Hamburg and Paris 2007 - Trip Report

[Louiselp]

Hi Everyone...

Welcome to Part one of the Hamburg Trip Report.

Members of the Dreamland Team this year were...

Hamburg

Lucas & Me
Chan & Lyn
Reiko
Helga
Maria & Birte
Natalie
Birgitte
Jocelyn

Mariano (and his Team)

(more names to follow soon... apologies for omissions...)

Paris

Lucas, Me and Marcus
Birte and Maria
Reiko
Corina
Corina's Mum
Ana
Barbara
Chris and Debbie
Gustavo and Ana

Mariano (and his Team )

Members of Dreamland Tour are very very very welcome to add their views and input to this thread

Hamburg was the first tennis tournament for me for one year - and it also had an added challenge of seeing if I could travel independently by plane with a 2 year old in tow - and to see how if I could cope... hoping of course the answer would be YES - as then the world would be my oyster once again!

I did have a fear that Mariano may have changed since the last time I saw him - but obviously this was a stupid fear as that was definitely not the case - which was really reassuring and nice. They really did break the mould when they made him.

Hamburg Saturday - Qualifying Day 1 (& travelling day)

Ok... so... flying with a 2 year old.... well thats FUN! - but it is also very lovely when you realise you are also booked on the same flight as two really good friends (Chan and Lyn) who were "there" to help and assist when necessary - (and run back through Passport Control catching the escaping 2 year old!) thanks you two - I owe you (thank you also MANDY the best sister in the world for the lift to the airport!)

SO! after an interesting flight we all get into the nearest taxi to dump luggage at the hotel and get to the Tennis as quickly as possible Saturday morning... A player Chan wanted to see was playing first - so we were hoping to get there before his match ended... We made it!!!

I decided I would not be able to actually watch Mariano's first qualie match (as I am GOOD Mother!!!) and that Lucas and I would listen from outside Court 4 - there was a very nice tented coffee bar here providing the perfect setting for listening and watching scoreboards. - My plans then changed when Chan and Lyn sent me off to watch the match as they TOLD me they were babysitting! - so off I went....

Mariano was scheduled to play T Gabashvil first round. The first set was brilliant... M's shot were incredible, the power play both player had was great... Mariano had the momentum, and won the first set easily... The second set was not the same.. there seemed to be a problem... and then.. T Gabashvil left the court for a break and the man next to me spoke into his radio saying... Trainer for Zabaleta - please... - my heart sank when I heard this... not again... so the trainer came on, and seemed to fill M up with liquid and flat coke (that told me it was a stomach problem - ginger beer also works extremely well!!!!) and then the match carried on. For someone who was sick Mariano played extremely well - but it was not meant to be.... he threw in the towel at 2-5 third set.

About 3 hours later, Monaco was seen leaving the Tennis Grounds ... Hamburg is a lovely small tournament - and all the Players and Fans really enjoy it... There are always people on lookout duty to inform people if their favourites had left etc... Monaco was getting ready to leave - opposite our Fan-Meeting Point - and 5 minutes later Mariano joined him.... as I said earlier - I hadnt seen him for 1 year... so I was a bit nervous about going up to him - especially after the result of the match... - but I did anyway!

I am glad I did... - he was not injured, and the good news was... he would in Hamburg all week! - YAY!!!

to be continued...

[Louise Lewis-Price]

Sunday

Today Lucas watched his first match from Start to Finish. Helga was there to witness!! - and the match in question was Juan Monaco's second Qualifying Match on Court M2

This is a lovely court - complete with dandelions growing in between the old wooden benches... there is always a lovely atmosphere whenever play is on this court.

I had an agreement with the Security Guards that Lucas could be parked in full view at the entrance/exit - as it was really wide and people could get by if they wanted... - the Security Guards soon got to know Lucas....

Juan Monaco played awesome tennis (similar characteristics to Mariano's game...) and at one point he had Gaudio supporting him through to the end!!

Half-way through this match - we looked down... Lucas was glued to the match... and then he started clapping!!!! (when the guy in YELLOW won a point...) it was such a cute moment!! - congratulations Juan - you have got a "first" that Mariano cannot get!!!

Juan won the match! - and his Youngest fan got to congratulate him!

Mariano was seen leaving with Gaston - by the Lookout Party

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Monday

Juan was due to play Domink Hrbaty today - again on Court M2

So! - I thought his youngest fan would like to see him play again... but this time I was on my own... - no Helga or other Aunty to babysit.

Match started - we were in the same position - Lucas decided to make some noise... so we left...

Lucas then decided we wanted to go back - same position again - after 10 minutes - Lucas decided he wanted an Ice-Cream

10 minutes later we try AGAIN to get to Monaco's match.... - please note that I do not believe in letting Lucas make any noise while a match is in process - this is totally unfair to the players...

THIS time there is a problem when we went to return to our base... There were two other players waiting to go IN to the benches... Their names were Luis Horna and Mariano Zabaleta....

We ignored them.... after all... we were going to wait until the crowd had gone in - to take up our position to carry on watching the match - that Juan was winning...

The players dissappeared - phew... it didnt look like I was stalking!!! - and I sat on the wall and watched the match... 5 minutes (1 game) later we had a visitor... Mariano was much much much better!! (he also looked really good in black and white lacoste gear with green trim) and he would be coming out to practice on this court - after the matches had finished

TO be continued!!

[Corina2605]

Thanks for the report so far. Looking forward to the other parts

[Lousielp]

Thanks Corina!

Ok... the next part...

Monday practice session...

First of all - Juan won his match against Dominik Hrbaty...



his prize was to play Roger Federer!

As promised... later that afternoon Mariano appeared to practice... he chose Court M2 to practice on - which was the best viewing court for spectators! - GOOD CHOICE!

