CLAY : RAFA’S SONNET BY CRAIG CIGNARELLI

Written by: Staff on 18th April 2015

CLAY : RAFA'S SONNET BY CRAIG CIGNARELLI

epa04708897 Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his victory against David Ferrer of Spain during their quarter final match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 17 April 2015. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER |

Clay court season is upon us – the smoky red dust, the soaked socks hued with brick, the strained groin tendons and the lactically-acidic quads. The ball travels higher, revolves with more intensity, and points often require an intermission. Places on the east side of the draw now have more Latin names, while British, Aussies and Americans can be found staring at the courts wondering when the hell someone is going to wipe the dirt off so they can have a chance to win again. And too, there’s this Spanish kid whose decade of dominance has not yet diminished. So, in the spirit of Shakespeare’s most memorable sonnet, I offer the following:

Shall I prepare thee for Rafa’s clay?

Thou art seated ‘neath French skies

Mediterranean seas make balmy baths in June,

And Rafa’s lease hath so long a hold

So bright the Emperor of the crushed brick glows

How frequent does his bronze complexion shine

And no stroke from stroke doth ever err

By mishit, or opponent’s changing course, unexpected;

But hys eternal genius shall not fade,

Nor lose possession of that fair Coupe de Mousquetaires

Nor shall injury prevent him from claiming the title

When in eternal lines to history, he grow’st.

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,

So long lives Rafa’s will, and this gives life to thee.

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to David Ferrer of Spain during their quarter final match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 17 April 2015. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER

For anyone interested, I’ll be traveling to Rome for the ATP event. 10sballs.com’s owner has been kind enough to grant me a ticket to the event, and I’ll be serving as your correspondent for all things Italian. If you’d like me to cover something specific, please let the editor know, otherwise I’ll use my own judgment, although we all know how awkwardly that could turn out.

Topics: ATP Monte Carlo, Clay tennis, Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, Rafael Nadal, Sports, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

April 18, 2015 at 9:30 pm

#CLAY : @RafaelNadal’s #SONNET BY @CraigCignarelli- http://t.co/uAhl6DJgWR #tennis #RafaelNadal #MonteCarloRolexMasters #claytennis #Nadal
Arni_Abd says:

April 18, 2015 at 9:33 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: #CLAY : @RafaelNadal’s #SONNET BY @CraigCignarelli- http://t.co/uAhl6DJgWR #tennis #RafaelNadal #MonteCarloRolexMasters …
athena1949 says:

April 19, 2015 at 1:07 am

RT @10sBalls_com: #CLAY : @RafaelNadal’s #SONNET BY @CraigCignarelli- http://t.co/uAhl6DJgWR #tennis #RafaelNadal #MonteCarloRolexMasters …