiracy theory type thinking at the time that he only committed to basel so he had an excuse not to play valencia (well that and the $$$) which is almost certainly untrue but is also very funny.

meanwhile juanki sooort of backpedaled like i mean we don't understand his decision but we respect it… sure, juanki.

late-career detente (?)

juanki has since repeatedly gone on the record noting 1. the only player he ever felt inferior to was roger federer 2. who btw is the best player of all time. these are not neutral statements coming from a spaniard and no one is taking them that way.

now having said that, he has also had plenty of nice or at least diplomatic things to say in recent years about rafa's will to compete, etc. "i wouldn't like him to get [to roland garros] and not win matches." while also dropping gems such as:

q: which of the big three was the hardest to play and why? juanki: federer. but i'm just glad i managed to beat all three of them before i retired. :)

with all of this in mind, the aforementioned video of carlos and team watching rafa's message. is. so. funny. JUAN CARLOS GROW UPPPP. like presumably the academy at least will say something once the big moment rolls around but when literally every other spanish tennis player under the sun is posting their glowing tributes and you are Haughtily Silent it's so obvious!! son!!!

additionally: this makes juanki spending the olympics at home so fucking funny. yeah, i bet you DIDN'T want to watch your special friend and your beloved protege coo over rafael nadal for two weeks. like in the year 2024 there's no way it's that serious, nothing more than "my annoying ex-coworker i still have to be polite to." just, they're not friends. and ferru and rafa (and now carlos) are. and it's very funny to me personally.

in conclusion: "rafa largely to blame for ferrero's downfall" (espn, 2012)

[brightlight-dazzlingeyes]

can you compete? | pedri gonzalez

🎾 synopsis: You’re a young, rising Spanish tennis player focused on success. But focus is harder to keep when your condo neighbor happens to be Pedri González. He thinks you’d make a perfect team; you’re convinced he’s nothing but a distraction. warnings: light enemy-to-lovers vibes, fluff and mentions of alcohol consumption. (around 3.2k words)

part 1

It’s early morning in Barcelona, and you’re grateful for the quietness. These moments, the rare times you’re actually home, are precious to you. It’s just you, your racket, and the comforting rhythm of a tennis ball echoing off your condo’s shared court.

You’re midway through a rally with yourself when you sense him leaning against the gate. He’s watching – no, studying you. And he doesn’t bother hiding it.

It’s almost embarrassing how often you’ve been catching sight of him lately – like the universe is playing a joke on you. Every time you glance up from the courts or the gym, he’s there, flashing an annoyingly perfect grin at anyone who looks his way.

And everyone’s always looking.

You’ve heard all the stories, of course. That he’s a playboy, a heartthrob, the kind of guy who seems to walk into every room with his own spotlight. His type is trouble for someone like you, focused, aiming high. You don’t need a distraction that comes with a fan club.

But then, here he is, leaning casually on the chain-link fence at the edge of the court, watching you with a crooked smile that makes your pulse kick up. He’s not even pretending to play it cool, and that makes you want to hit your next serve a little harder.

“Trying to impress me?” His voice carries across the empty court, the hint of a challenge lighting up his eyes.

You roll your eyes, hoping he doesn’t see the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of your mouth. “Not everything’s about you, you know.”

He laughs, pushing off the fence and jogging over to where you stand. 

“Alright, fair, maybe I’m the one trying to impress you.”

“Don’t you have a game to train for?” you say, catching the ball mid-bounce, one eyebrow raised. 

“I’d rather watch you,” he replies, completely unbothered. It’s easy to see why he’s got a reputation: handsome, self-assured, carrying a charm that, by now, must be fine-tuned.

You roll your eyes, turning back to your practice, but you can feel his eyes on you. It’s hard to ignore the magnetic pull, the way he just… assumes. Like there’s no reason you wouldn’t feel the same spark he claims to see.

For him, it probably makes perfect sense – two rising stars, two athletes pushing the boundaries, both of you Spanish, both young, single and pretty. He probably thinks you’d make some kind of dream team.

But for you? You’re not sure you want the spotlight blending with your private life. Yet here he is, waiting, watching.

You toss the ball up for another serve, ignoring the way his presence makes the air feel charged. You tell yourself it doesn’t matter that he’s watching, that your focus is on the court. But when you glance over and he’s still there, a spark of determination flickers through you.

You could show him, really show him, what focus looks like.

“Want to join?” you call over, keeping your tone nonchalant.

