Post by Annie on Jun 28, 2005 20:08:48 GMT 3
Lyon 2003
by Vee
Mini-report for Wednesday & Thursday
Marat was scheduled to practice for 2 hours, but ended up staying for 3!! He took a break every 10-15 mins though. He also has a tattoo! It's about 5cm diameter on his left bicep in black: a circle with a picture in it (don't know what - he was too far away) Marat & Denis had also had a huge argument on court the day before: Marat was just shouting at Denis (he was v.angry!) and Denis walked off without him at the end of the practice. This may explain why Denis wasn't at the players party and why Marat was in a bad mood. But they were friends again at the 3hour practice on Thursday; laughing and joking together and Denis answering their phones while collecting balls for Marat. But Vee said there is something wrong with Marat: he wasn't his normal self; like he's just being happy in public. She thinks it could be the frustration of not being 100% perfect with his tennis. She also said he really needs to shave because his beard looks really weird; all out of shape. Denis has had his hair cut again! Walt was also at the 3hour practice but did nothing! He just sat in the umpires chair for the whole thing! Marat was wearing grey t-shirt and black shorts and then Denis told him to get changed into a blue t-shirt to keep warm... awwww
The doubles match> Marat injured his ankle in the doubles match ; he ran for the ball, crashed into the wall screamed 'AHHHHHHHHHHH' and fell to the floor. Physio came on court and bandaged it but he was ok. Even Vee said it was more 'acting' than real injury and he was behaving a bit like Roddick... durng the 3hour practice he was fine and don't think he even had a bandage on so it can't have been that bad!
Players Party
Vee was at the players party with Marat! He arrived about 1AM with Rosset and Roberto (no Denis) dressed in a black cap & black leather coat (that's all she could see - too many people!) and sat at a the furthest table. Lots of girls were surrounding him (mostly fans) and he was happy to talk but looked very tired and not in the mood for partying. He only had one drink, chatted with his friends, then left an hour later alone. (No girls with him)
Tuesday
Marat was practising with Ljubicic. Denis & Walt were with him & Denis put some 'protection' on Marat's wrist. He practiced again at 1pm.
I'm just back from the stadium, what a long day! I don't know what to start with...Well first of all, I wanted to say that I am really ashamed of the public of my city, for their behavior towards Marat... First they were cheering for him, and then they started booing, for missing easy shots and smashes, and also because Marat asked a ball girl twice to dry the court (Marat felt down quite badly because of the trool court!) I felt really bad for Marat, it was not the nicest way to tell him welcome back... I guess we won't see him back here next year
((I had a terrible seat for this match, but the russian flag was there as always...I'm really bad at doing reports, so I am going to do my best to tell you my feelings about the match. On the whole, the match was not of very good quality, we could feel that Marat was not confident at all. He was hitting the ball not too hard, just returning Fabrice's shots, without really attacking... The several times he attacked, the ball was out. Marat was really cautious with his wrist, I think that he still has pain. The physio came in the middle of the match to change something about the bandage, but I couldn't see exactly what. His serve was very good in my opinion, around 190 km/h for the 1st serve. Marat played much better in the 2nd set, he led 4-2 if I remember well, but Santoro was doing his Santoro, driving Marat crazy with his 'cuisine', and he played very well too, returning all Marat's shot, Marat couldn't do many things.My overall impression is that this match was not that bad, considering that it's only his 2nd, and I'm really confident about the end of the year, Marat just needs to play matches, to find his place on the court and put the balls inside the court. We can really say that he has to find his confidence back and it should be ok! It's a good thing that he plays doubles (he is playing tomorrow afternoon, I'll be at his match so you'll get another report), he needs match and practice.What else could I say (I told you I'm very bad with reports!!), Denis was watching the Marat, with Walt Landers (I guess he took Anatoly's place as the physio... what a shame, I hate that guy!) and Roberto Brogin (Italian guy) but that's all. I couldn't take photos because I ran out of battery for my digital camera, you'll get some tomorrow (especially as he is playing on a really small court). Again I couldn't talk to him because I had to leave his practice before the end, but I got a 'privet' (Hi in russian) from Denis, what a miracle!! Tomorrow I'll try to ask him 'kok dela?' and see if I get a reply; but I think that's the best he can do!!! (I mean Denis, not Marat of course...)Last thing, Marat was very very sad when he left the court, I can understand that as the public has been horrible to him.. shame on Lyon, can't wait to be back to the US!!Good luck to Marat and Olhovsky (the 'Casper' player... he was sheduled to practice twice and never showed up.. I have no idea how he looks like!!). I'll get more battery for both my digital camera and my cell phone, so tomorrow you'll have more photos and live comments from his match that I will sms to Ruth!!My last message will go to Marat : please change your shirts : green does not look good on you!!!!!!!!!!!! ;-)) (in case Marat really does read this, this is a joke!!!!!! well actually........;-))))
Monday
So first of all, Marat was schedule to practice at 12, and unfortunately, I had to do something for my father, so I was not at the right place when Marat arrived(( I arrived 30 min later, but he was still practicing with Kafelnikov, Denis was here too, I think he cut his hair, no more curls.. Kafelnikov was with his coach, Walt Landers. Marat was wearing a strange green shirt, that's not the best outfit for him, but you know, everything looks good on him so it was fine.
