[warrgazur]

Alright. So I finished my first tournament visit.

I got up early, charged my camera and got ready to go. And waited.

Eventually as it got close to 10, I went upstairs again and found John playing Sim City. I reminded him of the time and waited while he showered, got dressed, then decided to cook something to eat. Then he proceeded to pack things into my backpack. Snacks, a 2L bottle filled with drink mix, went looking for his earbuds, etc...

So we didn't leave until about an hour later. I was worried we would miss my chance to see Nishikori who was up second.

We had to go driving into downtown DC and parked at the Van Ness metro station after locating the underground parking lot then crossed the street and took the shuttle to the site. Turns out it's right in/next to Rock Creek Park... right next to the trail which was one of the first places John and I ever went together. You just had to continue on in the road for about a quarter mile more.... I had no idea it was there.

On the way, some college looking guys were talking in the shuttle about having been the the Washington Kastles and having seen Victoria Azarenka play Coco Vanderweghe. They were also going to a tournament for the first time. Coco, they mused, had probably never played professional tennis. Some retired college player, they suggested.

We got there for the last few games of Kevin Anderson's match. We found our seats in the grandstand. Pretty nice location, but it was sunny and hot.

After the match ended, I got up and walked around a bit. I walked right past Kevin outside the stadium, but was a little too wierded out to react. Plus, I wasn't positive I had correctly identified him so I remained silent and just awkwardly stared at him passing by.

I saw a practice court where Marin Cilic was practicing with someone shirtless in a hat so I didn't recognize him if it was someone notable. I almost guessed Verdasco but I couldn't tell. I do horrible sometimes with names and faces so again I didn't say or do anything.

I got back to my seat with John while Kei Nishikori and Junior Ore were warming up. Junior seemed to have a lot of crowd support... turns out he's from my town, Gaithersburg.

Nishikori dropped his opening service game, then ran off with the next four games. They held serve for the rest of the set, then Kei dominated the second set.

During this, I managed to contact and meet Oohsalmon himself. I was asked if I had a question for Kei's presser, but didn't come up with one on the spot. As a classic introvert, I don't do too well with the awkward first meeting of people, but I hope to get a chance to speak to him again. I hope to ask Salmon to give me an in to get a picture with Kei or someone tomorrow.

Donald Young started playing next and was struggling early on. He lost his opening game, then broke back. After that, he kept getting and losing a lead. I was getting too hot and ran out of drink mix so I got up and walked around again. Apparently a hamburger and drink costs 13 bucks there... typical event pricing of food so we passed. I saw someone else practicing... I *think* it was Kevin Anderson again but I'm not sure.

Anyway, I felt bad about forcing John here, so we called it a hot sweaty day and headed back. I think I need to learn to be more outgoing if I'm going to even try to corner a player.

I'll post some pictures later!

[Aozenee]

Hope you had fun, James!

[eljugadordepoquer]

Alright. So I finished my first tournament visit.

I got up early, charged my camera and got ready to go. And waited.

Eventually as it got close to 10, I went upstairs again and found John playing Sim City. I reminded him of the time and waited while he showered, got dressed, then decided to cook something to eat. Then he proceeded to pack things into my backpack. Snacks, a 2L bottle filled with drink mix, went looking for his earbuds, etc...

So we didn't leave until about an hour later. I was worried we would miss my chance to see Nishikori who was up second.

We had to go driving into downtown DC and parked at the Van Ness metro station after locating the underground parking lot then crossed the street and took the shuttle to the site. Turns out it's right in/next to Rock Creek Park... right next to the trail which was one of the first places John and I ever went together. You just had to continue on in the road for about a quarter mile more.... I had no idea it was there.

On the way, some college looking guys were talking in the shuttle about having been the the Washington Kastles and having seen Victoria Azarenka play Coco Vanderweghe. They were also going to a tournament for the first time. Coco, they mused, had probably never played professional tennis. Some retired college player, they suggested.

We got there for the last few games of Kevin Anderson's match. We found our seats in the grandstand. Pretty nice location, but it was sunny and hot.

After the match ended, I got up and walked around a bit. I walked right past Kevin outside the stadium, but was a little too wierded out to react. Plus, I wasn't positive I had correctly identified him so I remained silent and just awkwardly stared at him passing by.

I saw a practice court where Marin Cilic was practicing with someone shirtless in a hat so I didn't recognize him if it was someone notable. I almost guessed Verdasco but I couldn't tell. I do horrible sometimes with names and faces so again I didn't say or do anything.

I got back to my seat with John while Kei Nishikori and Junior Ore were warming up. Junior seemed to have a lot of crowd support... turns out he's from my town, Gaithersburg.

Nishikori dropped his opening service game, then ran off with the next four games. They held serve for the rest of the set, then Kei dominated the second set.

During this, I managed to contact and meet Oohsalmon himself. I was asked if I had a question for Kei's presser, but didn't come up with one on the spot. As a classic introvert, I don't do too well with the awkward first meeting of people, but I hope to get a chance to speak to him again. I hope to ask Salmon to give me an in to get a picture with Kei or someone tomorrow.

Donald Young started playing next and was struggling early on. He lost his opening game, then broke back. After that, he kept getting and losing a lead. I was getting too hot and ran out of drink mix so I got up and walked around again. Apparently a hamburger and drink costs 13 bucks there... typical event pricing of food so we passed. I saw someone else practicing... I *think* it was Kevin Anderson again but I'm not sure.