His eyes widen a fraction, surprised at your invitation, but then he grins, crossing the court toward you. “Think you can handle it?”

You don’t bother replying; you just toss him a spare racket and settle into position. His confidence doesn’t faze you. You know your game, and as he takes his stance, you can see he’s trying to match the intensity in your eyes.

The rally begins, and it doesn’t take long to feel the rhythm of the game settle into place. He’s athletic, fast, clearly used to dominating on a field, but it’s different here. On the court, you know how to control each swing, each movement, the pace building until he’s panting, chasing after shots that hit just out of reach.

He misses a return, and you catch a quick, surprised look flashing across his face. It’s almost funny. 

“You’re really good,” he says, breathless, as he jogs back to his position.

You shrug, adjusting your grip on the racket. “Didn’t think I’d have to go easy on you.”

His laugh is loud, echoing around the empty court. “Alright, I get it. No mercy, then.” He wipes his brow with the back of his hand, and when you serve again, he’s throwing himself into every swing with even more energy, trying to keep up.

You keep pushing, refusing to let him break your concentration, but there’s something amusing about watching him struggle to meet your pace. The confidence he wore so easily when he first arrived is slowly giving way to real effort. A few more rounds, and you can tell he’s getting frustrated – and determined, his movements sharper, his brow furrowing as he chases down each shot.

But then, he misses again, his racket slicing through air, and he doubles over, panting. 

“Okay, I admit it,” he says between breaths, grinning up at you. “You’re better than I thought.”

“Thanks,” you say, barely out of breath, relishing the look on his face. You’re both laughing, the tension between you feeling easier now, almost natural.

And then he pulls his shirt over his head, wiping his face as he does, revealing a torso that’s as infuriatingly perfect as his smile. He catches you glancing, and his smile widens, clearly pleased with himself.

“Trying to distract me?” you question, raising an eyebrow.

“Is it working?” he shoots back, his voice full of playful arrogance as he drapes the shirt over his shoulder.

You shake your head, scoffing, but can’t help the small smile that tugs at your lips. You’re still not interested in the distraction, but you can’t deny he’s entertaining to have around.

“I’m Pedri, by the way.” He finally introduces himself, sticking out a hand.

“Yes, I know,” you reply, just barely resisting the urge to roll your eyes. “And you know who I am too, don’t you?”

He nods like he’s pleased you called him out. "Of course I do. Hard not to know."

It’s strange, though – after all the crossed paths and stolen glances, this is the first time you’ve actually exchanged names. His hand is warm when you shake it, and there’s an easy confidence in his grip.

“It's funny, right? Somehow, we never got around to introductions,” Pedri says.

You shrug, pulling your hand back. “Guess it didn’t seem necessary.”

“Or maybe you were avoiding it,” he teases, letting his eyes linger just a bit longer than usual. “Hard to get close to you, isn’t it?”

“I’m just here to train.”

His laughter fills the empty court. “Yeah, I noticed that,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “And I thought I worked hard.”

“Some of us don’t rely on charm alone,” you counter, tossing the ball up for another serve.

He watches, and though his expression is playful, there’s something else in his eyes – an understanding, maybe, or a spark of recognition. You might both play different sports, but in some way, he seems to get it: the drive, the endless hours, the need to push yourself to the edge.

For a second, he’s just another athlete, a competitor with the same fire you have.

Then he breaks the silence. “Maybe I’ll have to start coming to the court more often. Could use a rival like you.”

“Or someone to keep you humble,” you add.

part 2

You didn’t expect to see him here, not like this, face flushed and bright from a few too many drinks, eyes lighting up the moment you step into the room. You’re barely through the door when Pedri spots you; he makes his way over, steady but just a little wobbly, and you brace yourself for whatever antics he might have up his sleeve tonight.

“Hey, superstar,” he greets you with a dramatic flair, slinging an arm over your shoulder like he’s known you forever. “You’re late.” He says it as though he’s been waiting all night just to see you, like maybe his whole night’s been on pause until now.

Your friends exchange looks, hiding laughs, but Pedri doesn’t notice. He’s too busy guiding you toward the kitchen, asking if you’ve eaten yet, if you need a drink, if you’re “sure those heels are comfortable” because they look way too high. He’s eyeing them like they’re an injury waiting to happen.

“Careful,” he says, putting a hand on your elbow as you step over a stack of cups. “Don’t need you twisting your ankle, okay? They’re valuable assets to Spain.”