He was not practicing on the closest court, so I couldn't take good photos unfortunately...The practice was very good, but not too intense, just forehands, backhands, volleys and serves, but not hitting the ball too hard, I guess he is cautious with his wrist. He was still wearing something on his wrist to protect it, but took it off after the practice. He doesn't seem to have any problem from what I saw, but I cannot tell you how he felt. At the end of the practice, Denis left with Kafel. One of my friends asked Denis to sign a photo of him from the Davis Cup, he almost did not stop! What a trool!! He said something in English, but I couldn't hear what.. he finally signed it, but he is not the nicest guy I know!! I saw that he was wearing a ring on his 4th finger.
Marat stayed on the court with Walt, to make some stretching movement. and then I had to leave because I had to meet someone who had a ticket for me, so I couldn't see him leave, and thus I couldn't talk to him.. but I gave my digital camera to one of my friends, and she took the best photo ever of Marat, I love it he is so hot on it!!! (thank you Leatitia!!!!!!!) Then I didn't see Marat again, but I know he went back to the hotel at the end of the afternoon, around 6pm I guess, and he left the hotel to do his footing (I don't know if we can say that in english) (I had my spies working for me at
the hotel!!!)
Tomorrow he is not playing until 7pm, so I should see him. I don't know the kind of tickets I will get tomorrow, so I'm not sure I'll get a good seat, but I'll do my best to cheer for him with the Russian flag!!!!!!!!!!! I think he needs a lot of support, it will be tough against Santoro, but I think that he
can win, especially as Santoro must be very tired after the week he had in Metz. I'll write an other report tomorrow, but I'm sooooooooooo happy to see that he is back!!!
Well I think that's all I have to say for the moment, I can't wait for tomorrow to see him again, today was not enough (trool father!!) but I was SO happy to see him again!!!!!!!
trool = horrible person [Ruth & Vee slang *lol*]
by Vee
Mini-report for Wednesday & Thursday
Marat was scheduled to practice for 2 hours, but ended up staying for 3!! He took a break every 10-15 mins though. He also has a tattoo! It's about 5cm diameter on his left bicep in black: a circle with a picture in it (don't know what - he was too far away) Marat & Denis had also had a huge argument on court the day before: Marat was just shouting at Denis (he was v.angry!) and Denis walked off without him at the end of the practice. This may explain why Denis wasn't at the players party and why Marat was in a bad mood. But they were friends again at the 3hour practice on Thursday; laughing and joking together and Denis answering their phones while collecting balls for Marat. But Vee said there is something wrong with Marat: he wasn't his normal self; like he's just being happy in public. She thinks it could be the frustration of not being 100% perfect with his tennis. She also said he really needs to shave because his beard looks really weird; all out of shape. Denis has had his hair cut again! Walt was also at the 3hour practice but did nothing! He just sat in the umpires chair for the whole thing! Marat was wearing grey t-shirt and black shorts and then Denis told him to get changed into a blue t-shirt to keep warm... awwww
The doubles match> Marat injured his ankle in the doubles match ; he ran for the ball, crashed into the wall screamed 'AHHHHHHHHHHH' and fell to the floor. Physio came on court and bandaged it but he was ok. Even Vee said it was more 'acting' than real injury and he was behaving a bit like Roddick... durng the 3hour practice he was fine and don't think he even had a bandage on so it can't have been that bad!
Players Party
Vee was at the players party with Marat! He arrived about 1AM with Rosset and Roberto (no Denis) dressed in a black cap & black leather coat (that's all she could see - too many people!) and sat at a the furthest table. Lots of girls were surrounding him (mostly fans) and he was happy to talk but looked very tired and not in the mood for partying. He only had one drink, chatted with his friends, then left an hour later alone. (No girls with him)
Tuesday
Marat was practising with Ljubicic. Denis & Walt were with him & Denis put some 'protection' on Marat's wrist. He practiced again at 1pm.
