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Entry system ranking: 143 (282 points (-1)) Champions Race: 126 (7 points)(-3) Current tournament: Place: Monte Carlo, Monaco Next tournament:
Place: Munich, Germany
Date: April 29 - May 5, 2002 Draw Size: 32 Surface: Clay Prize Money: US $381,000 Stadium Court Seating: 3,800 Tournament Director: Rudi Berger Website: www.iphitos.de
Thanks Ivanna for the photo! (Norman in Bueno Aires)
Visit the Official Magnus Norman Websit for weekly letters!
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Hi, my name is Wincey, and I'm from Hong Kong.
I actually started to become a fan of Norman since the 2000 French Open final,
when he was against Guga. This wasn't such a long time ago, which was last
year. In that match, he saved 11 match points and that was unbelievable. I
remember watching this match live at home, and of course I wanted Norman to
win, although I didn't rilly know him. It was so exciting and I admit that
was the best tennis match I've watched ever in my life, and I guess I will
never forget it. Although all this sounds exaggeratung, it's TRUE. From then on, I fell in love with Norman and I decided to make a site dedicated to him. But I knew he had a lot of fans, and many websites. But I'm happy with this site, and I just hope lots of Norman fans can be able to see my work. Partly, I was also influenced by my friend, who made a site on the Russian rising star, Elena Dementieva. I guess she was the first ever person to make a site about her, and now her site is very popular with lots of people visiting. Now I'm a bit jealous, as mines is not as good as hers. Most of the webmasters of Norman sites have his autograph, and I don't seem to have one. He never came to Hong Kong to play, which I think it was a pity. Therefore, my wish is that Norman can come to Hong Kong. I helped out in last year's Salem Open, which was an ATP event in Hong Kong, and I was fortunate to see many world-class players like Guga, Phillipousis, Keifer, Lapentti, Henman and Rafter etc... At the end, it was Keifer who won the cup, and guess what I got as a souvenir? A plastic mug with Norman and other New Balls Please players on it. The two most memorable Norman matches was the one in the French open finals, and this years Australian Open 4th round, when he played Frenchmen Sebastien Grosjean. I watched this Live on tv in Hong Kong, and I recorded it on tape which I watched a few times later. Although he lost, I was totally attracted by his sportsmanship. I think he should receive a token of appreciation in this match, and even his opponent said that no one has ever done that. It was match point, and Grosjean served an ace. When they approched to shake hands, the umpire said it was a net, and the serve had to be re-served. However, Norman thought it was good and refused to play the re-serve. He had forfeited the point to his opponent. He was a set down, and the score could have changed if he chose to receive the serve. Although some people see him dumb, I really did apprecaite it and now I'm even more crazy about him. To be honest, I think he should have won the sportsmanship award this year, instead of Pat Rafter.
Well, I guess that's all I have to write about Norman. I will add some more comments if i can think of any.
Written on March 23rd 2001 |
Relationship with Martina Hingis: Like many of Norman fans, I disapprove Norman's relationship
with Hingis. I disliked Hingis ever since she won a grand slam. I think she's
absolutely opposite of Norman, in which she has no sportwomenship. I remember
when she played Graf in a grand slam final, Graf had to match points and Hingis
served. She actually served an under arm and Graf just couldn't return
serve.
I have never seen any players do that, and she did it a second time. The crowd
booed her so badly, and I guess she was very hurt. Although the two have broken
up now, I don't
even like Asa Johannson, his new girlfriend. . If you search for her in Yahoo, you can see photos of her, very
sexy indeed. Is she a nude star of something? very appalling I feel. Perhaps, Norman should remain single if he wants
to gain a higher ranking.