October 2003
I attended Rafa's autograph session in Madird. Took some pictures first, then stood in the line. It was organized/sponsored? by Babolat; so Rafa was expected to put his autograph on a Babolat card, not on anything else, and only ONE autograph for everyone.
But some people just came up with their own things (pictures, large balls, tourney program, notebook...) and Rafa did not mind autographing on them. Babolat person did mind and ask Rafa to do it on the Babolat cards several times. I could read Rafa's facial expression saying "why not?".
Well, I not only got Rafa's autograph but dared to practice my Spanish with him. I said "Buena suerte otra vez (Good luck another time)", but maybe I should have said "proxima vez (next time)" instead of "otra vez". Not quite sure if he understood me, though.
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I made up my mind to be in Madrid too late to get any tickets for SF & F. It was really SOLD OUT; the ticket office was totally closed on SF & F days.
But, on the SF day, I found myself sitting in one of the VIP seats (just behind the VIP boxes) and, somehow, could get a ticket for the Final. (Did not have to pay any extra!)
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In the tourney program, there is an article about [LOS "NEW BALLS" ESPANOLES]. The title is: FELICIANO, RAFAEL Y FERNANDO: EL FUTURO YA ESTA AQUI.
I do not think there is much new things written about Rafa, but it is nice to read things like:
---Toni Nadal, hermano del futbolista internacional Miguel Angel Nadal [si en principio Rafel era el 'sobrino de...' es posible que pronto Miguel Angel sea el 'tio de...']---
I also believe that Miguel Angel will soon become 'an uncle of Rafael', instead of Rafa being 'a nephew of Miguel Angel'.
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That's it for the time being. Hope I will have a lot more stories to tell from the TMS Paris. (I will be there from Saturday on.)
**Thanks, Reiko. Please do not copy or use without the permission of the original source and VamosRafael.com. Thanks.**
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