Stephanie's Mark Moment

Picture of Mark and Stephanie at bottom of page!!

As an introduction, I have to say I subscribe to the mailing-list of Alex Corretja (but as you know, Mark is my absolute # 1) cause I like Alex and I have many good pals who are on this mailing-list too.  At each tourny that one of us is attending ,we give him some messages, and so for Bercy it was my turn.  I did this with Valerie:: I know her only for a few weeks, as we "met" thanks to this list.  Actually, we were used to e-mailing each other and from one day to another we discovered that we were working in the same street in Paris!!  The other person I mentioned here from this list is Sylvain.  Now that these precisions are made, it's time to tell you everything on my Bercy week!

Sunday 31st October, Day 1:

Val and I decided to go to the hotel of the players, just to try to see our favourites and also to spend a good day together!  I arrived at 10:40 am and Val was already there!  I like people who are on time, and it seems that Val too (another common point - actually, we've discovered that we've got A LOT in common!)  Anyway, there was only four people already there and we started our long wait, talking about various things, showing some pics, etc.  Later on, a blonde girl (her name's Veronique) arrived and started to talk to us, and it turned out that she was a friend of Sylvain.  When he arrived a few minutes later, she introduced us to him, and we talked a few.  Oh, I forgot to precise that all along this time, some players were coming or leaving the hotel!  That's how we got to see Yev., Michael Chang, Todd Martin, Marat Safin, Mariano Zabaleta, Nicola Lappenti and so on.  Oh, sure, I forgot to mention Marcelo Rios.  Actually, it was like a game with him, I mean that we all knew he'd never sign or take some pics, so when he was coming or leaving, we were saying things such as << bye Marcelo, ciao, adios >> or whatever... and he was winding us (sure) but smiling as well.  Childish stuff, ain't it?  The guys from the hotel were quite nice, even the drivers of the official cars of the ATP.  One of the customers of the hotel asked me if I was a player, and I gotta say we had a big laugh cause he was thinking I was Venus Williams - weird people sometimes!!

Anyway, a woman who is working at this hotel and knows Sylvain told him that the Spanish players weren't staying at this hotel, so we started to be pretty worried, but we stayed there anyway, and chated with the other girls.  Later on, Sylvain and his friends left the hotel. We stayed there and when, by 3 pm , Veronique came back, she told us they've been to the hotel where Alex and the Spaniards stayed during Roland Garros, and saw Carlos's trainer.  We waited for a while again here, the time to see Marat Safin (argh, he was dead gorgeous in his classy clothes - he's pretty shy!) and took the metro to this other hotel.  When we arrived there, there was nobody but we asked  one of the guys who worked there and he told us that Alex and the others were already there, but that Alex has just left.  We were very disappointed and walked away... while suddenly I noticed a guy in the street.  I looked at him, thinking <<nah, I must be dreaming >> but nope : it was Carlos Moya! So, we stopped, while at the same moment a car of the ATP passed by with Felix Mantilla inside and Carlos stopped it to talk with him (traffic jam in the street then!).  When he had finished, I called him and he said << hi >> and we asked him if we could take a photo with him.  But it was dark, and he said it'd be better to take it in front of the hotel, so we walked there.  I was walking by his side and asked him << how are you >>.   He looked at me and said << fine! and you? >> with a big smile.  I thought << wow, he's got such a beautiful smile! >>... and remembered that a pal of mine, who knows him and his family very well, asked me to say << hi >> to him.  So, that's what I did.  He seemed to be very surprised that I knew her, and asked me how she was doing.  Well, then we arrived at the hotel and took our pics.  While he was taking one with Vero (or was it Val) he asked me from where I knew my pal.  Yeah, he definitely was surprised I knew her!  Val asked him where was Alex, and then Carlos came inside the hotel to wait for Felix.  A few minutes later, they left it and Carlos said << see you >> when they passed by us.  Actually, we were there again when they came back from the Virgin Megastore one hour later, still waiting for Alex!  They probably were thinking we were crazy!

