Earlier this week, I wrote about Krystal Moore and Frankie Moulton, two friends from Wilmington, North Carolina who this past Sunday flew west to the BNP Paribas Open to watch their respective favorites, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Monday morning, Moulton had been rewarded rapidly, within an hour of arrival witnessing a Nadal practice session. Moore, who’d never seen Federer in person, had waited five hours to see him practice. “It was worth it,” she’d said afterwards.
By Tuesday night, something had to give: Nadal. Moore and Moulton now found their friendship in a zero-sum stage. Delighted as these two were to hold a pair of seats in the 400 section of the stadium, they knew that by the end of Wednesday - their last day at Indian Wells -- one would experience the letdown of defeat.
By 10 a.m. Wednesday, the battle lines were clear. On the east side of Practice Court Two sat Moulton, awaiting Nadal, set to arrive for practice at 2:00 p.m.. “I love his passion, how he never gives up and that he’s so gracious and humble,” said Moulton. As for her own tennis, Moulton said, “I’m a fighter, but not graceful.”
Just to the west, Moore had stationed herself in the bleachers at the north end of Practice Court One, where Federer was also due in four hours. Pointing over to where Moulton was, Moore said, “It’s too painful to sit too far from Roger.” Moore also noted that while at home she exercised every day, she’d had no time or energy for that at the tournament.
