Post by justsafin on Sept 10, 2006 8:08:10 GMT 3
I have been marat's fan for a long time. I have always wanted to watch him play in person and feel his charisma. I finally decided to go to cincy this year as my cousin is living close to Cincy open place.
I went there on Sat. and the first thing I saw was Marat practicing with JC Ferrero. I was so excited becuz JC is my second favorite. I couldn't believe that I could see them play just in front of me.
Anyways, JC did make it to the finals and I was there to cheer for him. It's sad that marat lost on the 1st round. But I did get to see three of his doubles matches with Youzhny and saw him practice from Sat to Thursday literally everyday. He usually started practicing at 1pm for one or two hours. He practiced with JC, Youzhny, and Massu's coach who he exaplined at the US open interview as just a good freind offering to help.
Marat is emotional on courts and yet he is pretty reserved, shy and quiet off court. He is cool most of the time and only laughs when he talks to pals and stuff. However, he is very nice to fans. And i am not being prejudiced in saying that he is probably one of the nicest on tour to fans becuz lots of players just sign for a little while and some even just walked away with stony face. I don't want to say who are not nice. But, JC, Haas, Santoro, Nadal, Youzhny and legendary Vilas are also nice and modest. Though Marat keeps cool and serious, he signs for fans after he leaves the court all the way to the locker room either after practice or matches almost every time. So i got five autographs from him and had pictures with him twice as well as my boy friend which means three !!!
Since a lot of fans have shared their experience with Marat. I would like to mention some unique and special personal experience of my closer encouter with Marat. I was taking pictures of Marat and my cousin told me that my camera's not good. So I was pursuaded to purchase a good one the day of Marat's third round doubles.
When I was on my way to buy the camera, I saw marat standing beside his rental car. We got out trying to help and found that he got hit by a lady. The car was badly crashed, the air bags hit his forehead. Windshields were broken. He was bleeding and had bruises. I felt so terrible. But a fan (one gentleman) witnessed the accident and reported to the police that marat was at no fault. The gentleman said, marat was dizzy and kinda passed out for a little while, as soon as he came to, he asked the lady who hit him "are you hurt?" That's very nice of him. After he got simple treatment in the ambulance, he was in the police car answering questions and after a long time, his car and the lady's car were towed away. I wished him luck as he kindly said he didn't need a ride. Then the policeman told me to stop. I had no idea what he wanted to ask cuz i didn't see the accident. It turned out that the police told me to educate him who marat is. How come he was sighing autographs. I told him who marat is. And the policeman kept saying marat is a super nice guy cuz Marat kept telling the lady "it's just a car, can be replaced, that's ok! Everybody makes mistakes." AND he was impressed that marat was still being nice to the kids asking for autographs as he was in pain and might have a slight concussion. I met the old gentleman two times after the accident. He also kept saying that Marat is a very nice guy that "he was more concerned of the lady's health than his own. That's really something!!" I chatted with some usher from West Virginia who has been volunteering for 4 years before his match. She said she likes Marat becuz he is a good fellow on tour.
Marat is very popular. Courts are packed with people even though he was only playing doubles. Usually, few people go to see doubles. I feel bad for Davydenko...He was like nobody...nobody recognized him.....
He still went to practice after the accident. Becuz his hand, head and thigh were hurt, he didn't play well in the doubles and lost. Can't blame him. I am proud of my favorite tennis player. He is emotional in the court...yet he is so nice off the court. After his last doubles, he signed for everybody despite the loss and injury. No fans knew that he just had a bad accident except us and the gentleman. I got another autograph for my cousin and asked him whether he's feeling better. He smiled at me and said thanks that he is much better. I shaked hand with him wish him best of luck so did my boy friend. His smiles are so .....beautiful. I will never ever forget them !!!
Vamos Marat!! I wish that had never happened. But I did get to know another soft side of him.
Sorry I might write too long and drag too much, I just registered becuz I truly wanted to share my story. I apologize for not being brief....
The following are a few pics I took of the doubles match on the accident day and practice pics on the next day. He shaved after the accident and smiles alot on the last training day. So I was lucky to catch some good ones. Sorry I posted them on other Marat's fan webiste first. So they have watermarks on them.