Vero left us, but we decided to wait again.  During this very long wait (it was about 7 pm when we met Carlos), we talked with the groom guys of the hotel.  And once again, one of them told me I looked like Venus Williams (I guess it's just the hair, those braids!).  They were cool and gave us some gossip from the players during Roland Garros.  Oh, and it was funny too cause we've seen many people dressed for Halloween, there was a good atmosphere (and the weather wasn't too cold).  Then by 9:10 pm, a car of the ATP arrived, and inside we saw Albert Costa and... Alex!!!  Yeah, finally!!  We were very tired, thirsty, hungry, but relieved as well, cause we knew that if we didn't see him this day, then we'd have no chance to meet him again later.  We presented us, saying we were from his mailing-list, and he told me he remembered my last message, in which I said we'd wait for him in Bercy.  So, I explained that it was better there, cause in Bercy it's impossible to meet the players, as we cannot attend  the practices.  He introduced us to Albert Costa, asking if we knew him (!).  Val reminded me about the messages (I'm follish!) and we gave them to him.  Then he said << thank you >>, and had a look at them, joking he should need some glasses to read them cause it was written pretty small!  Then he told us he was there with his girlfriend Marta, cause she loves Paris for shopping.  We asked him how he was doing, and he said << fine>>, though he was looking pretty tired.  At the same time, Carlos and Felix came out and they talked together in Spanish (I gotta say I understood nothing, my Spanish is crappy) but Alex told us later on that they've planned to go out together.  So, we thought it was time to leave him, but asked for a photo anyway.  We asked  him when he'll play and he said on Wednesday, explaining he was practising in Roland Garros on Monday and not in Bercy.  Then, I said I'll try to see him at the entrance of the players in Bercy (Val is working) on Wednesday in Bercy, and he said okay.  We said << bye >> and left him...

And that was it!  We were really tired after this long day, but very pleased - especially because of Carlos, I gotta say!  Val talked also to Felix Mantilla and Francisco Clavet, by the way.  It was quite late and we both took our metro (and the train for me), on our way back home.  Actually, because of my bloodey trains, I arrived home at 11:35 pm and had to finish to pack my stuff, as on Monday morning I first had to go to my hotel, not too far from Bercy.  And I was wondering about the order of play, cause I was looking forward to see my dear Mark play!!!

Monday 1st November, Day 2:

After a very short night (I didn't sleep very well, too excited, I guess), I went to Paris and left my stuff at the hotel, before joining Val in front of Bercy.  As the day before, she already was there, expecting me!  Then, we came inside the hall and took our seats, which will be the same for the whole week.  Later on, my friend Alain arrived and I went to meet my British pal Chris, who I met at Wimbledon in June for the first time.  The first match was Marat Safin Vs. Mariano Zabaleta and I was please that Marat won it, cause I like him a lot.  Yev was there to support him and I guess he's his #1 supporter, just by the way that he was always clapping his hands when Marat was making some good points or how he was taking his head in his hands when Marat failed!  I was pretty stressed cause Mark was playing his first round this day, and it was the only match I was waiting for.  Anyway, before seeing him, we had to see Raoux and Santoro, who I really cannot stand.  Bloody French players!  Actually, I hate all the French players, apart from Arnaud Di Pasquale.  I mainly looked into the players lounge during the matches, and saw Marcelo Rios, who was coming from time to time to see the matches or joking on people in the crowd.  Bad guy!

Anyway, then it has been the turn of Mark to play and I was really nervous... but finally everything went okay and he played an easy match from Escude.  I was so happy to see him playing this way, with his efficient and powerful serve.  Terrific!  His father, Cashy, and Gavin Hooper were there and looked pleased too (which is obvious).  After his match, Mark was being interviewed on the court by the official interviewer of the tournament, who is a crap ex- French professional player.  He sucks!  His questions are stupid, he speaks English even worse than me, and well, everytime people are booing him cause he really is bad!

