Master Series - Ericsson Open 2001
by Joelle and Diane Guy
Mar/21/2001
Hi everyone! Just got back from the Prince demo day at a Ft. Lauderdale tennisclub, with Pat as the main attraction! Diane and I heard about this little event when we went to see a similair thing at her tennisclub with JMG. So we decided to go check it out. Very much worth our while I must say. He hit a few balls with juniors and a few Ft. Lauderdale tennischampions. Then he did the autographs and pictures, Diane waited in line to have her Fanatics t-shirt autographed and also got me a poster. After it all ended we both got our picture taken with Paddy, only to find out her camera's battery ran dead and so it didn't come out. Fortunately Peter told us when they will be out on the practise courts tomorrow and if it isn't too busy we might both get another chance. It was an exciting afternoon, it was fun to see Pat in such a different surrounding then at a tennistournament. He was very cheerful and sweet and stuff. We talked to Peter a lot too and he is now considering checking this messageboard every once in a while, so mind your manners, girls *lol*! Diane will tell you her version now :) Take care, luv, Jo.
Man, Joelle is too cool with this - Pat talked to us, called us by name, asked about the CF Day and about the tattoos and gave us BIG HUGS!!! Made my day.....no showers for a while. We spent a lot of time with Peter and talked about DC, Barclona, retirement etc., etc. We were both floating on air when he left, especially as they told us when he pracitses tomorrow and that Pat and Lleyton will probably play their first dbls match on Thurs. Pat is probably not playing his first match until Sat. - hopefully at night so we don't miss him when we are in the booth. AWESOME DAY! Luv Di.
Mar/22/2001
Just a quick note as there was not too much going on today apart from Pat's practice. He looked great and played a set against David Wheaton, but there were a lot of fans watching so he didn't hang around after the session...got some good photos though, will have them developed over the next day or so. I also meet with Scott Draper for nearly an hour and we got into the media office and talked to the lady who runs the Daily News at the Ericsson. She said that they haven't a set up to do an interview but will give notice of the Awareness Day both on the day before and the day of. We also arranged for a photo session of us all with Scott on the Sat. morning, to go into the News on Monday. I will try to get the original of the photos so I can get copies for everyone. Scott also said he would see if he could get some of his mates to join us but I am not holding my breath.....just hoping! It would be great if we could get a photo of all of us with Pat and Lleyton but who knows?? Tomorrow we meet Jac at 11am and Creepy will arrive around 5 pm. She should be just in time for the Dbls match with Pat and Lleyton. I also meet with the lady Realtor that is renting the houses at WImbledon and signed the contract for the house we are renting, so I guess I had better get a flight booked! Will try to write most evenings as long as it is not too late and we are not too exhausted....Di.
Mar/26/2001
Hey folks, here is me from Key Biscayne. We didn't do a report yesterday because I know we were all in late last night. Just watched Pat practice, it is very hot out and he took it a little easy, a lot of breaks and I think he only stayed on for about 35/45 minutes, followed by Guga he also started off easy. It's the weather. Saw Pete's loss to Andy Roddick, absolutely wonderful match (only saw first set, b/c Pat's practice) but I am so thrilled he won! It has been very interesting to watch the 'new' American tennisplayers, they are all very promising! More later (I think), Luv, Jo Joelle
Mar/26/2001
Well, well...this is it, the last post from the US of A for me, for now. It has been the most amazing trip for me and I don't know where to begin...
I am still in disbelieve of meeting up with everyone, without a doubt EVERY SINGLE PERSON I met up with the past few weeks I got to know through the website, pretty incredible, huh!? I think I have met almost everybody here *lol*, and I know for a fact meeting people you know from the internet is just a lot of fun, you can end up with friends for a lifetime. Therefore I want to thank everyone for inviting me into their homes, introducing me to their families and friends and taking me under their wing, somewhere along this wonderful, unforgettable tour around the US. I had so much fun and I so needed the break to get away from things, I learned while having fun and I ended up with a 'few' memorable moments! *lol* I am thinking about Kangeroos who needed a bit of air or getting stuck in an elevator, singing Aussie songs in a car somewhere along HWY 111 (or was it Washington?) and having dinner with Guga (well not really!). Not to forget my encounters with Pat, it has been incredible! I keep saying that I know.
So I want to finish with giving a shout out to everybody I met up with. I think we need to finish this iff, I don't want to end up as Julia...(she did well!!!). I hope I make any sense and if not, just try to imagine I do.
Lots of love and until next time! (which could take a while because my pc at home broke down)
PS: Pat shaved his head again...very little hair left!
Joelle
Mar/26/2001
by Robyn
It was wonderful to speak to my favourite girl today and to hear your news. Thank you so much for thinking of me and also thanks to Peta for all the work with the banners and the inspiration to send them around the world and have them signed. And now I will explain what Joelle's news was!