I went there on Sat. and the first thing I saw was Marat practicing with JC Ferrero. I was so excited becuz JC is my second favorite. I couldn't believe that I could see them play just in front of me.
Anyways, JC did make it to the finals and I was there to cheer for him. It's sad that marat lost on the 1st round. But I did get to see three of his doubles matches with Youzhny and saw him practice from Sat to Thursday literally everyday. He usually started practicing at 1pm for one or two hours. He practiced with JC, Youzhny, and Massu's coach who he exaplined at the US open interview as just a good freind offering to help.
Marat is emotional on courts and yet he is pretty reserved, shy and quiet off court. He is cool most of the time and only laughs when he talks to pals and stuff. However, he is very nice to fans. And i am not being prejudiced in saying that he is probably one of the nicest on tour to fans becuz lots of players just sign for a little while and some even just walked away with stony face. I don't want to say who are not nice. But, JC, Haas, Santoro, Nadal, Youzhny and legendary Vilas are also nice and modest. Though Marat keeps cool and serious, he signs for fans after he leaves the court all the way to the locker room either after practice or matches almost every time. So i got five autographs from him and had pictures with him twice as well as my boy friend which means three !!!
Since a lot of fans have shared their experience with Marat. I would like to mention some unique and special personal experience of my closer encouter with Marat. I was taking pictures of Marat and my cousin told me that my camera's not good. So I was pursuaded to purchase a good one the day of Marat's third round doubles.
When I was on my way to buy the camera, I saw marat standing beside his rental car. We got out trying to help and found that he got hit by a lady. The car was badly crashed, the air bags hit his forehead. Windshields were broken. He was bleeding and had bruises. I felt so terrible. But a fan (one gentleman) witnessed the accident and reported to the police that marat was at no fault. The gentleman said, marat was dizzy and kinda passed out for a little while, as soon as he came to, he asked the lady who hit him "are you hurt?" That's very nice of him. After he got simple treatment in the ambulance, he was in the police car answering questions and after a long time, his car and the lady's car were towed away. I wished him luck as he kindly said he didn't need a ride. Then the policeman told me to stop. I had no idea what he wanted to ask cuz i didn't see the accident. It turned out that the police told me to educate him who marat is. How come he was sighing autographs. I told him who marat is. And the policeman kept saying marat is a super nice guy cuz Marat kept telling the lady "it's just a car, can be replaced, that's ok! Everybody makes mistakes." AND he was impressed that marat was still being nice to the kids asking for autographs as he was in pain and might have a slight concussion. I met the old gentleman two times after the accident. He also kept saying that Marat is a very nice guy that "he was more concerned of the lady's health than his own. That's really something!!" I chatted with some usher from West Virginia who has been volunteering for 4 years before his match. She said she likes Marat becuz he is a good fellow on tour.
Marat is very popular. Courts are packed with people even though he was only playing doubles. Usually, few people go to see doubles. I feel bad for Davydenko...He was like nobody...nobody recognized him.....
He still went to practice after the accident. Becuz his hand, head and thigh were hurt, he didn't play well in the doubles and lost. Can't blame him. I am proud of my favorite tennis player. He is emotional in the court...yet he is so nice off the court. After his last doubles, he signed for everybody despite the loss and injury. No fans knew that he just had a bad accident except us and the gentleman. I got another autograph for my cousin and asked him whether he's feeling better. He smiled at me and said thanks that he is much better. I shaked hand with him wish him best of luck so did my boy friend. His smiles are so .....beautiful. I will never ever forget them !!!
Vamos Marat!! I wish that had never happened. But I did get to know another soft side of him.
Sorry I might write too long and drag too much, I just registered becuz I truly wanted to share my story. I apologize for not being brief....
The following are a few pics I took of the doubles match on the accident day and practice pics on the next day. He shaved after the accident and smiles alot on the last training day. So I was lucky to catch some good ones. Sorry I posted them on other Marat's fan webiste first. So they have watermarks on them.
thank you!!!
.
Sixpack guard 