The next match was Courier Vs. Arnaud Di Pasquale.  I would have liked to see Arnaud playing, but a little voice inside of me told me to go outside and try to see Mark when he'd leave the stadium.  So I asked Val what she'd do if she was me and she said << just go and try >>.  But I was so scared!  Veronique and Alain told me the same, so I left the hall, they told me good luck and I went to the players entrance.  There was the two other girls who were waiting at the hotel the day before, so we talked together.  Actually, there was only us three and they said that when Mark will come, they'll push me to talk to him.  I was so incredibly nervous, you just cannot imagine.  But before, we saw some players leaving the hall:  Yev (yeah, him again), Guga and also... Alex! He was with Marta and he recognised me.  He said << hello!  how are you?>> and said he was tired (he was really looking down) and went to the official car of the ATP Tour.  And just a few minutes later, I saw Mark's father arrive... and Gavin Hopper... my heart was beating to bits, I said to my pals << er, I just think I gotta go now, it's time to catch my train >> - as a joke, of course!  But they said << don't worry!  It's your only chance to see him >> ... and he arrived.  Yeah, my Mark... when I saw him, I immediately thought that it'll be fine.  You know, he was looking so sweet in his long blue Fila shirt, with his two big bags on  his shoulders and his cap on  his head.  He was looking like a big kid, yeah.  I just thought << God, he really is the only one, my very favourite!!>>  My pals asked him for an autograph and a pic and then they looked at me and said << go!>>.  So I came to him and asked << Mark?>>.  He looked at me and I said << can I take one minute of your time?>>.  He hesitated and said << oh, yeah>>.  And then I explained to him I had something for him, for his birthday, and I handed him a present, a card and a long letter.  He was surprised and thanked me, then I asked for a photo.  We took it twice and I thought he would move to his car, but finally he stayed near me and looked at me, so I started to tell him how much I was pleased to see him back and so on.  I was so nervous, and he was smiling all along my speech, saying << thank you for your support >> and so on.  I'm used to look at people in the eyes when I talk to them, but it was hard for me with Mark!  I guess I was looking really stupid!!  Then, we said goodbye and I wished him good luck.  He went to the car and waved to us when he passed by.  I was really relieved then, and so pleased.  God, he really is a teddy bear, so different from the tough Mark we can see on a court.  I mean he really is shy and speaks so quietly, if you see what I mean..  And then, after this great moment for me, I went back to my hotel and slept very well, looking forward for another super tennis and wonderful matches of my Mark... 

Tuesday November 2nd, Day 3:

Well, this day has been the longest of the tourney, and not the most passionating for me, I gotta say!  In the morning, I went to the hotel of Alex and there found the two girls with whom I waited for Mark on Monday and Sylvain.  We talked a lot all along the morning, while waiting for the players.  We finally saw Guga coming out, and later on Albert Costa, Francisco Clavet and Alex.  Anyway, after this morning at the hotel, I went to the stadium, but phoned Val before, to let her know about my meeting with Mark the day before.  She told me that she had a good time with Thomas Enqvist (her favourite) while I was with Mark, so we both were pleased for each other!  Then, I reached Bercy, in the hope that this crap Arnaud Clement would have already finished his match vs. Schalken, but it unfortunately wasn't the case!  Actually, this damn match lasted more than 3 hours.  Argh, so boring!  And it was only the middle of the afternoon that Thomas Enqvist started his match, which finished at 5:30 pm.  Then played Marat Safin vs. Guga, a very good match in my opinion.  I was surprised cause Marat concentrated quite well all along the match, instead of becoming mad as he can do sometimes.  Yev was there to support him once again!  I liked this match and I was pleased that Marat won it.  Then, we had these boring French players, Santoro, Pioline and at only 11:15pm, Pete Sampras arrived on the court.  Yeah, the beginning of the last match of the day!  And this match finished at 1:15 am!! Believe me, I was totally exhausted when I came back to my hotel room! But it has been a nice day anyway, as we talked a lot with people sitting near us, who were also there for the whole week.  And they all call me "The Philippoussis fan"!

Wednesday November 3rd, Day 4:

