Post by justsafin on Aug 22, 2008 20:45:39 GMT 3
PART 1
(followed by DAY1- DAY6 reports, PART 2, and 5 vids PLEASE SCROLL DOWN!)[/color]
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Finally, I have some time to write my fan report for this year's Cincy open. Since I have written daily report in Cincy thread. I will just add some thoughts, i.e. how I feel and experience about Marat and this tourney.
Of course, I am posting some more yummy piccies now! I know pro photographers take pictures with only the "person". But I prefer to present some background, such as fans, coaches and staff, etc...so everybody can feel like you are really there as well.
This year, I was very sad that Marat lost his cool due to foot fault mania and stopped at first round in Cincy like last year. Yet, I was also glad that Marat stayed in Cincy for 6 days. He goes to practice every day and forgive me to say it again that he ages perfectly and gets hotter every time I see him.
Is he really from the same planet? ;D 
I got two autographs and took a picture with Marat which I can still call it "harvest" year. (I got much more autographs the previous two years. all over my personal belongings, notebooks, caps, brochures, drawsheets...... ok, ok I admit I was too greedy 
)
One interesting thing...My brother bought me a cap with "SAFIN" on it at a supermarket. I forgot to bring it last year. So I kept reminding myself that I had to wear it to cheer for Marat before I left for Cincy. I wore it to watch Marat practice on July 26 (Sat) proudly. After Marat finished the noon session, I presented the cap and told him "this is your cap!". Marat looked at it and said "wow" and smiled a little. He signed on my cap and went on to sign for other fans. I was trailing but trying so hard to catch on just to take more pictures. As Marat walked close to the locker room, I was holding my camera and the naughty boy gave me this grimace sticking out his tongue... I had no idea what he was doing until I got home checking the photos. NAUGHTY MARAT!
I like to take Marat's serving pictures. I never get tired of taking them. Especially the ones from the back, they are like sculptures to me.
back
I also love to take action pictures such as ground strokes or volley. My skill gets better and better by year. ;D
The day after he lost first round match (July 29, Tue), he still sighed up for practice. By that time, I still had no idea whether he would stay or just leave as players normal do after losing. I called the info desk and was happy to hear that he continued to stay. At noon, he practiced with Haas. He seemed to have lots to vent about that awful match. During break time, he sat on the fence and talked alot with Haas' team. When Marat is talking, he shows all kinds of facial as well as hands expression which is, hm..really fun to watch.
Oh, there is this annoying guy. When Marat was practicing serving, he kept yelling "foot fault". After like 3 times, I stared at him big time to silence him. Marat didn't react to it. He just continued with his practice with Haas.
As everybody knows, Marat's temper tantrum is incredible. Well, fans who go to watch him practice probably are either so used to it or enjoying "vintage Marat gestures", racket smashing, Russian swearing or shoulder slumping. But Marat is quite a jolly fellow when he has no racket in hands. He seems to have established good rapport with many other players. Last year, I saw him chatting merrily with Nalby. (There were many more. But the way he interacted with Nalby really made it hard to forget.) This year, the list includes Haas, Gonzo, Kolya, Roddick, Igoryok, Murray and Acasuso. ...... Experience tells me, it's the best time catching his smiles when he chats with practice partners. ;D ;D
(with Haas)
There are quite a few nice players. I am not going to talk about bad ones. Anyway, Roger is classy and nice in his unique way. He gently told fans "no autograph" in the first few days at practice. However, he arranged an afternoon session where hundreds of fans sitting there watch him. He stayed for 15 minutes to patiently sign for fans. Another nice guy is Gulbis. He is very very cute. Sunday (July 27), he practiced with Dima. Dima is such a mischievous boy. During break time, he hit so many balls to the parking lot and was laughing when he heard some "bang". Gulbis was watching, laughing and couldn't help cover his face. After they left the practice court, many fans seemed to be fond of Gulbis and asked for autographs and pictures. He was patting kids' heads and taking pictures with ladies. I really like him. ;D
Okay, Marat is nice in a down-to-earth way, IMO. He is neither classy nor noble like Roger. He is just a guy living at the next door. When he is walking, he would stop when fans call his name. And if fans make some funny cheering banners, Marat would like laugh so loud. I guess his way of interacting with fans have won many people's hearts. So, despite his unstable results, he is always surrounded by so many loyal fans.
That's it for now. I will try to compile daily report into this thread to make it a complete 2008 Cincy report.
After I am done with my presentation next week, maybe I will add more. It's 2:30 am ...time to go to bed.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more!
and Best of luck to Marat on US OPEN!
DAVAI MARATIK!
