“I was there when…”

Thanks to everyone who has written in to us sharing your stories from Dubai where Andy captured his second title of the year.

First up, we’ll feature Jell Pring’s report.

“I was there at the Dubai open 2008. It was my first time to watch a professional tennis match live. Naturally, I was excited and really over the moon happy when I got there. The day itself was amazing. My palms were sweating out of the excitement of the possibility of meeting Andy up close. Maybe shaking his hand.

The moment he stepped on the court my composure and poise were gone out the window. I started screaming “Let’s go ANDY!!!” on the top of my lungs. Three other teenage girls were screaming with me. I didn’t know them but we were like kindred spirits who gathered that day to support our “love”. He played amazing, ace after ace after forehand and backhand. He was his usual funny self. Muttering some jokes in between points. Ferrero was just hopeless that day. Everyone loved Andy, the people seated behind me where Nadal fans were automatically converted to Andy fans. The tentative crowd at the beginning went wild for him in the end.

He was so gracious with the fans. He took time to write some autographs. His smile was simply amazing.

The best part of this story is not even the day itself. It was how I got there that I must share with everyone. I really must. So here goes:

In January of this year, I was asked by an uncle to apply for a job in Dubai. I refused at first because I had a pretty good job in the Philippines. But my uncle insisted that even if my job in Dubai can be considered “lower”, it would open many windows of opportunity for me. I considered it for a month before I finally decided. I was accepted as a sales personnel and on the 9th of February I arrived in Dubai. I have to admit that one of the factors that made me come here was the Dubai Tennis Championship. When I got here I went asking were the Stadium was. I took me a two weeks to finally find time to go there. And when I got there all the tickets were already sold. I was sadden but I told my self that next year may be the year.

Then on one fateful day, there was this loud but funny guy buying a mobile phone our counter. He wanted to know what the difference between a camera with a megapixel and a VGA one. The salesman explain the technical part of it. But the big guy said to explain in simple terms, so I butted in. I said “in a VGA a camera, if you take my picture I won’t be so beautiful, but on a megapixel one I’d be more beautiful”. He laughed along with his friends. And he said it was the best explanation ever. Then I noticed that two of them were wearing the ID for the Dubai open. So, naturally I was curious and since I got their attention already I asked about it. Turned out that the rowdy guy was a linesman, the other an umpire and the other two were part of the organizing committee. They were pleased that a lady like me was a tennis fan. They gave me their number and told me to contact them before the matches so they could get me in. they even told me that Andy’s game was on Tuesday.

And so I was able to watch Andy’s game on the second row. It was a dream come true. He was the eventual winner of the open and I think it was fate. I knew he would win. I felt it in my heart. This would be a good year for Andy, no let me change that, this would be a GREAT year. I was there.”

Don’t forget if you have seen Andy play this year, or if you went to see him at the Lacoste signing in New York, then we want to hear about it! The address is iwasthere@andyroddick.com.