Steve Tignor of Tennis Magazine got to hit with Mac, Pete, Rafter, Agassi and Courier who was on hand as a sub if Pete couldn’t play (calf injury) and Tignor was doing surprisingly well with them. Very consistent, nice lefty forehand, working backhand. Courier joked that they found a new warm-up guy for the tour.
The first match is Rafter vs. Pete. After the first point, Rafter walks to the ad court to recieve and spots Fernando Verdasco in the front row in his line of vision and gives an acknowledgement of non verbal surprise like Hey hi how are you mate? Verdasco was there with a stunning petite Asian girl, he said later he was on holiday. Rafter is the coolest guy, you talk with him and he has a way of connecting with you like a regular guy, so engaging and funny and good spirited. The most humble superstar you will ever meet.
Mac’s intensity is a wonder to watch. He still wants to win so much. And he has a style which forces Agassi to go for his shots and if he misses, Mac knows how to keep the pressure on. Mac actually moved better than Agassi
who could have been stiff from flying in late.
Mac and Djokovic might be the two funniest guys in tennis history.
Verdasco gave Agassi a standing ovation and nice applause when he came to the court, introduced by MC Brett Haber. But Verdasco did not clap his hands for McEnroe who entered first.
Then when Haber introduced them both again during the warmups, he again clapped for Agassi but not McEnroe.
These were some of many observations on this wonderful night. Wish I could tell you more about what each player told me about Federer but gonna save those anecdotes for the book.