Turns out your friend who’s turning 21 today is actually a mutual friend, and Pedri makes sure to explain that detail to you, like he’d hoped it would be his ticket to seeing you here tonight.

You’re not usually one to drink, but come on, tonight is your close friend’s birthday party, it feels impossible to say no. And a couple of drinks? What’s the worst that could happen? It’s almost the end of the year, and the seasons have been bleeding together – match after match, the endless bounce of the ball inside those white lines. You’re not quite at burnout, but you’re close enough to feel it hovering around the edges. So you let yourself have a little fun.

After a couple of drinks, you’re as drunk as everyone else in the room, feeling light and fuzzy. And suddenly, Pedri makes all the sense in the world. You’re both nestled together on the couch, close enough to feel the warmth of his arm draped around you, the noise of the party fading in the background as you both look at each other like the world just zoomed in on you two. For anyone outside, it’s a ridiculous sight.

Pedri leans close, his mouth just by your ear. “Do you need water? I’ll get you some water.” His voice is earnest, like he’s on a mission, and before you can respond, he’s up, making his way across the room in a slightly unsteady line.

The moment he’s gone, your friends are on you, smirking and whispering. “Oh, he’s definitely into you,” one of them laughs.

You roll your eyes, trying to downplay the warmth creeping up your cheeks. “He’s like that with everybody,” you murmur, brushing it off just as he returns.

“Not everyone, no,” he meets your eyes with a seriousness that catches you off guard. “Just you.” he says, his words drenched in sincerity. And it might have been more meaningful if he didn’t almost drop the glass of water as he tried to hand it over.

You laugh, steadying the glass in his hands. “Maybe you need this more than I do,” you tease, guiding the water to his lips and watching as he drinks.

“Let’s get you some fresh air,” you say, placing a steady hand on his back as you guide him outside the party.

Outside, the night air is cool, and you’re both silent for a moment, just letting it clear your heads. Then, Pedri leans against the wall, hands in his pockets.

"I haven’t been to one of these in a while," he admits, glancing around.

"You mean a party?” you laugh, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I’m serious,” he says, his tone soft but serious. “I’ve been working hard, trying to stay in good shape. And when I found out about tonight, I just thought... well, I’d probably get a chance to see you here. I figured it was worth coming. Then you didn’t show up for a while, and I thought, okay, maybe I’ll have a few drinks and head home. And now… now I’m half-drunk and probably made a complete fool of myself in front of you.”

You feel the warmth creeping up your cheeks, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. His confession hangs between you, and for a second, it’s almost too much. You’re not ready for this – at least, not tonight.

“I know what it’s like, not having time for parties or friends,” you say, looking anywhere but at him. “I’m just… I’m just glad we’re getting to have fun tonight.”

He’s quiet for a beat, and when you finally look back at him, there’s something unreadable in his gaze – a hint of disappointment, maybe.

“Yeah,” he says, nodding slowly, his smile dimming a little. “Me too. I’m glad we’re both here.” He straightens up, brushing the moment aside. “Do you want to go back inside? I think I’m feeling better now.”

Inside, Pedri keeps his distance, giving you space to be with your friends. There’s a subtle shift in him, like he’s taken a small step back, maybe a little hurt by how you brushed off his words earlier. But even with the room he’s given you, your eyes keep finding him across the crowd, drawn back to him.

As the party winds down, your sober friend offers to drive you both home. You and Pedri are tipsy, giggly, and hushed into the back seat, his shoulder pressing against yours. Every little bump on the road sets you both off into laughter over nothing in particular, the comfortable kind of closeness you wouldn’t have allowed at the start of the night.

When the car pulls up in front of your place, you both stumble out, waving goodbye to your friend as they drive off. Pedri follows you to your door, hands in his pockets. There’s a quiet pause between you, and for a moment, everything feels lighter, warmer.

Without much thought, you lean in, ready to end the night with a kiss. But he puts a hand up, stopping you gently.

“No, wait,” he says. He scratches the back of his neck, glancing down before meeting your eyes again. “I want to do this right, you know? Take you on a real date.”

You blink, surprised, his words taking a second to sink in. He stands there looking different somehow – uncertain in a way that’s almost too sincere.

“Why?” you ask, brushing off your own awkwardness with a smile. “What if I don’t feel the same way tomorrow?”

He laughs, but there’s determination in his words. “Then I’ll ask you tomorrow. And we’ll see.”

