The Empress, Chinese restaurant at the Dusit Resort,
was the scene of a private cocktail party held last week in honour of the
for the tennis players, sponsors und organizers of the Volvo Women’s
Open.
Marion
Bartoli signs an autograph for Khun Sinee as Stephan Heintze looks on.
Most of the tennis stars were there, including Martina
Hingis, her Australian trainer Lisa Chaffey, Conchita Martinez, Vera
Zvonareva and Evgenia Linetskaya, amongst the many other guests and
friends.
Martina was wearing a stunning jeans-outfit, which
emphasised her beautiful figure and no one wondered why she was
immediately surrounded by a lot of people, waiting to have a chat with her
or to pose with her for a photograph.
Stephan
gets his special autograph from Vera Zvonareva.
Pattaya Mail/Pattaya Blatt was there as well. I
presented Martina with a special printout of the commemorative front page
of the Pattaya Blatt whilst an exact copy was autographed by Martina for
us to keep.
Sponsors received a warm words of gratitude delivered
by Robert Norman, president of Volvo-Car Thailand Ltd, Chaipak Siriwat
vice-president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand of course
Chatchawal Supachayanont the effervescent general manager of the Dusit
Resort. Stefan Heintze, resident manager and management team were also
thanked for arranging an outstanding party for our distinguished visitors.
Robert
Norman (right) President of Volvo Thailand, conversing with a party guest.
I had a chance to speak with Martina and learned quite
a bit about this charming lady.
Martina Hingis was actually born in Czechoslovakia and
migrated to Switzerland with her parents at the tender age of two.
Martina’s mother, Melanie Molitor, a famous tennis
player herself, started to train her little daughter when she was only
three years old. Of course this was the beginning a fantastic early
career, making Martina a tennis wonder-child. When she was thirteen, she
participated in international competitions and at sixteen she reached the
top of the tennis-world, earning the number one spot. But then
unfortunately, due to an injury Martina had to drop out of active sport.
Chatchawal
Suphachayanont and Jeffrey Rowe enjoying the party.
But this didn’t mean, that Martina gave up playing
tennis. After several years of not competing, she made a comeback to
active tennis in Pattaya, but unfortunately lost to Marlene Weingartner a
young German player.
Still, one has to admire Martina’s fairness. She was
offered to play the end game without qualifying, but she refused to do so.
She didn’t want to boast of being the superstar, but more so to be one
of the competitors and to impress the public with her skills.
Lisa
Chaffey in discussion with Chaipak Siriwat.
Martina’s mother owns and operates a tennis-academy
in Schindellegi near Zurich, and Martina quite frequently helps train the
130 tennis students.
Most of Martina’s time is now busy with demonstration
tennis games and a lot of advertising, under close supervision and
management of the young and pretty Lisa Chaffey.
Not
to miss out, Hans Spoerri, Area Manager of the Siam City Hotels &
Resorts, presents a bouquet of flowers to Martina, who in his own words
‘is such a lovely girl’
In her spare time, Martina loves to ride horses and is
the proud owner of a few steeds. She finds her peace and rest there
amongst those elegant creatures, refueling her energy and power in the
midst of nature.
It was a pleasure meeting Martina here in Pattaya again. Her natural
and refreshing manners show that even though she was a star in her very
young years, she is still a down-to-earth and sweet human being.
Conchita
Martinez, a person of beauty and confidence.
Martina,
signs the front page of the Pattaya Blatt and presents it to a proud Elfi
Seitz, the editor-in-chief as Chatchawal and Stefan beam with satisfaction
at the success of the Volvo Women’s Open 2005.
Outgoing
treasurer Kylie Grimmer, Joan Nygrin and Liz Shepard.
Middy
Campbell talks about his experiences in Phuket, helping to erect the first
shelter.
Dave
Doll presents Sriamporn (Jum) with her lucky draw prize.
Som
helps Middy and David Garred draw some prizes.
David
holds up the Pattaya Mail as Peter tells the audience exciting stories
that the three musketeers (Dave, