Granville Is Hot!!!

[jorel]

laura granville that is and not TW granville

anyway, i bothered her during her lunch break at an exhibition tournament this past weekend she was playing at in new york... she "tolerated" me for about 15- 20 minutes... she was one of the nicest people i ever spoke with
(plus she is smoking.... in that athletic athlete type of way) we talked about equipment, stringers, tour life etc...
my first ever conversation with a top tier pro and i have to say that it was the most pleasant conversation i ever had...

also saw justin gimblestob and a couple of others lesser known pros, the NCAA champion this year... forget his name and PETE SAMPRAS (i was two feet from him and the court he was playing at. i stood next to his tennis bag, asked if i could open it up and was told no)

but it was a great experience... the facility was amazing and it was even more enjoyable than the US OPEN... the players are so open and friendly... they walk around the grounds just like everyone else

it was so casual and laidback.... the pros would go get something to eat at the snack bar where all the members go eat... sit down and we would get to talk to them... i got the feeling that most of the club members didnt even know who these pros were (me included... i had to ask Laura Granville what her name was and then apologize profusely) they just walked around like everyone else

anyway, it was probably my best tennis experience.. players going to the practice courts, walking around like they were just like any of us. its great seeinng them in that environment... made me feel like they were just like us (only they command the tennis courts as some of the best in the world)

note: Laura got to the round of 16 at Wimby this year beating Hingis.

 

[nyc]

Sounds like an awesome experience! Did you take any pics?

What exhibition and location was that?

 

[tennisnj]

I was at the tournament too: Talking w/Shennay Perry on a practice day before she defaulted in the 2nd set of her match. Shennay was very nice & personable.

It was the Kennedy Funding Invitational @ Dellwood Country Club in New City (Rockland County) NY. (Search on the boards & you'll find a nice summary by Fee).

The NCAA champ we watched was Somdev Devvarman from the University of Virginia.

Jorel said it best about the laid back atmosphere @ the place, with 2 courts for matches & countless others to watch the pros practice. Best of all---It was free! (except for the Gatorade & chips lol).

The 1st day I went, there were 4 mens matches that I watched from 3pm-11:15ish & 3 of the 4 went to 3 sets. How could you beat that? The only knock I had on the entire experience were a lack of food facilities & bathrooms for the spectators.

It was also nice to watch the players call their own lines (not every match, however) & retrive balls (they played with 4, replacing them in the usual 7, 9 game rotation).

 

[WahooTennis]

The NCAA champ we watched was Somdev Devvarman from the University of Virginia.

Congrats to Somdev for making it to the finals and being the only amateur in the tourney. Can't wait to have him back next year at UVa to defend his title.

 

[TennisandMusic]

You asked if you could open Pete Sampras' tennis bag?

 

[jorel]

sorry no pics... i do have the ball that she signed tho.... asked for her racquet too (twice, i plan to ask her again at the US Open).... but she wouldnt give it up... as a side note. i talked to her about her strings and racquets. she still uses the old pure drive

i asked her why she didnt switch to the new cortex and she said she was more comfortable with the older one and it takes time to get used to a new racquet even though specs/model might be the same(a very nice conversation)

she also uses VS gut.... i asked her why not consider poly since it is so popular now and she said that most women still use natty gut.. they just dont hit as hard as the men do to justify using polys. she said she was just used to it.... even tho her coach is trying to get her to switch

 

[jorel]

You asked if you could open Pete Sampras' tennis bag?

yea... they just left their bags by the golf carts while they went to do the interviews.... honestly i was tempted just to grab the bag and run... but i looked into Gimblestobs bags and they were open and I could see all his racquets (Bab Pure Control XL strung with Lux/VS with lead at the 3 and 9)

but petes bags were all closed so i asked if i could open it up and take a look but was told no....

anyway.,.. it was great meeting pete sampras "the greatest of all time so far" walked right in front of me... i wanted to reach out and grab him but maintained a decent level of self control. He's a bigger guy than i thought... from his frame.. you can see how hes prob the best server ever. he almost has the perfect tennis frame...
i have seen Fed up close as well and he did not seem as big as Pete..

during the match... Pete kept stretching his back as to tell us that it was hurting him and grabbing his lower thigh

they also auctioned off his racquets... suprisingly it only went for $1200...
and Pete put in a $1000 bid himself.... Gimbleston even commented that if Pete won his own racquet... he would never come back to this tourney...

Gimby also has a hot little friend (nice girl) that watches him play.. i sat next to her as they watched him practice. Gimby recognized me and acknowleged me a few times with a nod... prob cuz i was basically stalking him... watching him practice.. talking with his girl, checking out his racquets, asking him when Pete was going to be around. the pros there were so approachable.

 

[luke_1983uk]

sounds like you had an awesome time!
aint it great when pros turn out to be so down to earth!

 

[jorel]

sounds like you had an awesome time!
aint it great when pros turn out to be so down to earth!

Yea... like i said. ive been to a few US Opens and this event blew those away
i think it was the approachability of the players..

at the Open... the players are wisked off into their own private rooms and the public arent allowed back there and there is very little interaction

but at this event.... the players use the same locker room as everyone else....
i actually saw a player in the locker room getting ready for a shower. very cool...

i just imagine.... if i was in the locker room at the same time as Sampras.. o my... but alas i missed my chance.... he came in right after i left. but i did get to see him face to face

 

[Gugafan_Redux]

In other news, the ATP, WTA, and ITF are having an emergency conference to implement new security policies and devote more funds to staffing security on the courts and around public eating areas, as a rash of fanatical fans have been seen drooling over player's girlfriends, eyeing pro's equipment, talking at length and incoherently to players at courtside for as long as 20 minutes. (Laura Granville's: "I was afraid of what he might do if I told him to go away, so I was as nice as I could possibly be and smiled at him. He didn't even know my name!")

Just kidding!

 

[jorel]

funny....

BTW. the NCAA champion uses a real Babolat Pure Drive Cortex. Hits the ball weell.. watched him practice against Gimby and he was doing well

 

[BreakPoint]

but at this event.... the players use the same locker room as everyone else....
i actually saw a player in the locker room getting ready for a shower. very cool...

i just imagine.... if i was in the locker room at the same time as Sampras.. o my... but alas i missed my chance.... he came in right after i left. but i did get to see him face to face

So you're saying that you're disappointed because you didn't get to see Sampras naked?

 

[jorel]

can you take it any other way?

 

[BreakPoint]

can you take it any other way?

I'd be more disappointed in not getting to see the players getting ready for showers in the ladies' locker room. LOL

 

[ssuHeartsRivald]

Justin is little arrogant i think. I met him 2 or 3 years ago in Vegas. I gave him words but he passed me calmly. Maybe he was getting busy or what...i dont know. But Laura...she is a nice person and talented.

 

[Deuce]

she was one of the nicest people i ever spoke with

You need to get out more.

(plus she is smoking.... in that athletic athlete type of way)

In what way exactly do athletes smoke?

my first ever conversation with a top tier pro and i have to say that it was the most pleasant conversation i ever had...

Yeah - you definitely need to get out more.

but it was a great experience... the facility was amazing and it was even more enjoyable than the US OPEN... the players are so open and friendly... they walk around the grounds just like everyone else... they just walked around like everyone else...

As opposed to... flying?

players going to the practice courts, walking around like they were just like any of us.

They're not?
Steroids, right?

note: Laura got to the round of 16 at Wimby this year beating Hingis.

She likely would have reached the final if she didn't smoke.

 

[jaggy]

Thread needs pics IMHO