Thursday: MAC's Day Two Report!!!

OK - here we go for day two.

Couldn't top yesterday I'm afraid. As it is we're beginning to feel a bit like stalkers.

After the usual unscheduled tour of Monte Carlo looking for a car park we got to the tournie just after the start of the Ferrero Ferrer match.

Took our seats and settled in to watch some tennis.

You know how just sometimes you turn round at just the right time? Clearly my Rafa radar is working really well because I just happened to glance up to my right to the members' seats as this tall figure came in and sat down next to Feliciano Lopez. He didn't stay all that long - just enough for us to take a few candid photos. Very good to see him in there to support the Spaniards and fun to watch him and Feli discussing the play and clearly giving advice to the players.

He got up and walked out carrying his bag of rackets which rather implied that he just might be heading off to the practice courts.

We debated whether to watch the end of the match before going to look - lucky we didn't as it was pretty much a repeat of yesterday's Coria macth where you think it's all over but there's actually another hour and a half to go!

Followed the eccentric signposting system to the practice courts but there was no sign of Rafa. Hung around a bit watching Gaudio and then decided to give up and go back to tennis. On the way we were distracted by seeing Coria practising. Stayed a bit and then the radar kicked in. turned to my left and there was Rafa coming up the steps.

Funnily enough the appeal of the Ljubicic match kinda went out the window at this point so we got ourselves a decent vantage point for the practising.

I kept trying to send out telepathic messages about how hot it was and how heavy t-shirts get when wet with sweat but he still never took it off. Rats - a failure!

Decided not to stay and stalk him off the court - that restraining order is beginning to look like a possibility if we're not careful. I have been trying to make Spanish Eyes wear beige so she blends in a bit more.

Oh and of course, we watched him play as well. Managed to catch both shirt changes on camera but until I get around to loading them onto the laptop I won't really know how successful they are.

After he came off we watched him go up the steps. For the first time since we've been there we saw him with a couple of members of the opposite sex. Opposite to him that is. He seemed very affectionate with both of them making those sort of fond gestures you only make to people with whom you are very close. However, since it was his mother and sister I don't think there's anything for the gf thread yet.

We were going to get back nice and early tonight but decided to go and watch Coria/Keifer to assess tomorrow's opposition.

How bizarre was that match? We reckon that as long as Rafa holds serve tomorrow he'll be home free. It was like school tennis where the player who held serve was always the winner. And what's with Coria's superhero shirt? It looks like his mum thought "Oh, Guillermo's top is much too boring I'll put this nice shiny tape on it as a surprise for him." He clearly didn't want to hurt her feelings so embarrassing though it is he wears it with pride.

Reading back through some of the posts in this thread I see that what Rafa smells like is a hot topic.

I really, really wish I could tell you. We were so overcome yesterday that we totally forgot to breathe in through our noses. All I can say with confidence is that he doesn't smell strongly of anything. Wasn't aware of any smell - certainly not sweaty Majorcan teenage boy.

Have to say as well that we both concur with Lopaka's observation after Indian Wells that when you se him in the flesh you are so aware that he really is special. He just exhudes charisma on and off court and he has such presence. I was fully expecting to find he seemed much younger in real life - but he looks exactly like the pictures. His skin is that smooth and brown. His eyes are that large and dark. He is all you expect him to be and more.

Oh and we must also thank Lopaka for procuring a small battleship for the Vamos Brigade. It's been moored out in the harbour here in Villefranche since we arrived. We assume the rest of you are on board just waiting for your instructions.

Hopefully I can start uploading pics tomorrow - assuming the whole getting laptop connected in hotel thing works. Otherwise I'm afraid it'll be back to the text message updates.

Great though it would be to pass on telephone numbers, goodwill messages and instructions for VR acknowledgement on the camera lens I fear you may be overestimating our powers.

Thanks for reading!

MAC