tennis slash - The Unlucky Roger Federer (5)
Title: The Unlucky Roger Federer (5)
Author: Kris S.
Fandom: Tennis RPS
Pairing: Roger Federer/Andy Roddick
Other Characters: Mirka Vavrinec, Brad Gilbert, Marat Safin
Disclaimer: This definitely did not happen.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: AU. What if Roger Federer wasn't the great champion? What if his career was plagued by injuries, bad luck and constantly losing to a certain American?
Author's Note: Okay, so you're all wondering why I'd bring Brad Gilbert into this. Cracked out, I suppose.
Part 5
Brad Gilbert was a coaching genius. He'd turned Agassi's career around and Andy had gotten to number one in the world while with him. If he'd done so much good, it made one wonder how he could ruin the job.
Two hours in a hotel room with him made the picture much clearer. Sure, the guy was excellent at figuring out an opponent's weakness. Problem was, he was very proud of that, saying that Andy doesn't prepare for matches as well as he did with him. Yes, Andy's ranking had fallen at first, but he did win Wimbledon earlier this year and managed to end the year at number 2.
"So why did Andy let you go?" Roger finally asked.
Brad finally stopped long enough to think for more than two seconds. That immediately told Roger he might hear the truth. "Andy can get anyone he wants. I tried to get him to stick to one woman. Mandy was a good fit but their careers were in totally different directions and it became a strain." Roger nodded in understanding. "Since then, it's been nothing but one night stands and trophy girls. Not particularly discriminating, either. I tried to push him to consider what you and Mirka have. Now you two, that's a solid relationship. Instead, he decided to be stubborn and hang around Safin on quests to get the most phone numbers. Eventually, that caused a fight I still don't understand and he went into plans to find a replacement immediately after."
"Really? You see Mirka and I as a couple that will last?"
"Oh, definitely."
Roger knew there was no way that he'd be able to deal with Brad as his coach. That personality had worked wonders on the game of two rather outgoing Americans, but didn't see it as a good match for a relatively quiet European.
That said, Roger took Brad's opinion regarding Mirka to heart. At the next business meeting, Roger whispered in her ear about dinner plans for later, minus any talk about tennis. The time away may have had her forget why she felt there were problems in the first place: she agreed.
Sometimes couples have fights that linger so long it's difficult to remember the exact cause. That was the rationale likely in place when they agreed to try again on their personal relationship.
Roger told her about the Brad Gilbert meeting, conveniently leaving out the lunch with Andy that led to the meeting. She agreed that the match-up would have been a terrible fit but liked that an outsider believed in their relationship enough to use them as an example for Andy to change his ways.
Mirka said, "Andy is a womanizer but he goes out with Marat. What would you expect?"
"'Goes out'?"
"You know, they go to the parties, get sloshed, round up the hot ones."
Roger blinked twice, for some reason having a very different image of what she meant by Andy and Marat 'going out'. One that he wasn't sure what to do with.
2006 was going to be the year, Roger told himself. Mirka was back at his side. He was injury-free. He was in fit shape.
So of course he ended up down two sets to none to Tommy Haas in the Round of 16, fought his way to a fifth set, then the guy who formerly was known for having the worst luck when it came to injuries pulled it together to win that fifth set.
He was just entering the locker room when he heard the slam of the shower door then a racket shatter. Andy was in a towel, muttering quite loudly to himself as he approached his locker. "I should have won today. He must have gotten everyone from the island in that crowd today. This is not the way to start a new year. What is it about the Australian that I keep losing matches like this? Usually I screw up later in the tournament."
Okay, except for the island part, that was exactly how Roger felt. When he was young, he was known for a temper tantrum here and there. It had been muted over the years but there were times he wished he could let it out. There was so much frustration building up inside that Roger idly wondered when it would manifest itself. Maybe that explained Andy's success. That he let out that anger on the racket, on the umpire, and most importantly on the ball when hitting his serve.
Roger could recall Andy's Australian results. Not so much because he followed the matches but because Andy's tough ones were classics that occurred in the second week of the tournament. The El Aynaoui match he won, only to be worn out for the next match. Lost a tough five-setter to Safin another year. The crowd against Andy in the semis last year because the opponent was Lleyton Hewitt.
But he was curious about the "everyone on the island" part. So when Andy was settled on the bench, a dark blue towel covering his head, and it appeared nothing else would get thrown, Roger asked, "Who did it?"
A muffled reply. "Marcos." The kid from Cyprus. Then set the blue towel around his neck and noticed his mood staring back. "Who was yours?"
"Haas."
Andy nodded. "Every year, somebody comes out of nowhere to make the final of this tournament. Wimbledon, US Open, you figure it will be players in the Top 10. The French, some surprises but at least you know it's a clay courter on a roll. This one, look at the list of recent finalists. Goddamn Clement has been a finalist here yet neither of us have done that. Neither Marcos nor Hasi are seeds so you just know at least one of them will be in the final. In fact, I think one of them will win the title."
Roger shook his head. "Not going to happen. Nalbandian is still in the tournament. So are Ivan and Davy."
The American was determined about this one. "We need to make a bet on this. If one of them wins the title, you have to... well, let's see, we'll both be out of town by then with different schedules. I hate the French Open so let's have it at Wimbledon." A plan began to come to place and Andy started speaking faster. "We were both in the final last year so the British press will be pushing a lot of annoying questions at us. So, if I win the bet, you must... admit that you have no idea how to beat me."
That was the truth but to see that in writing, attributed to himself? Roger didn't take long to figure a good counter reply. "If I win, you must admit that you miss Brad Gilbert as a coach."
A bright smile crossed Andy's face. "Oh, that's a good one. It's fucking on!"
Roger held out his hand to shake on it. Andy did so then pulled Roger into an impromptu hug, whispering, "The seeds are all gonna lose and so will you."
It must have looked weird to the other players, rivals hugging happily in the locker room after both had lost their matches. Roger was more concerned about the breath against his ear, the slick skin against him, the fact that Andy was only wearing a towel, and that he was enjoying this hug too much.
Part 6