tennis slash - The Unlucky Roger Federer (7)
Title: The Unlucky Roger Federer (7)
Author: Kris S.
Fandom: Tennis RPS
Pairing: Roger Federer/Andy Roddick
Other Characters: Mirka Vavrinec, Marat Safin, Robby Ginepri
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: Although I tried not to touch the draws, due to the resulting low ranking and Roger's draw that year, it was necessary to do a little rearranging for the US Open. So I plopped him in the slot that had been Olivier Rochus' (for reasons that will become quite clear). Also, real life is being a bitch so the updates may take longer.
Part 7
The year had been tough so far. The last four Grand Slams had horrible results: 2nd round last year at US, 4th round Aussie, 3rd round French, 2nd round Wimbledon. There had been a lot of points to defend the previous year and Roger had failed. That, plus the missed Masters Series tournaments at the end of last year, had him lucky to even get a seeding: #26 to be exact.
Roger had been worried about the draw this time. He was in serious danger of facing the wrong person; he'd have to deal with a Top 8 player in the third round.
He was aware that Andy had gone through a similarly rotten Grand Slam season and was not one of those Top 8 players. Andy at least had a bunch of smaller tournament victories, so it only meant he had dropped down to #9. So they couldn't face each other until at least the Round of 16.
The Top 8 player ended up being Nalbandian. While Roger was able to get through the first two matches with no worries, Nalbandian was another story. First round, David came back from two-sets-to-love down. Now David was trying to do it again in his second round match against Safin, now in the fifth set. Players were gathered around the television monitor that was piping that match.
Roger was thrilled in the sense that these two were wearing themselves out in a long match. He would gladly take a tired version of either one. Safin may have been unseeded but if he was having a good day, nobody was safe, as David was clearly finding out right now.
Someone, Roger thinks it was Robby Ginepri but was certain it was one of the Americans, said to Roger, "Andy must be thrilled that he's hanging on in the fifth set. That's a collapse that would require a lot of comforting. Although all those pretty ladies comforting him is a great consolation prize, it's different when your partner in crime is still in the tournament and can't enjoy it."
At a quieter time, Roger may have taken time to consider why a guy he never associated with suddenly spilled all of that information to him. Instead, Roger said, "His mind wouldn't be on this. Right?"
Robby turned to Roger. "This is true. He may need the drink anyway. Andy is freaked out about sending Andre into retirement. All that's standing in the way of that match-up is Andre's match with a qualifier from Germany named Becker." Robby chuckled, as if just realizing it invoked thoughts of Boris.
When Marat won the match, everyone waited to congratulate him on a job well done. Roger watched from a distance, as this was his next opponent. Some of the gestures seemed especially affectionate, but it's Marat - his power extended beyond gender lines.
When someone made the offer for a drink, Marat joked to the crowd, "No drinking for me, unfortunately for Roger." Everyone else laughed. Roger would have too if he hadn't wished Marat really would have that drink. "Though I think I should give Andy a shot because you know he'll be watching Andre's match tomorrow, wearing out the hotel's carpeting." Another round of laughter.
"Maybe you should just wear him out," someone called out, to which Marat gave a knowing smirk before leaving for the showers.
* * * * *
Marat Safin dominates the 26 seed Roger Federer 6-3 6-2 6-3
Roger should have known better than to return to the hotel room after that match. Mirka was packing her suitcase furiously, deliberately avoiding facing Roger the entire time.
He tried to explain. "I'm sorry. The game just wasn't there today."
"You know what's sad? This is actually an improvement on last year's US Open so your ranking may go up," punctuating that with a sharp throw of a rolled-up sweater at the suitcase lid. "Plus there's two Masters tournaments you missed so you'll go up even if you play the way as awful as you did today."
"Good to know," Roger said sarcastically. He couldn't remember Mirka ever being this upset over a tennis result, as she was usually his reassuring rock.
"Seriously, did Marat start talking about Andy during changeovers? Your mind wasn't on the court at all."
"What does Andy have to do with anything? I lost because my game wasn't there and Marat's was. It's that simple."
"Roger, Andy always has something to do with it. If you're one hundred percent physically, there is no reason to only win a handful of games, even if it's an in-form Marat Safin. I was there, Roger. Your mind wasn't."
"Fair enough about the match. I fail to see what Andy has to do with it."
Mirka finished with the last of the clothing and was now shutting the suitcase. "You don't... yeah, you know what, I'm sure he has no idea what effect he has on you."
"What effect? This makes no sense at all."
When Mirka finally faced Roger and the confused stare back at her, the edge drained away from the talk. She said calmly, "It will someday. As for right now, I was able to get a flight for us to go back home tomorrow morning. So that suitcase is done, I'll do the rest after I return from a walk," then left the room.
Though it had been a brief talk, it had been the first related to this subject since they'd gotten back together. Roger also noted that she didn't return to the room until long after he was supposed to have fallen asleep.
Part 8