He had a nice crowd watching him - he played a great exhibition match with L Lobo - and with the help of his coach and fitness trainer and a little heckler dressed in red in the crowd - running around the whole court causing amusement and distration to all around... of course, everyone shouted at me for 1) worrying Lucas was causing a distraction... and 2) not paying attention to the practice session when it was OBVIOUS to everyone around that Lucas was having too much fun playing with all his Aunties and being entertained by his on-court Uncle too








Hamburg was lovely - it was so relaxed, it was so nice just to arrive, meet friends, have coffee, chat, have people babysit while I got ordered to go and watch matches, (Arnaud Clement, Chela, Canas, Monaco, Schuettler (for pictures as payment for babysitting and others) - and then of course, watch exhibition matches on the practice courts each day.



One day we commented that there were more people watching the exhibition practice session between Mariano and Nico Lapentti (there you go Sara! I mention him - JUST for you ) than there were watching players practice that were still in the tournament... it just goes to show who the popular guys on the tour REALLY are

SO... life was great as I said - drink coffee, chat, drink tea, chat, watch tennis players play


- but for some people it was just TOO much



Monaco was due to play Roger Federer - so we made sure his "Big Brother" got a message from us all - to tell him that we wanted to see the headline "Another Argentine Qualifier beats Roger" - big Brother promised to pass on the message - and was sure he had a chance.... - He tried.... Monaco played really well... and had the momentum in the match too! - right up until 4-4 final set - and then Roger did a Roger... (well I guess he IS NO.1...) and won the match... but it was a great match for Juan.

That was meant to be my last day at Hamburg (Wednesday) as I promised to take Lucas to the Zoo and he had been SO good in his buggy all week...

We did go to the Zoo... Honest!! - here is a picture of the some of the Elephants we saw!! - there was a 2 week old baby elephant called Shiela... Lucas adores elephants... and she was soo cute!

(I didnt like to take pictures of the baby...)

The weather was lovely... and we finished at the Zoo by 2pm.... (we were there at 10am!) SO... the choice was... boring empty hotel room.... OR back to the tennis....

It turned out I had a very important job to do that evening - "Official (Group) Photographer - Louise"

Here is just one of the many photos with Mariano and friends that were taken... (please do not post this picture anywhere on the internet (unless you are in it of course)



Mariano - on behalf of everyone else that had pictures with you that day - thank you - and of course, thank you for being you - we are all so pleased you are back on tour - playing in all our favourite tournaments again - and I can honestly say - you made Hamburg fun for all of us...

- next.. coming soon.... Paris Roland Garros Qualifying....

[Louise Lewis-Price]

On second thoughts... Paris will have its own thread... coming soon... - so ... if you want to add a comment.... feel free

Reiko! - thank you for rooming with me! - I hope it wasnt too much of an ordeal...

Casa di Roma... - what can I say? To all the Waiters and the Waitress - thank you for making us feel so at home... see you next year!!

"Man (in a posh suit) that insisted on sitting between Chan, Lyn, Lucas and Me - on the flight home.."

I am guessing you are NEVER going to sit near a 2 year old when you fly again - right?? well we DID warn you... and it wasnt as if the plane was fulll........ - you COULD have sat somewhere else.... - dont you just love Chocolate, Sticky Lolly and Orange juice

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THE PARIS TRIP REPORT IS NOW AVAILABLE HERE

marianosboard.proboards29.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1181407123

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[Birte]

Louise, thanks for writing this wonderful report and for bringing back all the great memories
Already looking forward to the Paris part

And big sorry for not having sent the photos yet, but I will latest next weekend
Looking forward to seeing you all soon again, hopefully

[Corina2605]

Thanks for the report and the pics

[Reiko]

Awww, I'm late but thanks for the report of the Dreamland trip.

It was really nice seeing Mariano back on ATP tour. And thanks everyone for the lovely time there. Louise (and your little companion), thanks for providing me with place to stay - otherwise what would I have done in a fully booked up Hamburg?

I have some pics of Mariano waving to that little "heckler" - don't know why he was full of smile. Will email them.

Btw, did I tell you that Mariano might play Japan Open? I heard from a person close to him that Mariano will do so if he can enter direct. Great news for me and my friends there!
Tokyo field tends to have many top ranked players but many of them just withdraw - anyway Mariano is rising in ranking now, so I think I will see him in Japan. If you need a messenger, you know you've got one.

[louiselp]

Reiko - thank you for the news! Japan sounds interesting.... - looking forward to seeing "heckler pics!"

Here are some pics sent by Natalie - thank you Natalie!

If anyone else wants their pics posted here - email me

(still working on Paris.... )

[nathalie]

Hello to everybody of the Dreamland-Team!

Louise, thank you so much for your great report about Hamburg!!!
While reading it all the memories came back and it felt like we were all back in Hamburg!
Thanks a lot to everyone who´s been there - it was such a wonderful week!!!
And it was very nice to see Mariano again - and holding hands with him while waiting for professional photographer Louise to take our picture ;D

[Corina2605]

Thanks for the pics Nathalie

[nathalie]

My pleasure Corina

[reiko]

Better late than never. ;D

Some memories of DreamLand:
tennispics.blog108.fc2.com/blog-entry-25.html

The pics are to be seen here:
www.flickr.com/photos/reiko_nl/sets/72157600436145050/

Louise, any Mariano pics by me are for you to use anywhere.

[louiselp]

Thank you - I love the slide show!

[Greg]

Okay, so who is who in that picture above?

[Ccorina2605]

Ahh, those pics are so lovely

I have not been in Hamburg (in 2007) so I am not on the pics

It is so sad that Hamburg has lost its Master Series status But at least the tournament is still here