Have you ever had one of those days where everything has been a complete disaster - where something happened at the start of the day and things just snow balled after that? 

My journey to Hanover just about takes the biscuit. There were such a catalogue of disasters that I quite expected to turn a corner and find John Cleese (aka Basil Fawlty), Michael Crawford (aka Frank Spencer) and Ronan Atkinson (aka Mr Bean) orchestrating matters!  [Anyone who is has not been to England won't know who these people are - except they are very funny comedians who are constantly in strife!]

Although I was not there, I did manage to see Nico's opening match against Andre Agassi and wrote for my diary as follows.....

Red Group - Agassi vs Lapentti

Andre opened the tournament with a scintillating performance, which totally flatfooted Nicolas Lapentti. The Ecuadorian was probably quite in awe of the atmosphere and the whole set up surrounding the showbiz way that the players make their entrance. (Until you have been there, you don’t really realise just how intimidating it is for the players to have to walk through the fans and down those stairs in the spotlight. Prize fighters like Lewis and Holyfield are used to it but tennis players.....?)

Although their match in Hanover lasted less than one hour, Nico was giving as good as he got, and even found some angles and corners of the court that left Agassi looking bewildered and the crowd applauding and wanting more.

First of all the flight was delayed - my fault I suppose for choosing to go by "cheap" (£19 per flight) Easyjet. When there was no reason given for these delays my short fuse blew, and I let rip at the Easyjet staff at Luton. Then because the flight was late arriving into Schipol, I missed 2 trains before a third one was cancelled and I let rip again. I even contemplated turning round and going home and I don’t give up easily!

On arrival at Hanover station, getting some sense out of the non English speaking German rail officials made it impossible to get any comprehensive instructions to my accommodation. Eventually I resorted to saying "tennis" (thankfully the same in German as in English) and getting out a picture of Boris Becker! "Ah" he said "Das ATP?" "Ja" I said thankfully. From arm gestures, my school girl German (almost extinct now) and a map, I managed to ascertain that I could get to the Stadium (Messe) by tram. (Reminder for travel: It is always a good idea to have a picture of a country’s national hero when you travel abroad. You never know when you will need it!)

Found the right tram number, jumped on the first tram and just hoped it was heading in the right direction. It was and I arrived at Hanover Messegelande (not as impressive as it sounds) just 35 minutes before the match I really wanted to see - Nico vs Guga. Thankfully I had pre-arranged the collection of my ticket and walked straight in, very grateful to give up my trolley bag, umbrella and coat to the helpful cloakroom attendant - worth every penny (or pfennig) of 3 Deutsch Marks a day!

This was the match that the Latin American tennis fans had been waiting for. It could have been a cracker - bringing together two of the best clay court players in the world. Guga and Nico are old rivals from junior days and know each other’s games well. In younger days it was Nico who won more often than not, but their meetings on the main ATP Tour have had mixed results.

After their last meeting in Lyon, this match was a case of one player wanting revenge and the other being there in body (a very nice one I can tell you) and leaving his brain in the changing room! Nerves certainly played their part but it was Guga who settled first. With both of them being unlucky to be drawn with Pete and Andre, they were really fighting for 3rd and 4th places, and this was the one match that gave them a chance to show the crowd what they were made of. Nico had been hitting the ball well enough in practice and was looking forward to playing his friend and doubles partner, but as soon as he had stepped onto court, he took on the persona of a scared rabbit and ceased up. The match was again over far too quickly for my liking. The crowd tried to encourage both players to put on a "show", and time and again a Mexican wave travelled round the arena. Nico did produce some good shots but just not enough. Guga was in control and quite frankly played much better than many people expected, including myself, and won 6-1, 6-2.

After this I decided I had better find my accommodation. A very expensive taxi ride later when I ended up having to navigate, I eventually managed to get to bed, wondering whether my holiday would get better. Nico losing so quickly had been the final straw to the day, which had started with so much optimism.

Started the day at McDonalds. Isn’t it sod’s law - finally we find a tennis event in Europe where they have the foresight to arrange for a McDonalds to be placed opposite the entrance, (for anyone who has ever been to Wimbledon - it is just like having the golden arches plonked right in the middle of Aorangi Park!) and then the ATP World Championships are moving next year to another country!?! After a lovely caffeine intake as well as some more breakfast, ventured round to the VIP entrance gate. Did my usual befriending (chatting up) of the security guards and eventually managed to talk my way inside so I could watch the players arrive with the benefit of a roof over my head.... [Believe me it always pays to chat up the hired help!]

Saw 7 of the players arrive: - Agassi (with Steffi), Kafelnikov, Krajicek, Kiefer, Enqvist, Kuerten, Martin, but no Nico. Then watched Andre having his morning work out and practice session with Brad through before I decided that another coffee was called for before I went inside.

On being checked through the Airport style security gates, made my way into the exhibition area to find a computer to check on my emails and to update the website. Met another English fan there who was doing the same to her Andre Agassi webpage and we soon got talking - as you do! (Her "call sign" is Basil and for the purposes of this diary she will be referred to in that manner!)

There was some tennis going on that day but my concentration span for that was very short. The main aim for the day was to get to the player signing sessions and be best placed to take some photos. It is one of the really cool things about the World Championships that the ATP Tour get their stars to attend official signing sessions. Each day the two players who are not scheduled to play turn up, play with the kids and generally have fun with the help of the Smash Tennis characters, Tom, Jerry, Scooby, Fred Flintstone and friends!

Thursday was the turn of Pete Sampras and Nico. Pete went first and the clamour for the "mighty" Pete’s scrawl was so great that more attendants and "Lego" style barriers were brought in. I got out my faithful photo album and 2 "lovely" photos of Pete (one with the Queens trophy and the other with Tim from the final) which I presented for signature. The ATP staff tried to say only one or "ein", but Pete looked me straight in the eye (had a feeling that he might have recognised me from the summer) and signed both like a lamb - without a quibble! I said "thanks Pete" as I made to move away and he said something like "no problem - like signing photos like yours!", in his usual American mumble. Took some more pictures of the signing before Pete left and returned to the confines of his player suite - about the size of a "broom cupboard"!

Actually managed to catch a little tennis (Kafelnikov vs Enqvist - the early stages) before Basil and I adjourned to the practice courts because a source had revealed to me that Andre or Nico would come out to practice. …Some time later just as we started to think I had been given "duff info", Nico and his coach Pato turned up to have a good long work out before he went on "signing duty". With very few people there, he greeted me in a relaxed friendly fashion - much to the envy of the fans that had followed him over.

After pounding tennis balls for nearly an hour, everyone (by now the practice court was really crowded) rushed back over to the Smash Tennis area for the signing session. Having thought ahead, Basil had volunteered to go and get in the queue for me (bless her!) and this proved decisive as the queue was really long by the time I got there, and I slipped into place near the front!

Nico plus security guards turned up promptly and, having never really done anything like this before, he started to really enjoy himself mucking around with the kids and the Smash Tennis cartoon characters. However it was soon down to the business of signing autographs. Nico’s family came out to watch and record the event for the family album and when it came to my turn I did the 2 photos trick again, including one of the topless variety, and Nico laughed when he got to that one not at all embarassed, but then again he does know I have quite a collection of these!. Some time, and more than a camera film later (I hope you all like the pictures of Hanover on the photos page!), Nico had signed all the autographs he could (he did at least one for everyone who wanted one) and just for good measure I asked him if he would sign my Ecuador cap which he did whilst looking at it intently. [Made a mental note to try and swap it with him for one of his!]

By this time, Basil had left me to prepare for Andre’s match against Guga. Before I had a chance to join her, Nico’s Dad took me behind the scenes before the family went to support Guga. I was marched into the players’ inner sanctum area and I met the Ambassador to Germany who was very curious as to how and where I had got my Ecuador cap from. [It is not what you know but who you know!] Talk about seeing how the other half live!

Guga’s match against Andre was probably the best match of the day - not that I should really comment on that subject as I had not seen much! However, one thing that I could not get over was the fact that much of the crowd left before the end and they missed seeing Andre complete matters and collect his "Player of the Year" trophy. It seems that spectators in Hanover are far more bothered about getting into the coat queue and leaving the car park than getting their money’s worth from the tennis!

Just before I left, Nico’s Dad gave me 2 tickets for the next day and after arranging to meet up with them the following morning, went to find Basil to give her my spare ticket so that she could get in for Andre’s signing session.   Thankfully, Basil and her hubby gave me a lift back to my digs which saved another expensive taxi and also arranged to pick up me the next day. (For your information, "Mr Basil" sells Beanie Babies and the profits from this little enterprise allowed them to come to Hanover!)

Started the day at McDonalds again– not a surprise - to get the usual morning caffeine intake. We arrived quite late at the Messe area and didn’t have much time for a wander. It was too cold anyway to hang around outdoors.

After clearing "airport style" security ("have you got any glass bottles or cans" not "have you got guns and knives!") we raced over to the practice court which was just about the furthest point from the entrance, noticing on the way that Andre was due to start his signing at 1.45 pm and Guga at 6.45 pm. Nico was out practicing with the other Nicolas (Kiefer) and they both looked relaxed for their matches later in the day.

My antennae told me to send Basil off to get into the queue for Andre, even though there was still an hour to go, and it was a good job I did because she was by no means the first there. I said I would be along shortly. However, I never did get there…. Later I found out from Bas that she had classed me as "missing" when I didn’t turn up for the signing session but didn't worry too much about it, because she knew that even if I had been kidnapped by aliens, I would demand to be returned before Nico started his match !

What actually happened was this. As Nico finished practicing, his Dad turned up and asked me to go back to the Player’s Hotel with them. "Yeah sure" I said "lead the way" not sure if he actually meant it. He did mean it and shortly after I was sitting in the VIP transport and being whisked off to the Arabella Sheraton Hotel where, rather than trying to hide the fact that the players were staying there (aka British style), large banners pinpointed the place for everyone. There were even some autograph hunters standing outside who advanced as we got out of the car, not sure if they should ask for signatures or not!

The interior was amazing, all black and white marble and the soft "tinkling" music you get in top class hotels – I could get used to this! After introducing me to some more of the Lapentti clan, Mr L went upstairs to change. I must say for a family with such a star in their midst, they seemed so relaxed and friendly – as they have been all year.  I started to chat to Chino, who worked for South American TV and about 10 minutes later I noticed a scramble outside and realised Steffi and Andre had just arrived back. They soon sauntered into the hotel and away from the glare of the public limelight, it was obvious to the casual onlooker that they really care for one another.

Feeling guilty about Basil, I decided to join the officials and people in the bar indulging in the "autograph thing" with Andre, and got one of my topless variety of photos signed – his reaction was a picture (and Steffi was amused too!) It was great to be able to have the opportunity of speaking to players like Andre and Steffi when they are not surrounded by screaming fans and added to my memories of the year. Pete turned up shortly afterwards but he wasn’t so approachable although he stared at me enquiringly.

My reward for getting Basil her present came when Nico arrived back to relax before his match, and I spent a lovely hour or so with the family before we all disembarked back to the Messe – just in time to see Kiefer finish off Kafelnikov and top the White Group.

In true timing style, Nico and Pato came out to knock up again just as Basil and I got to the front of the drinks queue, so the Cokes which we were so desperate for were abandoned and it was a quick sprint back to the main court where Nico and Pato were hitting, whilst laughing at the fans gathering when word got round that he was there.   When they were finished, Nico chucked some of the tennis balls he had been using to the kids (he might just as well have signed them first because that was what he had to do next) before he raced away as quickly as he could up the stairs.

