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Mikey and I arrived at the tennis center at about 11:15 from the 7 train. We walked around the compounds to the VIP entrance. Upon getting there, talked to a security guard about re-entry policy. Saw Myskina walk by, but didn’t have the chance to talk to her or anything. Went inside the compounds, where we found Silvia Farina-Elia. Walked to her and got pictures with her. Got pictures with Myskina, Bovina, Suarez, Ruano, Pistolesi, Zuluaga (who has an injured knee), Coetzer, Sugiyama, Petrova (who is awesome) and a few others. Jennifer Capriati blew us off about 5 different times today. First, she walked away right after practicing after signing 10 people’s things out of about 100. Then, she walked by again, totally ignoring any calls. Then, as we walked up to her when she was sitting SHE CALLED OUT SECURITY ON US…TWO KIDS. Really, a not nice person. Near same thing happened with Bartoli. She like gave us looks like we were from the sewers and she was all high and powerful. Got blown off by her only twice though. Schett and Schnyder were in a ‘rush’ so that didn’t work out. Our day was AWESOME before lunch. That was when we saw everyone and got pictures with them. But, around lunch time, the crap security team decided to do their ‘jobs’. At the VIP entrance, all the players walk by to either get to their car service or to/from the locker room. Naturally, this is like a hang out by few and die hard fans. However, with the policy of being allowed to freely walk in and out, there were about 100 people there. It got a little out of hand, I’ll admit, but what they did was drastic. There was a man of Asian or Pacific Island descent, not older than 25. He was walking over to Tim Henman to ask for a picture and Tim obliged. As his friend was holding up the camera to take the picture, a man in a tie walks over and makes him stop because it isn’t the area for pictures and ‘if the players want, they will come to you.’ Yeah, thanks. Then, they made everyone stand in a very small area called the ‘bull pen’. If that wasn’t degrading enough, it was tightly packed and security all around, so even if someone did walk by, you were fighting with others just for a space along the outside. When we decided there was no more hope as they were bringing out more barricades, we went and grabbed some lunch. After that, the bullpen was dismantled and now no one is allowed to loiter in that area at all. We think it is such crap, and I am going to write a letter to the USTA venting my frustration. There was no security problem, only a bored staff.
Other good/bad of the day:
Bad: Not all stores were open. Waited endlessly for the Wilson store to be open, but it never did…I never got a ball and my autograph hunt is now delayed.
Bad: Not all food places were open and the prices are even more ridiculous.
Good: Petrova is a doll. She obliged when asked for a picture, and her mother seemed happy that she had fans.
Bad: Jennifer Capriati
Good: Demo session on court 13
Bad: Staff
Good: Players being nice
Bad: Players being mean
Good: Pistolesi being soo nice, she asked US if we wanted autographs because we sat and watched her run back and forth for like 20 minutes. Mikey talked to Claudio, who said he doesn’t even really coach Anna.
Good: Bovina was really nice.
Bad: Myskina and Coetzer acted like they were in a rush.
Good: Fabiola looked thrilled she was recognized.
Bad: Fabiola was getting treated for knee problems.
Bad: People had mistaken Maggie for Justine and were having her sign Justine’s page.
Good: I called Maggie by the right name, and she seemed glad someone knew her.
Bad: People packed the stands for players they’ve never heard of.
Bad: People getting autographs and then asking what their names are.
That’s about it. All in all, the security team was the biggest load of shit in a while.
Other good/bad of the day:
Bad: Not all stores were open. Waited endlessly for the Wilson store to be open, but it never did…I never got a ball and my autograph hunt is now delayed.
Bad: Not all food places were open and the prices are even more ridiculous.
Good: Petrova is a doll. She obliged when asked for a picture, and her mother seemed happy that she had fans.
Bad: Jennifer Capriati
Good: Demo session on court 13
Bad: Staff
Good: Players being nice
Bad: Players being mean
Good: Pistolesi being soo nice, she asked US if we wanted autographs because we sat and watched her run back and forth for like 20 minutes. Mikey talked to Claudio, who said he doesn’t even really coach Anna.
Good: Bovina was really nice.
Bad: Myskina and Coetzer acted like they were in a rush.
Good: Fabiola looked thrilled she was recognized.
Bad: Fabiola was getting treated for knee problems.
Bad: People had mistaken Maggie for Justine and were having her sign Justine’s page.
Good: I called Maggie by the right name, and she seemed glad someone knew her.
Bad: People packed the stands for players they’ve never heard of.
Bad: People getting autographs and then asking what their names are.
That’s about it. All in all, the security team was the biggest load of shit in a while.