It’s hard to tell if he’s playing some long game or if he actually means it. But tonight, you decide not to question it. You nod, turning your key in the door, and before stepping inside, you shoot him a small smile.

“Goodnight, Pedri,” you say, not entirely sure about what comes next.

part 4

The court feels different this morning. Usually, it’s your escape – a place where everything falls into rhythm. But today, every bounce of the ball feels heavier, slower. You keep glancing toward the gate, distracted, wondering if he’ll actually show up. The fact that you’re even hoping he will surprises you.

Finally, after what feels like forever, you catch sight of him. He’s lingering at the fence, scanning the court with a nervous edge before his eyes settle on you. There’s a hesitation in his expression you haven’t seen before. It’s a strange look for him.

You’re sweating from practice, and as soon as you realize how out of breath and flushed you must look, a wave of self-consciousness hits. You’re suddenly aware of every strand of hair stuck to your forehead and every patch of dampness on your shirt. Not exactly how you pictured this moment, but there’s no backing out now.

“Hey,” he says, stepping onto the court with a tentative smile.

“Hey,” you reply, doing your best to keep it casual as you wipe your forehead with the back of your hand. “You’re here.”

“Yeah,” he chuckles, scratching the back of his neck as he glances around like he’s never been on a court before. “I told you I’d show up.”

You both fall silent for a second, and it’s almost...awkward. He’s usually so confident, but today there’s something different – a softness, maybe even a hint of uncertainty. Like he’s trying to gauge if you’re still open to this, whatever this is.

You hand him the spare racket, and he takes it with a sheepish grin. “Promise you won’t be too hard on me?”

“No promises,” you tease, falling into an easy rally.

As you both start hitting back and forth, the tension loosens, replaced by a comfortable rhythm. He’s not half bad, but you’re still making him chase the ball from one end of the court to the other. It’s fun watching him struggle, laughing every time he stumbles but refusing to give up.

“Wow,” he says, catching his breath, “This is... intense.”

You shrug, laughing. “Or maybe you’re just out of shape.”

He shakes his head, laughing along. But then he stops, staring at you for just a second too long.

“You should go on a date with me.” His voice is soft, almost vulnerable.

You blink, momentarily caught off guard. “A date?” You toss the ball lightly in your hand, trying to keep your composure.

“Yeah.” He nods, his eyes not leaving yours, searching for your reaction. “I know I’m probably out of my league here, but I thought it was worth a shot. Just one date.”

There’s something disarming about his honesty. You hadn’t expected this level of sincerity from him, especially not after the way he usually carries himself. You bounce the ball again, the motion a nervous habit. “What makes you think you can keep up with me?” you ask, attempting to sound playful.

He laughs, reaching up to catch the ball mid-bounce. “I’m tougher than I look,” he says, holding the ball out to you, but when you reach for it, he keeps it just out of your reach, a playful challenge.

“Oh, I see,” you say, trying to swipe it from him, but he pulls back, chuckling.

In the end, you stop reaching. You pause, crossing your arms, your heart racing. “Okay,” you say finally, surprising yourself with your willingness. “One date.”

His eyes light up with delight, and the earlier hesitation fades. “So, are you going to let me kiss you after the date?” you ask, half-joking, remembering how he held back after the party.

He gets serious for a second, then breaks into a big smile. “You can kiss me right now if you want!”

You laugh nervously, hyper-aware of the sweat on your skin. “I don’t know… I feel kind of gross right now.”

He shrugs, totally unfazed. “I really don’t mind at all.”

The sincerity in his voice cuts through your self-consciousness, and before you can second-guess yourself, you step forward and press your lips to his. 

The kiss is sweet and a little messy, but honestly? It’s everything you didn’t even know you needed. It’s like a light switch flipped on, sparking something deep inside you. For that moment, the whole world outside the court just fades away. His lips are soft, and there’s this warmth spreading through you, making you forget all about the awkwardness from just a second ago.

When you pull back, you’re both breathless, caught in the moment, and the connection is still buzzing between you. His eyes are wide, like he can’t believe what just happened, and it’s kind of adorable watching him process it all. You can’t help but smile back at him. Seeing him distracted, you reach for the tennis ball in his hand. “See you on our one date, then.”

He just stares as you walk away, surprise and delight flickering across his face. “Hey, you can’t just run off with that!”

You laugh and give him a cheeky wave over your shoulder as you head off.