Rosmalen Open 2001
Jun/21/2001
by Carien
After being on the
board for a few years now with some regularity, it was my turn to share the
joy of being a babbler by meeting in person some of the people (hellos to all
you RosBabblers!) and I saw the man in person for the first time! The day
started out really well with meeting some of the babblers - they were very
easy to spot with the fanatics shirts and roos 
The of course, as I was daydreaming (lack of caffeine and in an inspirational
environment are a sure thing to get me daydreaming) I obviously was obvlivious
to any form of commotion. Just as I was to turn around to check out the
practice of Kim, the man himself just found himself a meter away from me.
Needless to say, I was speechless and dumbfounded by his looks (he looks
younger in person!) and charisma, and my little snapshot camera was at the
bottom of my backpack! Just one of those incredibly stupid Carien-things! Of
course, Pat went over to the practice courts at the end of the field, as far
away from us onlookers as he could . A bunch
of us waited until he finished practice, then I was impressed with Pat's
speedwalking capacities as he walked off and worked his way through the crowd
towards wherever.
As you all know, he
lost his match against Wessels, who played really well. Despite the
encouragements of the babblers, who were in three concentrations dispersed in
the crowd (and I was far from either group), Pat could not find his form, and
played pretty flat (Wessels did serve very well...). That was all I have seen
from him.
After his match, I walked out to get a drink and take a breather (and a smoke
- I felt a bit bummed about his loss), when I saw joes sitting with a bunch of
people I didn't recognise at first. As I approached the table, I saw the faces
I have seen so often on photos: Andrea, Diane, Joelle and Robyn! Stayed for a
beer with them, saw the last few games of Lleyton;s match, and had to get
going again.
My face is still bright red, not caused by all the Rosmalen excitement but
more my a (for Dutch standards) overdose of sun and lack of sunscreen (I am
one disorganised girl!). So I can smile away when I am flying home tomorrow!
GO PAT at Wimbledon.