Joelle had decided to ask Pat to sign the GO WARRIOR PAT banner for me (Peta had decided to give me that banner and the GO SKUNKY one to Pat so these banners have been travelling around the world collecting signatures from all the Rafterbabblers as most of you know which is a great memento for Pat and I.
Anyway Joelle said that Pat was happy to sign it for me and he signed it right in the middle. He wrote: TO ROBYN, LUV U, PAT RAFTER
I was so touched by that, it made my day, so thank you Pat, Joelle and Peta, I love you guys too.
Robyn
Mar/27/2001
Just a quick note about todays matches, hopefully I will not get kicked off like I did last night and my long message got deleted. I was too tired to write it out agian! Pat started off his match today in what appeared to be a really bad mood, unusual for him and it got worse as he played and got frustrated with the missed vollies and the low percentage of first serves. We made a lot of noise and waved the flag and banner and by the middle of the second set he seemed to be himself again both in his play and his mood and he finished off looking very happy about the way he turned the match around. I wish we could have heard his interview for ESPN. Apparently the Rafter Rules banner was on the TV, hopefully along with the Aussie Flag and the Roos. The doubles match was fun but Pat looked very tired, I was glad that they managed to win in 2 sets as Pat will have a good 24 hours to recoperate. Lara got bored with playing with her hair and started playing with Kimmy's hair! We were trying hard not to laugh and Olga was filming her. Maybe she always wanted to be a hairdresser....if Pat goes broke she may have a new career option!! That was mean - I know that she is actually a very nice person and must be terrific for Pat to have chosen her but I do wish she was more interested in his matches. Must go, tomorrow is a long day and hubby arrives in the evening - no more drooling over young gorgeous tennis players! Hope everyone is well - haven't had time to keep up with the news on the board. Joelle got off safe and sound and is already planning her next tennis expedition. Di
Mar/28/2001
It was great to be at Pat's match tonight - a mini Barcelona! Fat Bastard was sitting just behind us and I kept on wanting to sing Who ate all the Pies - you fat bastard!. Olga and I held the fort along with her daughter and my hubby and friend Pat. It is great to be only 7 rows off the court as the players can really see and hear you. We had our Roos and our Barcelona T-shirts on and an AUssie flag, as well as the Rafter Rules banner. We cheered our little hearts out and had a good response from the crowd. I swear I could hear Noor among them. After the match Olga and I were just hanging out taking photos and yapping while Pat signed autographs and he came over towhere we were to thank us and took my hand and said what a great job we were doing.....sighhhhhhh. He then grabbed Olga's flag to sign and signed her T-shirt - which was on her Roo, not on her, unfortunatley! What a wonderful guy he is and he was soooo happy to win and get into his first quarter final at the Ericsson.
Mar/30/2001
My husband has given up on me and gone to bed, I have been on the computer ofr 2 hours catching up on things while it continues to storm outside. Pat played beautiful tennis today, once he got into his rythm he was incredible, poor Roger had no idea what to do. As Pat left the stadium he recognized us again with a nod and a smile and I told him I was looking forward to an all Aussie final. It wa too bad they didn't play the doubles but very understanable. I doubt that he is having too much trouble with his wrist given the way he is playing but that he is beign cautious and both he and Lleyton need to keep their strength up for the semifianls. For once I will look forward to going to the women's finals as Pat will be playing his semifinal match the same day. It is too bad for the other babblers though, as I don't have extra tickets for Sat. - I gave them to the school for a charity auction, who would have thought I would need them!!! Hopefully they can get general admission tickets and still be able to be part of his match, I will sorely miss the company when I am cheering but the banner will be there! Miss all the Ericssonbabblers who went home - but looking forward to getting together again in August. GO PAT! Di
Apr/2/2001
Wow, what an incredible two weeks it has been, not the least of which was meeting up with Babbler friends of old and making new ones. I have been attending this tournament for 10 years now, and have a lot of friends in the area but this year was very special. It was great to see Pat play so well for so many matches and to see him play doubles and have such a lot of fun with Lleyton. I still hear "YOU - ME - You" in my sleep! If my partner did that to me the point would be long over but Lleyton just did as he was told and seemed to learn more with every match they played - there was a definate improvement in his volleys, even in his singles matches. It was great fun to have Joelle and Creepy stay with me and keep me focusing on Pat during our long jouneys home very night. Olga was a blast and she and her daughter make quite a pair in their matching Aussie hats, too bad she couldn't stay for the semifinal match but she left remembering him winning. My Roo missed his companion! Noor was a delight, we'll do it agian next year, girl! It was fun seeing Joyce again after spending a day with her at Wimby last year, and hopefully she will catch up with us again at WImby this year. To everyone who joined me in the CF campaign - you were AWESOME - and I will be sending a message to all the EricssonBabblers - we can keep the site open for the US Open Babblers. All this is just to say that this board attracts a great bunch of people and I feel privilaged to have been able to meet so many of you. The tennis was great, Pat was to die for, and the companionship couldn't have been better. I still have masses of photos to develope and hope to get them into photopoint.com over the next few days. Cheers from Miami. Di