The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Ace ambassadors of tennis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 02, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Ace ambassadors of tennis

Staff Reporter

Moya and Nadal promote the French racquet brand

CELEBRITIES: Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya in Chennai on Sunday. — PHOTO: K. V. SRINIVASAN

CHENNAI : Despite their celebrity status, tennis players Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal here for the Chennai Open (from Mon day) weren't very media-savvy.

At a promotion for French brand Babolat held at an outlet for sports products, Nadal had the gawky charm of a teenager, and gnawed at his fingers through the press meeting. He was polite, of course. But he pulled faces and smiled awkwardly at questions. ``When do you think you will beat Federer?'' asked one person. He looked up, raised his left eyebrow and considered the question carefully. Then he said, ``I dunno. Maybe never'', and continued to chew his thumb ravenously.

Moya's face was impassive as he spoke about his chances this year at a tournament he has won in the last few years.

Both the Spaniards are brand ambassadors for Babolat, so they dutifully answered questions by a company sportsperson about the fabulous nature of the tennis products.

But they lacked the conviction of, say, the cricket stars who slickly sell public products they probably never use.

The media was rushed through the good intentions of Babolat, including a Junior Sponsorship Programme where children who showed promise as tennis players would be provided products used on the ATP and WTA circuit. And then it was picture time, with the two players sheepishly posing for photos. That was before the posse of children waiting outside the showroom was unleashed on the stars for autographs.

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