Anyway, I felt bad about forcing John here, so we called it a hot sweaty day and headed back. I think I need to learn to be more outgoing if I'm going to even try to corner a player.

I'll post some pictures later!

Well done on your first tournament visit. Have a great day tomorrow!

[clomoll]

Sounds like fun, James! I'm the same when it comes to first meeting people
I enjoyed the DC tourney when I went to it. It was fun times.

Hope you have a great day tomorrow!

[Mjypksun]

Congrats on losing your tournament virginity, James! Looks like you've encountered all the first time dangers - fans with lack of knowledge, nasty weather, and random awkward run in with a player resulting in a "Did ***** just walk by? Did we share I contact?!!" situation

Hope you had fun and have more fun the rest of the week.

P.S. Salmon, as media, isn't allowed to ask a player for autographs for himself or others, but you can/should stalk salmon until you find him stalking a player, and then cockblock him

[aspinswramymn]

Alright. So I finished my first tournament visit.

I got up early, charged my camera and got ready to go. And waited.

Eventually as it got close to 10, I went upstairs again and found John playing Sim City. I reminded him of the time and waited while he showered, got dressed, then decided to cook something to eat. Then he proceeded to pack things into my backpack. Snacks, a 2L bottle filled with drink mix, went looking for his earbuds, etc...

So we didn't leave until about an hour later. I was worried we would miss my chance to see Nishikori who was up second.

We had to go driving into downtown DC and parked at the Van Ness metro station after locating the underground parking lot then crossed the street and took the shuttle to the site. Turns out it's right in/next to Rock Creek Park... right next to the trail which was one of the first places John and I ever went together. You just had to continue on in the road for about a quarter mile more.... I had no idea it was there.

On the way, some college looking guys were talking in the shuttle about having been the the Washington Kastles and having seen Victoria Azarenka play Coco Vanderweghe. They were also going to a tournament for the first time. Coco, they mused, had probably never played professional tennis. Some retired college player, they suggested.

We got there for the last few games of Kevin Anderson's match. We found our seats in the grandstand. Pretty nice location, but it was sunny and hot.

After the match ended, I got up and walked around a bit. I walked right past Kevin outside the stadium, but was a little too wierded out to react. Plus, I wasn't positive I had correctly identified him so I remained silent and just awkwardly stared at him passing by.

I saw a practice court where Marin Cilic was practicing with someone shirtless in a hat so I didn't recognize him if it was someone notable. I almost guessed Verdasco but I couldn't tell. I do horrible sometimes with names and faces so again I didn't say or do anything.

I got back to my seat with John while Kei Nishikori and Junior Ore were warming up. Junior seemed to have a lot of crowd support... turns out he's from my town, Gaithersburg.

Nishikori dropped his opening service game, then ran off with the next four games. They held serve for the rest of the set, then Kei dominated the second set.

During this, I managed to contact and meet Oohsalmon himself. I was asked if I had a question for Kei's presser, but didn't come up with one on the spot. As a classic introvert, I don't do too well with the awkward first meeting of people, but I hope to get a chance to speak to him again. I hope to ask Salmon to give me an in to get a picture with Kei or someone tomorrow.

Donald Young started playing next and was struggling early on. He lost his opening game, then broke back. After that, he kept getting and losing a lead. I was getting too hot and ran out of drink mix so I got up and walked around again. Apparently a hamburger and drink costs 13 bucks there... typical event pricing of food so we passed. I saw someone else practicing... I *think* it was Kevin Anderson again but I'm not sure.

Anyway, I felt bad about forcing John here, so we called it a hot sweaty day and headed back. I think I need to learn to be more outgoing if I'm going to even try to corner a player.

I'll post some pictures later!

(Last time nelslus will ever say something nice to James7 alert....) You must keep writing these detailed posts. Truly enjoying them.

And I wouldn't worry about the awkward first meeting thing. As IF the rest of us wouldn't also make Laura Wingfield look like a confident and brassy extrovert. Google "Socially Maladjusted" and you're brought right back to TAT.

[vintsqyuid]

Keep the reports coming, James7.

[warrgazur]

I think you can see the pictures here.. maybe?

http://www.talkabouttennis.com/forum...php?albumid=94

[beepbeet]

Nice report and pictures James! Whether a player is a fave of yours or not chance meetings tend to cause your mind to freeze.
Enjoy your day tomorrow.

[beepbeet]

ORDER OF PLAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 01, 2010

STADIUM start 11:00 am

Qualifying - K Anderson (RSA) vs K Nishikori (JPN)
Not Before 1:00 PM
S Giraldo (COL) vs X Malisse (BEL) - Main Draw
M Przysiezny (POL) vs H Zeballos (ARG) - Main Draw

GRANDSTAND start 10:00 am

Qualifying - M Russell (USA) vs I Kunitsyn (RUS)
Not Before 11:00 AM
Qualifying - S Devvarman (IND) vs K Kim (USA)
Qualifying - D Young (USA) vs G Zemlja (SLO)

COURT 1 start 11:00 am

Qualifying - B Dabul (ARG) vs I Sijsling (NED)
Qualifying - R Sweeting (USA) vs G Jones (AUS)