[Marine]

Salut à tous,

Je profite d'un petit répit après l'entraînement pour vous donner de mes nouvelles. Je m'entraîne depuis deux jours avec mon nouveau coach, Olivier Soulès, ça se passe super bien. On a commencé dimanche à travailler ensemble à Roland-Garros avant de s'envoler mercredi vers l'Inde.

Car c'est à Chennai que je vais commencer ma saison. J'aurais préféré jouer à Adelaïde mais je ne suis pas entré dans le tableau. Tant pis! Si je joue bien à Chennai, ensuite j'irais directement à Melbourne pour préparer l'Open d'Australie. Sinon, je jouerai les qualifs de Sydney.

Je suis très satisfait de ma préparation. Pendant six semaines, j'estime avoir fait du bon boulot aussi bien sur le plan physique qu'au niveau tennis. Au passage, je voudrais remercier Eric Deblicker qui m'a bien aidé pendant cette période et avec qui j'ai bien travaillé. Je vais pouvoir commencer la saison dans les meilleures dispositions. Sans souci physique, avec un nouveau coach et avec le sentiment d'avoir mis toutes les chances de mon côté. J'ai hâte de commencer. Je suis fin prêt.

J'ai passé Noël en famille à Strasbourg. C'était très agréable. Je souhaite à tout le monde de très bonnes fêtes. Je remercie tous ceux et toutes celles qui me soutiennent à travers leurs courriers, leurs messages d'encouragement. Je suis désolé de ne pas disposer d'assez de temps pour vous répondre. Merci encore et à bientôt.

Paul-Henri

(I'm going to translate...)

[Marine]

Hi everybody,

I take a bit of a respite after my training, to five of my news.
I practice for2 days with my new coach, Olivier Soulès, in RG. We have begun to work on sunday, and we go bound for India on wednesday.
I strat my season in Chennai. I would have prefered playing in Adelaide, but I was not qualified in the draw. Never mind !
If I Play well in Chennai, I'll go directly to Melbourne. Otherwise, I'll play quafifs in Sydney.
I'm very satisfied of my preparation. During 6 weeks, I think I worked a lot, and well, as well in tennis as physically.
I 'd like to thank Erick Deblicker, who helped me a lot duing this period. I'm going to start the new year in the best conditions: without injury, and with a coach. I'm aeger to play, I'm ready.
I was n Strasbourn in my family for CHristmas, it was great.
I send you my best wishes for ths new year.
Thanks for ur letters, ur support. I'm sorry not having enough time to answer.

thank you again, bye for now !

Paulo

[Via]

marine, let me know in case paulo will be playing qualies in sydney !!!

[Marine]

Ohh !!! You could take pics, it's for this reason you want to know ??
YOu're a good girl, Via !!

[lizabeth..*]

*grumbles*

RICHARD AND PAULO.....and I won't get to see either of them.....*fuming* unless....unless I beg my friend to let me go on the Saturday

[Via]

i can't take any pics during the qualies.... i will be working on the courts. but i will try to swap (yes... ) to get to do the matches i want. last year i asked for and got arnaud di pasquale's match, and people still remember me for that after almost a year.... *embarrassed*

[esther]

MARINE!! this is where we were meant to put that Arnaud photo!! loool *missed opportunity*

[michelleg]

Awww, Via, there are some of us out there who will be eternally grateful for your sacrifice!

(Like me. That pic of him you took is MAGNIFIQUE!)

How can I ever repay you???

[Via]

lol... michelle, i didn't mean you should remember me. I meant my fellow workers who are still teasing me about it now. they thought i was a desperate Dip fan. (i even volunteered to carry his nameplate) i reckon i shouldn't try too hard to explain that little misunderstanding...

looks like Dip will still be out for a while? i haven't heard.

[lizabeth..*]

Via...Just to let you know I added a link to your site on me Richie site.....I don't know why I hadn't done it earlier *feels bad* BUT ITS THERE NOW!! Thats the main point, lol.

[michelleg]

Via, according to the l'academie site, Dip is aiming for a return to the tour Estoril/Houston. (Secretly hoping here he comes to Houston since the padres live there...) However, that could change as his training ensues.

Ahh and don't take the ribbing too seriously. He's well worth the hassle!

P.S. Happy New Year (US Eastern) to all. Just got back from our First Night block party (read parents with kids having a party in the neighborhood for safety's sake) and want to wish all of the lovely Francophiles a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year. Allez Les Bleus!

[Via]

hehe... liz, i feel flattered being listed alongside all those great tennis sites. thanks!!!

and yeah michelle, at least Dip is a presentable fella! hope you'll get him in houston!

[Via]

liz... just to let you know that your richard site is now listed on my 'world of tennis' too!