Rafa by candlelight ...

Now hold your horses ... I know that Rafa by candlelight conjures up a myriad of our wildest fantasies, but note that Rafa performed this little gesture ... with Feds!!

Shall I stop my messing?? Hehe, but remember how they always like to put on something spectacular to launch this event - like one year they played on a magic carpet, and last year they played on a court that was floating in the Arabian Sea (and Rafa gave a helping hand to Roger to get off the boat and onto it, as he's never quite found his sea legs running up and down those mountains in Switzerland ... the kindness being repaid by Rafa obviously getting his feet wet from which he contracted that dastardly fever. *shakes fist*)

Anyhow, this year's extravaganza was the pair playing tennis at sunset in the spectacular Katara amphitheatre in Doha, surrounded by more than 4,000 burning Roman candles. How romantic. A report of the event is linked here.

This is how Roggie described it ...

"It was a very special atmosphere playing in the amphitheatre with all the candles lit up. It was a mixture of dramatic, romantic and Arabian Nights. It felt very much alive. I really enjoyed it."

Blimey ... I never did have Feds down as some "Lawrence of Arabia" type. If I were him, I'd be more than a bit concerned that all those candles didn't singe his nasal hair.

Rafa wasn't quite as forthcoming about it ...

“Every year we have done something special in Doha and this is a very, very beautiful place,” he said.

Poor lamb was probably still a bit tired from throwing shapes at last night's rock concert. That said, he was still to be found on the practice courts today.

Source : @RafaelNadalFC