We were aware what would happen, so Bas and I had already raced up to the top of the stadium to the place where the players come in. Poor Basil nearly sent Sampras flying in her haste because he was just coming out to practice at that point! I asked Nico if he would like to swap my Ecuador cap for one of his (preferably the one he had been wearing) and he said "maybe later" with an amused glint in his eye.

Guga came out to do his signing shortly thereafter and we enjoyed ourselves watching his antics with the kids before he started to sign. However chaos reigned when loads of people pushed in and as we already had got Guga’s autograph earlier in the week, Bas and I went to get that Coke!

After Nico had run Pete ragged for nearly 2 hours, without a set to show for it, I did think he would be too depressed to remember to exchange caps, but he had! I managed to get myself to the walkway as he came off court and with security guards and TV camera crew in tow, he took his cap off, stopped, gave me his dripping sweaty cap, took mine and placed it on his head before walking on. The crowd just stared!

As we walked out of the arena, being some of the last to leave as usual, I was pounced on by an Ecuadorian TV crew trying to interview me about Nico and my website - not sure how this came out but no doubt I will hear when it is shown over there later.

After this, it was outside to see Nico and Pete do their press conferences and when Nico walked into the press room he still had my cap stuck on his head. He must have been asked where he had got it from because he looked out of the window at us (before the journalists turned and gaped too!)

While waiting for Nico to come out, Pete left but not before he came over to sign for the few fans left. Picture this. Bas and I standing there with the Ecuadorian flag and Nico’s cap (swapped under Pete’s nose) tied to the handle of my bag…. He looked me straight in the eye and said "good of you to wait in this freezing weather – was it you cheering for me?" Our response was "mmm… maybe!" looking straight back at him. (Having seen me at the hotel with the South Americans and me wearing the Ecuadorian cap earlier he must have known! I think it shows he has still got a sense of humour and he signed the rest of my Pete photos I had with me.)

With no sign of Nico leaving – he has often been the last person to leave as I learnt in Munich, it was back to waiting. Eventually we decided to adjourn to the players’ hotel where I knew the players’ party was taking place. It was a quick taxi dash into the city and I had to try the "tennis" and "spieler hotel" trick again to get the driver to understand.  By the time we arrived, the music had started and it was truly diabolical. Basil and I felt that with the amount of multi multi multi millionaires present, they could have afforded a better cabaret. Todd and Thomas were there but kept coming and going. We even considering calling out for a Pizza delivery to the Hotel courtyard to try and encourage the players to come out and have some photos with us. I suspect if we had done that, it would have gone down well.

By this time it was past midnight and as I had mentioned to Bas that it was my Birthday that day, she said I ought to try to celebrate it by having a photo with some of the players, and just to show her commitment she agreed to do the asking. (Not a big thing I hear you say but Bas in her own words "turns into a Dormouse" when subjected to a player in front of her – let alone if it was Andre!) However, having spent 2 days with me, my influence is obviously rubbing off and she did just that.

Thomas Enqvist’s coach and buddy must have overheard us plotting, because Thomas eventually came out looking sheepish and in need of some flattery, but we never got to him because Nico and his family arrived back just at that moment, together with Ecuador cap still in evidence, and Basil got to work and did her David Bailey impression, even went so far as to rearrange us because the lighting was all wrong. After this, had a chat with Nico about his 2000 tournament schedule before we exchanged Christmas greetings and he went to pack as they were flying out of Germany within hours.

By this point it was nearly 2 am and we adjourned back to Basil’s hotel where we had some lovely "British" PG Tips tea and some Cadbury’s cake before Mr and Mrs Basil gave me a lift to the train station for my trip home.

It was a strange Birthday as I celebrated it in 3 countries inside 8 hours but the holiday was one which I will never forget and plans have already been made for Lisbon next year.

*****

If you want to read Basil’s version of our adventures in Hanover, please go to the following web address…..www.sportfiles.com/agassi (for the main page) or http://www.sportfiles.com/agassi/hannover99.htm for Basil’s Hanover diary (she was there for the final!)