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Post by kitzfan on Oct 5, 2004 22:20:36 GMT
-------- As it is now the end of the year - I have made Kitzfan's Thread a Sticky Thread - PLEASE add your story here - LELP -------- So I wanted to start a topic about why we support and/or like Mariano. Here is my very private statement for this: The first time ever I have seen Mariano was in Kitzbuhel (surprise, surprise… ) in Y2002. I went there to see again playing live Alex Corretja who is my favorite man and tennis player. But very soon - on the fist day - a group of young and attractive men – lead by Mariano - has appeared to have a practice session. Wow! As I mentioned previously, I am female and not blind…., so I think it was totally understandable afterwards to paid attention to this hot guy&Co. After a while – after his first match - I realized that this guy is not only hot (like lots of other players are…e.g. Moya, Lopez, Blake without the same effect on me…), but he has also charisma, he is a fighter on court, you cannot resist (or at least I couldn`t… ) you just should support him… you cannot watch a Mariano match just like a usual sport/tennis event… you must be involved into the game… and for me this is crucial…. I call it as magic… Maybe it is not, but at least for me it is. If I see Mariano playing and giving all his efforts it is like I was the ball or the clay or just the air on the court which is part of the game. I cannot stay apart, I feel to be involved into the game. For me it is simple magic. And I think I am not the only one who feels the same way… He can win the support of the crowd easily with his charisma, his presence on court and his efforts. It is simple magic. You cannot resist if you see him play live once. You have to support him. So simple. So this is the reason why I support Mariano and how and why I became a fan of his. Maybe it is not new, but we have new members, too… so I thought maybe it can be interesting to share our motivation or recall the first time we saw Mariano and ask for the new posters about their first impression. Love, kitzfan
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Post by Louiselp on Oct 5, 2004 23:08:23 GMT
That is a lovely post Kitzfan - thank you for starting this thread
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Post by CHOUPI on Oct 6, 2004 7:06:38 GMT
What an interesting question, Why and how did I become a M Fan? Well, first of all, I'm a tennis fan for about 15 years. It all started thanks to a man called Agassi... Not so long ago, Mariano Zabaleta was just a name for me 'cause I had never seen him play. I first saw Gaudio's matches and I thought, wow, this man is gonna do something on clay. So I began searching for information on the web. Thanks MELU! ;D That's the way I discovered who M. was in relation to his best friend GG. I also discovered other Argentinean players. What I appreciate most with those guys? They're cute. They play very good tennis. They don't act like superstars. They always find some time for their fans. They're very good friends and show it everyday. All I regret is that I never had the chance to see them play, only on tv. But I'm planning for RG next year. Don't worry, I'll share everything... Ok, that's my story. See you.
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Post by Daussyk on Oct 6, 2004 11:03:28 GMT
no regret choupi, you will to see mariano in the next rg and for the victory ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Corina2605 on Oct 6, 2004 11:26:03 GMT
Yep, very nice thread ! This could be a longer post.... Well, I started to support Mariano while watching Roland Garros 1998 on tv. Mariano beat the No.2 seed Korda in the first round. I think I only saw the matchpoint of that match, but what I was impressed by was Mariano's celebrating !! With an Argentine flag wrapped around his body he jumped up and down on the court, danced, partied and had the biggest smile of the world on his face! He looked so very, very happy . I have never seen a tennis player celebrating like him before, not even the Grand Slam winners. Of course I noticed that Mariano was also "quite good-looking" , but what caught my attention was definitely his incredible joy over this very important win in his career and the way he shared his happiness with everyone. You just HAD to wish to be able to join the party ! Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to see Mariano on tv until the Hamburg tournament in 1999. Being a big Nico Lapentti fan at that time, I was very interested in the semifinal between Nico and Mariano. Ok, I admit, I was cheering for Nico at the beginning of the match, but this changed!! The longer the match lasted, the more I was supporting M! It was the first time I saw Mariano actually play tennis and I was so impressed by his attitude on the court. He has this fire, passion and presence on the court that loads of tennis player lack. I like how Mariano celebrates a good point, but at the same time never lose respect for his opponents. I love his fighting-spirit and the fact that he never gives up. I totally agree with Kitzfan, watching Mariano play tennis IS magic !! Mariano has a great game, especially from the baseline. Who will ever forget the "shot of the century" from his match against Federer in Rome 2003? Well, Mariano won that semifinal and I was so pleased for him! The final against Rios was one of the best matches I have ever seen, I wish I had taped it! M lost, but it was an amazing match, a match I will never forget! After Hamburg Mariano was one of my absolute favourite tennis players - today he is on the top of that ranking Some years later I finally got to see Mariano playing matches in person, which is even more special and exciting. He has this way to win the hearts of the spectators in the shortest time. Everyone adores him ! Another reason I support M is of course also the way he treats his fans. He is a very polite and friendly person, he never denies the interaction with his supporters. And of course he is also one of the supplier of many "special tournament trip moments", right Louise? There are lots of other things I like about Mariano, as for example the fact that his two best friends on tour are lovely or his taste in clothes, but I guess everyone figured out the main reasons Ok, that was my story... Looking forward to read more
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Post by Corina2605 on Oct 6, 2004 11:33:51 GMT
Just to cause no confusion: The semifinal M won and I was referring to was of course the Hamburg 1999 one against Nico ! Great match, great result!
