July 2003
DAY 1: Yeah, I finally saw Rafa yesterday! I arrived around 4.30 and still has some time until the doubles of Alex and Albert started... so, I decided to watch the practise of Magnus Norman together with a friend. And who showed up tp practise with him??? Rafa!!!
I stayed there for about half an hour and took some pics. It might take until after Kitz to develop them but then I'll send them if you want.
Practise looked pretty good, Rafael was focused and talking a lot with his coach. It was interesting to realize that he hits so much quiter during practise...
Then I left for the doubles. Later I saw Rafa leaving.... it was after 8pm and he was walking around shirtless! He has such a dark tan He stopped for some autographs and suddenly these guys from German televisoon were there so he stopped to pull on a shirt. He couldn't manage to get it over is head and was stuck halfway through it, it looked pretty funny ....
so, that was it for yesterday. I also had a great time with Alex and Albert but...ok, I stop here
Rafa playing forst on Center today but I'll arrive late again today....
so, VAMOS RAFAEL!!!!!!!!!
DAY 2: Hi! Nothing sepcial from today... I just arrived around 4.30 so of course way too late for seeing Rafels match. But I knew that he won and that was the most important. After my match of the day I waited together with my friends. It was quite empty so it was perfect when Rafa and Charly Moya came out together. Rafael was pretty much focused on his ice cream, but took the time to take a pic, same with Charly. But I forgot to ask whether he's playing Kitz or Umag next week.
Today I'll be in Stuttgart early for Alex' match. Then I'll stay on that court for sure to watch Rafael and then later my doubles. It's a tiny court with 3 rows on 3 sides of the court, so I should be able to take some nice pics.
More tomorrow...
DAY 3: Yes, I'm sorry but there's not too much I can tell you. Alex's match just took all the energy I had. It was the most nerve-racking match I've ever seen, Alex coming back from 35, saving those 4 match points. It was amazing!!!
Alex and Rochus shared a long hug after that match which was cute. Rafa came to watch Alex match in the first set. He arrived chatting with de la Peny, Gonzos coach!
Then he continued his little chat with Felis coach, who was also there. He seemd to have fun but his hair is so long that he has to shake his head every 5 seconds to see.
I didn't see his match but sent my friend in to take some photos at least. I was too exhausted and also waiting for Alex...
It's a pitty that Rafa lost, but then Gonzo is a fantastic player. And Rfael showed that he's ready to compete with the big guys by taking that second set!!!
Bye..
DAY 4: I saw the second set of the Nadal/Beck doubles. It was on a small court.
They had lost the second but played some great shots and won that second set. It was a funny pictures, these two "boys" and then Kafelnikov/Ullyet on the other side.
Rafa seemed to enjoy playing doubles but he was also very motivated and pumped. He was the better player and sometimes when Beck had an unforced error he rolled his eyes.
It was also funny to see him again being such hyper-active on the court... once he wanted to throw his towel over the chair but threw it down instead. He was like "argh" and got it and wanted to throw it but dropped it again. He looked around like saying "how silly can you be to drop your towel twice" and grabbed it and just put it on the chair. It was fun.
I had to leave for the third set, sorry, but I got some nice pics I hope.
I headed towards the clubhouse to get something to drink before going over to the Center Court to see Alex when Rafael jogged by... I thought it was a little quick to end the match and in the end it turned out that he just neede a toilet break Kids wanted to stop him to get their stuff signed but he told them "I'm in the middle of a match!"
So, wonder if'll he'll be ther today, I'll look out for him.
DAY 5: As Peggy told you I finally got to ask Rafael about next week. I was watching Albert practising when I saw Rafael walk over to the Center Court to watch Feli. He had to wait until the changeover and there I could ask him. So, it's Umag next week. He also said he'll play Long Island and then the US Open
It was a funny "conversation" ... Rafael seemed a little irritated that he's getting so much attention, but he was really nice.
So, that was Stuttgart. I'll head to Kitz tomorrow where he won't play now unfortunately but I should still have a fun time there.
Bye, Debbie
**Thanks for the terrific reports, Debbie. Please do not copy or use without the permission of the original source and VamosRafael.com. Thanks.**
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