Liverpool 2004 Report

[Dee]

:)Thanks for hat Ruth. BTW I like your Office quote ;D

[ivy]

Ruth said:

That night I was leaving the hotel and as I walked through the lobby, Irakli jumped out from behind a marble pillar (he has a tendancy to grab you like that!) and said 'Ruth, do you know what's going on tonight?!' Ramon was sitting on a couch in front of Labadze, next to his friend Stefan and said 'Ruth, you know, right! What time is it starting?'
I was momentarily caught off guard, then realised they were asking about the 'party' for that evening. I explained that it was now at 8:30pm not 8pm because the tennis had finished late and that they were going to a champagne reception on someone's roof terrace. Irakli pulled a face and was like 'oh...great...' Ramon said; 'Oh, but you're coming, aren't you Ruth?' I smiled and said; 'No.' Irakli & Ramon were like; 'But why?' and I explained that I had to go home that night (I'd been sharing the room with Denise most of the week because we had so much work to complete at the hotel, it was easier to just sleep over, rather than try and get back across the Mersey River at1 am!)
Irakli kinda did this 'awww...' thing with his mouth and Ramon urged; 'But Denise is coming?' I laughed and said 'Oh yes! She'll be there!' (I'd just left her getting ready) and Ramon seemed happy with that. I told them to enjoy themselves and have a good evening and they all gave me a wave and said 'You too, Ruth, see you tomorrow!' It's funny, to them that was such a small gesture, but I was grinning all the way home because they'd been so friendly with me.

Surreal moment #1 > Saturday morning, lift doors opening, and Illie Nastase standing there. (he looked exhausted but still said 'good morning')

Surreal moment #2 > Sunday morning, lift doors opening, and Mansour Bahrami standing there (he looked a bit shy, which was even stranger because he's such a clown on court.)

Surreal moment #3 > Sitting next to Vince Spadea's coach, Lex, and realising he doesn't get irony.

Lex is a massive black guy, who looks like he should be a bodyguard in J-lo's entourage or something. He sat near me for Vince's first match and said hi. Now, Vince was playing a young lad called Simon Roberts (17 or 18) from Bolton, UK (about 45mins from Liverpool) and he had only ever played futures. He was really nervous and a bit excited about his first pro tournament. But on paper, Vince should have killed him. So I dryly said to Lex, 'So, are you worried about this match?' Lex looked at me like I was a moron and said nonchalantly; 'I'll start worrying next week....' The people behind us had over heard, and looked at me as if to say 'oh....he's American....' But Spadea's coach probably thinks I know absolutely nothing about tennis now......*lol* Nice one, Ruth.

Anyway, I've rambled on enough - this report is way bigger than I intended and I can't remember anything else at the moment, but I'll add it if I do
Hope you guys enjoy reading it!

1.) You've met Guga? Or have you just heard his voice on tv?

2.) I really enjoyed reading your report! How did you get in the same hotel as the players? How did you meet them? That's really cool that you got to know them!!

3.) I'm so jealous!

[Annie]

1) I've heard Guga on TV and talked to him in real life (although very briefly ;D) At Bercy 2002, I was in the players hotel, having a drink with a doubles player, and guga's coach came to the table and chatted, then guga himself came and introduced himself (as if he needed to do that!!! ) and was teasing the doubles players about some stuff and grinning and explaining the joke to me. He was really friendly - I just remember Guga's huge smile!

2) I worked for the Liverpool tournament.... it was kinda part of the job to talk with the players and the players hotel wasn't exactly a national secret

BTW >> thanks for the compliment, Dee!! I roar with laughter every time I watch the DVD.... classic British comedy.... absolute genuis and deserves every BAFTA & EMMY it won.