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Post by Louiselp on Oct 6, 2004 11:48:21 GMT
Kitzfan - thank you thank you thank you for starting this thread. I hope that everyone can contribute here.
Here goes... this is my story (sorry this is long - but it also gives the foundations as to how this page was born too..)
Back in Hannover 1999 I was a mad Andre Agassi fan - he could do no wrong - he ruled - I worshipped the ground he walked on - he rocked! I too was a member of the Andre Cult. - WOW Choupi - he will be pleased to know he has taken two of us!
Ok... so fate struck a bolt of lightening between two computers in Hannover and a friendship between a fan checking a Player Site and a fan checking an Andre site grew. We were both checking our sites at the same time, realised we were both English and the rest is history. She said some magic words to me..... I am going to the USA in March (this was November) I am looking for someone to come with me - are you interested?? My wonderful Husband said to me ..... YES YOU ARE VERY INTERESTED. and He sent me across the world with a virtual stranger on my own for 3.5 weeks. It was an amazing adventure.
March 2000 - I get on a plane to Scottsdale, Arizona with my new friend
The next day... we were a bit sleepy - but we needed to see Men hit balls - hard! - Andre was having a practice session! - with a little guy called James Blake at the time. I was happy - but my friend was bored, so we went for a walk. Scottdale takes exactly 6 minutes to walk round. Its Huge... haha. The Player ratio is 1:1. and as we were walking around - a Player my friend knew came to talk to us.
SO My friend and this Player guy were chatting away, so I got talking to his practice partner, he was really nice and friendly, had a deadly smile, and was so laid back and so easy to talk to.
Earlier on that day, I had already asked Mohammed Liani what country he played for, and he had to tell me was actually an umpire, so that will explain why I decided Player's friend was his practice partner.
IE I am CLUELESS!!! - SO I was really surprised when my friend suddenly said (after the two guys left us) "Thought you were meant to be really shy with players?" To which I just answered, yeah but he's your friend, so its different, I saw you at Hannover remember - you knew him. To which she replied.... not him.... the other one! - to which my reply was.... "oh! really?? Name! Rank! History! now please!!" That was The Official Day 1 of our trip - and the Official Day 1 of my support. The ice had already been broken, and it was too late to put him on a "unreachable player podium".
Mariano played Carlos Moya the next day - we watched - he lost - but hey it was Carlos Moya one of the top seeds of the tournament. No bad loss -
BUT UNLIKE Agassi - who lost to Fransico Clavet in straight sets and ran back to Las Vegas as fast as his plane could get him there. Mariano was spotted on every single empty practice court from that day, morning and evening - through to our moving day, when we said goodbye to Scottsdale - we had fun with the South Americans in Scottsdale.
We moved on to Indian Wells. We took our time driving through the mountains and arrived at Indian Wells, checked out the courts - AND saw Mariano was already on court as soon as we got there.... the Scotsdale Friendliness continued. This time, Andre lost in the 1st round to Arazi and got fined $10,000 for not turning up for an interview and was apparently home before teatime - and Mariano was on a practice court from Morning till Night..... My friend felt really bad for me that the guy I had flown out all that way to see play had lost badly early twice in two tournaments, she thought I was having a really bad trip..... NO WAY!! Operation Support the South Americans was way too much fun!!! Mariano beat Fernando Vicente, then Marcelo Rios! - EXCELLENT MATCH! and reached the 3rd round before losing to an extremely in-form Tomas Enqvist (aka Spike! there was a huge Cactus in Scottsdale, everyone saw it - except Spike! and unfortunately for Spike - My friend and I were there to see him walk into it.... hehehe) - Mariano lost to Spike. But he was still around every day to practice and chat etc.