I wasn't in a good form at all, as I was feeling really tired when I woke up.  I mean I'm used to always waking up at 6 am, even without an alarm clock, and so it has been the case this day too.  Well, in the morning I've been to the hotel Lutetia, where Yev and the others were staying.  I met there some nice people and we saw some players, such as Thomas Enqvist, Yev, Marcelo Rios (yeah, him again) about three times, Chang, Lapentti, Rosset, Goran Ivanisevic, etc.  Well, not a very interesting morning, I gotta say!  One of the drivers of the official cars came to talk to me and told me at which hotel Mark was staying, but I said I won't go there, cause I don't wanna piss him off.  You know, I don't want him thinking I'm a groupie or whatever, and as this man told me that nobody knows at which hotel Mark was, I just couldn't imagine myself waiting alone in front of his hotel!!  Ridiculous!  Anyway, then I went to Bercy, for the beginning of the matches.  My Mark was playing vs. Krajicek this day, and it was supposed to be a very tough game for him.  But Mark proved he was back to a very good form and easily won this match!  It was super to see him playing that way!  He looked fine and was okay physically and mentally, confident in his fab tennis again.  I'm so glad about this, cause I've missed him so much the last three months...another match I enjoyed this day has been Hewitt vs. Yev. These two guys really don't like each other!  They played good tennis and they also made the atmosphere "hotter".  I mean they both did their best to get on the nerves of the other!  Well, this has been the first match I saw this day, and then I've seen Mark and last Carlos.  Or better should I say I've seen someone who was looking like Carlos Moya on a tennis court, but whose mind was somewhere else!  He sucked!!  After this match, Alain and I met up with Val (who came to the matches after work) and Veronique (she had invitations from Alex on this day, so we weren't together in the stadium), we talked outside the court while Chang was defeating Marcelo Rios and then I came back to my hotel room cause I was feeling really exausted after the long Tuesday we had and didn't rest enough.  Actually, I was quite sick too, and by 11 pm I was already falling asleep.  It's just that I don't eat enough while I'm on a tourney, and then I'm down from time to time!  Can't help myself!!

Thursday November 4th, Day 5:

After a good night of sleep (yes, finally) I was feeling better and in the morning, I've been to the hotel of Alex, cause Veronique and Sylvain told me they were going there too, to say goodbye to Alex (and Carlos!!).  It was quite cold outside, and we waited for long...but never saw them :(  We've only seen Albert Costa leaving the hotel!  During her lunch break, Val came to join us and I left the hotel with her, to go to the stadium to see my Mark playing, while Veronique and Sylvain stayed there.  When I arrived, our seat-mates said "ah, we're relieved!  We were worried about you as we've seen Philippoussis is playing and you weren't there yet!!".  That was funny!  Well, when I arrived, Chang has just finished his match and Mark was coming then, to play Henman.  I gotta say I was thinking it'd be a hard match for him but finally, not at all!!  The same as for Krajicek the day before!  How wonderful it was to see Mark defeating Tim so easily!!  Well, after Mark's match were playing Courier vs. Thomas Enqvist.  I stayed a few to see this match and suddenly decided to try to wait for Mark outside the hall, just cause I wanted to see him again.  I felt pretty guilty cause I knew Val wanted to see her dear Thomas playing, but couldn't cause she was at work and me...I was leaving the stadium while he was on court!  Anyway, while I was waiting for Mark I've seen many other players.  Tim Henman, Michael Chang, Jonas Bjorkman, Yev (yeah, him again), etc. there was a girl here who was waiting for... Pat Rafter!!  Yes!  I guess she ain't such a big fan of tennis as she pretends to be and needs some updates :))  Well, I was following Enqvist's match on radio then, cause I didn't wanna miss Hewitt vs. Pioline, which was scheduled after.  By 5:35 pm I was sick with waiting and was about going back to the stadium when I saw Gavin Hopper coming and behind him...yeah, my Mark!!  As on Monday, my heart started to beat faster than Michael Schumacher (Formula 1 Driver) on the Monte-Carlo Circuit, but I wasn't scared anymore.  He was looking such like a big kid again (without a cap on his head this time!).  So I walked to him and said "hi", he said "hi" back and I started to say "I don't think you remember..." but he cut me off, smiled and said "oh yeah I do!  Thanks for the present" and he told me about it.  I walked by his side to the car and then while he was putting his bags in, a guy asked him for something (his shirt, if I remember well) but Mark said he couldn't give one to him.  Then, the guy left and Mark gave his attention to me again.  I told him about his match and then asked him for an autograph.  He signed (to my name!) and got in the car.  Then he said bye, I said "good luck", he thanked and I left to the stadium, cause the match of Enqvist was ending and Val was about arriving.  I was really pleased by my second meeting with Mark, cause he still was really nice and so sweet!!