I'm just back from the stadium, what a long day! I don't know what to start with...Well first of all, I wanted to say that I am really ashamed of the public of my city, for their behavior towards Marat... First they were cheering for him, and then they started booing, for missing easy shots and smashes, and also because Marat asked a ball girl twice to dry the court (Marat felt down quite badly because of the trool court!) I felt really bad for Marat, it was not the nicest way to tell him welcome back... I guess we won't see him back here next year
((I had a terrible seat for this match, but the russian flag was there as always...I'm really bad at doing reports, so I am going to do my best to tell you my feelings about the match. On the whole, the match was not of very good quality, we could feel that Marat was not confident at all. He was hitting the ball not too hard, just returning Fabrice's shots, without really attacking... The several times he attacked, the ball was out. Marat was really cautious with his wrist, I think that he still has pain. The physio came in the middle of the match to change something about the bandage, but I couldn't see exactly what. His serve was very good in my opinion, around 190 km/h for the 1st serve. Marat played much better in the 2nd set, he led 4-2 if I remember well, but Santoro was doing his Santoro, driving Marat crazy with his 'cuisine', and he played very well too, returning all Marat's shot, Marat couldn't do many things.My overall impression is that this match was not that bad, considering that it's only his 2nd, and I'm really confident about the end of the year, Marat just needs to play matches, to find his place on the court and put the balls inside the court. We can really say that he has to find his confidence back and it should be ok! It's a good thing that he plays doubles (he is playing tomorrow afternoon, I'll be at his match so you'll get another report), he needs match and practice.What else could I say (I told you I'm very bad with reports!!), Denis was watching the Marat, with Walt Landers (I guess he took Anatoly's place as the physio... what a shame, I hate that guy!) and Roberto Brogin (Italian guy) but that's all. I couldn't take photos because I ran out of battery for my digital camera, you'll get some tomorrow (especially as he is playing on a really small court). Again I couldn't talk to him because I had to leave his practice before the end, but I got a 'privet' (Hi in russian) from Denis, what a miracle!! Tomorrow I'll try to ask him 'kok dela?' and see if I get a reply; but I think that's the best he can do!!! (I mean Denis, not Marat of course...)Last thing, Marat was very very sad when he left the court, I can understand that as the public has been horrible to him.. shame on Lyon, can't wait to be back to the US!!Good luck to Marat and Olhovsky (the 'Casper' player... he was sheduled to practice twice and never showed up.. I have no idea how he looks like!!). I'll get more battery for both my digital camera and my cell phone, so tomorrow you'll have more photos and live comments from his match that I will sms to Ruth!!My last message will go to Marat : please change your shirts : green does not look good on you!!!!!!!!!!!! ;-)) (in case Marat really does read this, this is a joke!!!!!! well actually........;-))))Monday
So first of all, Marat was schedule to practice at 12, and unfortunately, I had to do something for my father, so I was not at the right place when Marat arrived
(( I arrived 30 min later, but he was still practicing with Kafelnikov, Denis was here too, I think he cut his hair, no more curls.. Kafelnikov was with his coach, Walt Landers. Marat was wearing a strange green shirt, that's not the best outfit for him, but you know, everything looks good on him so it was fine.He was not practicing on the closest court, so I couldn't take good photos unfortunately...The practice was very good, but not too intense, just forehands, backhands, volleys and serves, but not hitting the ball too hard, I guess he is cautious with his wrist. He was still wearing something on his wrist to protect it, but took it off after the practice. He doesn't seem to have any problem from what I saw, but I cannot tell you how he felt. At the end of the practice, Denis left with Kafel. One of my friends asked Denis to sign a photo of him from the Davis Cup, he almost did not stop! What a trool!! He said something in English, but I couldn't hear what.. he finally signed it, but he is not the nicest guy I know!! I saw that he was wearing a ring on his 4th finger.
Marat stayed on the court with Walt, to make some stretching movement. and then I had to leave because I had to meet someone who had a ticket for me, so I couldn't see him leave, and thus I couldn't talk to him.. but I gave my digital camera to one of my friends, and she took the best photo ever of Marat, I love it he is so hot on it!!! (thank you Leatitia!!!!!!!) Then I didn't see Marat again, but I know he went back to the hotel at the end of the afternoon, around 6pm I guess, and he left the hotel to do his footing (I don't know if we can say that in english) (I had my spies working for me at
the hotel!!!)
Tomorrow he is not playing until 7pm, so I should see him. I don't know the kind of tickets I will get tomorrow, so I'm not sure I'll get a good seat, but I'll do my best to cheer for him with the Russian flag!!!!!!!!!!! I think he needs a lot of support, it will be tough against Santoro, but I think that he
can win, especially as Santoro must be very tired after the week he had in Metz. I'll write an other report tomorrow, but I'm sooooooooooo happy to see that he is back!!!
Well I think that's all I have to say for the moment, I can't wait for tomorrow to see him again, today was not enough (trool father!!) but I was SO happy to see him again!!!!!!!
trool = horrible person [Ruth & Vee slang *lol*]