Then we moved onto Miami. Miami was ok - I stayed for the first 2 rounds. - nowhere near as nice as Scottdale or Indian Wells. Andre dissappeared as usual, was nowhere to be seen, he had a bye too, and showed up on my last evening so again my friend thought my trip had been ruined as I had 8 days of Andre-free-ness - but these days were spent having fun with Operation Support the South Americans, who were camped out on the Practice Courts from Morning - Till Night - AND running on the beach too -
Mariano's take over-bid for my fan-ship had worked wonders. On my last day, Steffi Graf was meant to be ordained into the Miami Hall of Fame - which meant - Andre would be there!!! at this ceremony that would be the first time in 8 days I would see my "hero"!! - I missed this.
Mariano, was playing a swiss guy on the outside court at the same time. I saw Mariano totally destroy this Swiss guy - the atmosphere was incredible. It was full of the "magic" kitzfan describes above. As it was in Miami - there were lots of South Americans supporting Mariano too, there were no seats left and the atmosphere was like a carnival. I think, if I remember rightly this Swiss Guy's name was (thinking) Roger Federer....
I saw Andre play a night match that evening - against some little guy called Andy; - but when I got on the plane that next morning, I wanted to turn back (as my friend was still there) and carry on Operation Support the South Americans.... but I was 50,000 feet in the sky at the time, the pilot would not have been impressed at all.
Marcus and I went to Roland Garros a few months later (obviously) - we went to Charity day. Mariano was there! - he remembered me!!!! - I was really surprised that he did - that meant alot to me. This carried on in all the other tournaments I went to - unfortunately Mariano had a slide in 2001 and I missed seeing him in Indian Wells again. I saw him briefly at Wimbledon - haha in 2001 - and he remembered me again!! - which was nice. Then Marcus and I got the chance to go to the US Open 2001. I had started to see a different side to Agassi in 2001 and had a few unhappy experiences. (Sorry Choupi) The last one Agassi acted all "godly" towards his fans one night and I was not impressed - I didn't like his actions how he treated the "little people" and decided to stop supporting him as after all - he is still a human being, not a God to be worshipped.
The next day... Mariano (104) had drawn Sebastien Grosjean (8) - he was down 0-3 in the first set - when I walked in and sat down, opposite the players level with the net - Sebastien Grosjean LOST the match in Straight sets.... it was a brilliant match and the Spirit of Scottsdale 2000 was back. Mariano made the Qtr Finals and lost to Marat, the eventual Champion.
WHY do I like Mariano so much to support him in all his matches - that's easy....
Because he is so friendly! and he respects his fans too.
I can, hand on heart, honestly say that THIS website has been a total pleasure to do - and so many friendships have been made through it - I hope many more can be made too.
I don't care about his ranking; although I would love to see him in the Top 20 next year - I just hope he keeps his word and carries on at least the next 4-5 years. « Last Edit: Today at 03:42am by Louise Lewis-Price » <br>
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Post by CHOUPI on Oct 6, 2004 11:51:36 GMT
Corina and Kitzfan, What lucky girls you are...
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Post by CHOUPI on Oct 6, 2004 12:08:12 GMT
Louise, Now I understand everything. Why you created this web page and why I feel so comfortable with you... Another Agassi's fan! I've been through the same phases. Worship till disapointment . Well, Andre's not a god. But I must admit he made me have a real good time watching some of his matches. Even if he never managed to make me cry like a baby when he won RG. Only GG did it! Yeah... Just hope to see his best friend do the same! So, M has great memory too...That's the joke of the day! ;D
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Post by patsy on Nov 15, 2004 0:43:09 GMT
Well, I am from Argentina and I am glad to tell that Mariano has its own tv programme about tennis, so as i am also attracted by him I never miss it on Sundays.
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Post by Louise Lewis-Price on Nov 15, 2004 1:50:19 GMT
Welcome to the board Patsy!!!
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