As soon as I came back to my seat on the court, Val arrived.  It was time for the match of Hewitt vs. Pioline.  A very tough match, but really interesting.  I don't like the French players at all and I supported Lleyton, but of course all the stadium was encouraging Pioline.  Grmbl!  It has been a long and stressy match, that Pioline won in the end (but next month in Nice, it won't be the same!).  I was waiting for the match of Marat vs. Rosset, which was scheduled at the end of the day, but before him there was again one match:  Agassi vs. Schalken.  I cannot stand Agassi and his match was really boring to me.  It finally finished after 11pm and I was really tired, so I only stayed a few at Marat's match, the three first games.  Fortunately, he won!!

Friday 5th November, Day 6:

The quarter finals, and Mark is still there!  It has been a rush for me in the morning as I came back home, did my laundry and then checked my e-mail:  224 messages! Then I catched a train to Paris and arrived at Bercy for the beginning of the 1/4 final.  First was the match I didn't wanna see at all:  Pioline Vs. Chang.  And it took soooo long!  And so boring... I even wrote a letter to a penpal of mine during this match and with my mates Alain and Veronique we were talking most of the time.  FInally, Chang beat Pioline, wahey, and then it was  Marat's turn to play.  Easily!!  He defeated Courier in a very good way and has been very constant.  Sure, I was mainly waiting for Mark's match vs. Agassi.  Well, better not to talk about it.  A few seats near us, there was a big fan of Agassi, who only came at his matches all along the week.  I think it's crazy.  I mean it's stupid to love tennis only for one player.  you know, though I'm mainly into Mark, I also like other players and, well, I do enjoy seeing different matches, not only Mark's.  Anyway, I thought I'd kill this guy cause he was shouting on Agassi, talking all the time (stuff like "he's the best, nobody can beat him, he's perfect, blah-blah").  Argh, he was getting on my nerves!!  This match has been a nightmare!!  After it, I left Bercy cause I didn't wanna see matches anymore and I was really sad for Mark.  I even wanted to wait for him (again) but I was so down that I didn't think I'd have been able to cheer him a few by my words.  So, I came back home and straight went to bed!

Saturday November 6th, Day 7:

The semifinals!  In the morning I've done some e-mails (my mailbox was still quite full) and some boring things like going to the bank (my poor account, LOL) or to the post.  Anyway, my bro gave me a lift by car to Paris, so that I didn't have to catch the train, and I arrived to Bercy a few minutes before the beginning of the semis.  Our seat-mates were already there, and also this stupid Agassi fan, cause first was scheduled Agassi.  They asked me if I was feeling better than the day before when I left the stadium, cause they said I was looking really sad!  Anyway, I was sincerely hoping that Lapentti would defeat Agassi.  Steffi Graf was still there and people were screaming her name from time to time.  The match was quite interesting, and Lapentti played well, but it seems that Agassi is far too big this season.  Nevermind!  Then, it has been Marat's turn.  A good match again!  He was still consistant and sure of his game, though he sometimes suffered from a lack of concentration.  I was really pleased he made it to the final anyway!!  Well, the matches finished by 6:30 pm and I came back home, surfed a few on the web and went to bed, cause I was feeling really tired.  It's incredible how following a tourney is exhausting :)

Sunday November 7th, Day 8:

The final and the big day:   MARK'S BIRTHDAY!!  Yeah, my babe was turning 23.  I'd have loved it so much if he won his second Super 9 tourney for his birthday, too bad he had to leave the tournament before... Anyway, I wanted Marat to win, for sure.  No more Agassi, please!  Me and my pals shouted on Marat all along the match, as much as this mad Agassi fan, but Agassi was too strong for young Marat.  Well, he's only 19 so I guess in the upcoming years he'd increase his game again.  It's already great he made it to the final.  The match was good anyway and I enjoyed it.  After it, our seat-pals and I said "goodbye" and "see you in Monte-Carlo" as most of us will go there too (and also Roland Garros).  I was feeling already nostalgic, but really pleased after such a super tennis week, and I'll keep it in my mind for long.  Great tennis matches and emotions, super moments with some of my favourites, and big laughs with my pals and friends.  So, roll on another tourney real soon!!  Only tennis can make my life so mad and full of fun!!  I just love it...
     
        Stephanie

Picture of Mark and Stephanie