Oct. 2007: Fan Of The Month

Congratulations to Shee Rae Wen, AndyRoddick.com’s October 2007 Fan of the Month. Shee Rae Wen wrote to us earlier this year, and her enthusiasm for tennis and Andy simply gripped us!

“The first time I noticed Andy was during Stella Artois in 2004. I wasn’t muchof a tennis fan then, as I was more into the NBA. However, that one Andy match(against Lleyton Hewitt in the semis) changed my entire attitude towardstennis, and sparked off my intense passion for and interest in this fiercelyengaging sport. Ever since, I have picked up tennis, and have been a tennisfanatic. More specifically, I have become a diehard Andy Roddick fan.

I started taping every single Andy appearance on television and began watchingand re-watching exciting Andy moments, both on and off the court. To date, Ihave two cardboards full of Andy tapes. I catch Andy matches live on televisionalmost every single time they are shown, even if it means having to wake upduring the wee hours of the night or during the break of dawn. To me, watching Andy live is the most exciting experience one can ever have!

This explains why,in 2005, I booked a flight to Shanghai, hoping to catch Andy play live in theyear end Shanghai masters cup. As the schedule of play was not available then,I purchased season tickets so as to ensure that I got to go to every single Andy match. I even booked a room at Hilton hotel, the official hotel for theMasters cup, so as to have a better chance to meet Andy in person. To mydismay, Andy pulled out due to injury, a week before the commence of thetournament. Although I was terribly disappointed and maybe even mad, as a result of this, I continued to watch and support Andy, and hope that, maybe someday, I would get another chance to meet him in person.

In 2006, I tried to make my way back to Shanghai to meet Andy, but because I had my major examinations to sit for in November that year, I could not do so.

Nevertheless, I persisted in watching and supporting Andy from home. Besides watching him on television, I also constantly look out for Andy appearances on magazines and books, and also posters of Andy in local sports stores. Moreover, every time Andy dons a new outfit, I’d go check them out inthe local sports stores and buy them, if I can. In addition, I spend hours on andyroddick.com, reading Andy articles and spending time in the forums. In support of Andy, I also seek to support his charitable foundation. I have several No Compromise bands that I have given out to friends; I have even sent a few to friends overseas, in an attempt to bring to them the joy and pride that I myself get from wearing Andy’s No Compromise bracelet.”

If you would like to be considered for the Fan of the Month award, or if you know someone else who deserves it, please send us an email along with a photo to fanmonth@andyroddick.com.