Kisses
(followed by DAY1- DAY6 reports, PART 2, and 5 vids PLEASE SCROLL DOWN!)[/color]
[/u]
Finally, I have some time to write my fan report for this year's Cincy open. Since I have written daily report in Cincy thread. I will just add some thoughts, i.e. how I feel and experience about Marat and this tourney.
Of course, I am posting some more yummy piccies now! I know pro photographers take pictures with only the "person". But I prefer to present some background, such as fans, coaches and staff, etc...so everybody can feel like you are really there as well.
This year, I was very sad that Marat lost his cool due to foot fault mania and stopped at first round in Cincy like last year. Yet, I was also glad that Marat stayed in Cincy for 6 days. He goes to practice every day and forgive me to say it again that he ages perfectly and gets hotter every time I see him.
Is he really from the same planet? ;D 
I got two autographs and took a picture with Marat which I can still call it "harvest" year. (I got much more autographs the previous two years. all over my personal belongings, notebooks, caps, brochures, drawsheets...... ok, ok I admit I was too greedy 
)One interesting thing...My brother bought me a cap with "SAFIN" on it at a supermarket. I forgot to bring it last year. So I kept reminding myself that I had to wear it to cheer for Marat before I left for Cincy. I wore it to watch Marat practice on July 26 (Sat) proudly. After Marat finished the noon session, I presented the cap and told him "this is your cap!". Marat looked at it and said "wow" and smiled a little. He signed on my cap and went on to sign for other fans. I was trailing but trying so hard to catch on just to take more pictures. As Marat walked close to the locker room, I was holding my camera and the naughty boy gave me this grimace sticking out his tongue... I had no idea what he was doing until I got home checking the photos. NAUGHTY MARAT!
I like to take Marat's serving pictures. I never get tired of taking them. Especially the ones from the back, they are like sculptures to me.
back
I also love to take action pictures such as ground strokes or volley. My skill gets better and better by year. ;D
The day after he lost first round match (July 29, Tue), he still sighed up for practice. By that time, I still had no idea whether he would stay or just leave as players normal do after losing. I called the info desk and was happy to hear that he continued to stay. At noon, he practiced with Haas. He seemed to have lots to vent about that awful match. During break time, he sat on the fence and talked alot with Haas' team. When Marat is talking, he shows all kinds of facial as well as hands expression which is, hm..really fun to watch.
Oh, there is this annoying guy. When Marat was practicing serving, he kept yelling "foot fault". After like 3 times, I stared at him big time to silence him.
Marat didn't react to it. He just continued with his practice with Haas. As everybody knows, Marat's temper tantrum is incredible. Well, fans who go to watch him practice probably are either so used to it or enjoying "vintage Marat gestures", racket smashing, Russian swearing or shoulder slumping. But Marat is quite a jolly fellow when he has no racket in hands. He seems to have established good rapport with many other players. Last year, I saw him chatting merrily with Nalby. (There were many more. But the way he interacted with Nalby really made it hard to forget.) This year, the list includes Haas, Gonzo, Kolya, Roddick, Igoryok, Murray and Acasuso. ...... Experience tells me, it's the best time catching his smiles when he chats with practice partners. ;D ;D
(with Haas)
There are quite a few nice players. I am not going to talk about bad ones. Anyway, Roger is classy and nice in his unique way. He gently told fans "no autograph" in the first few days at practice. However, he arranged an afternoon session where hundreds of fans sitting there watch him. He stayed for 15 minutes to patiently sign for fans. Another nice guy is Gulbis. He is very very cute. Sunday (July 27), he practiced with Dima. Dima is such a mischievous boy. During break time, he hit so many balls to the parking lot and was laughing when he heard some "bang". Gulbis was watching, laughing and couldn't help cover his face. After they left the practice court, many fans seemed to be fond of Gulbis and asked for autographs and pictures. He was patting kids' heads and taking pictures with ladies. I really like him. ;D
Okay, Marat is nice in a down-to-earth way, IMO. He is neither classy nor noble like Roger. He is just a guy living at the next door. When he is walking, he would stop when fans call his name. And if fans make some funny cheering banners, Marat would like laugh so loud. I guess his way of interacting with fans have won many people's hearts. So, despite his unstable results, he is always surrounded by so many loyal fans.
That's it for now. I will try to compile daily report into this thread to make it a complete 2008 Cincy report.
After I am done with my presentation next week, maybe I will add more. It's 2:30 am ...time to go to bed. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more!
and Best of luck to Marat on US OPEN!
DAVAI MARATIK!
Kisses
After they finished, Rogi arrived at the next court and they started chatting. That's the time we saw he smiled a little. 
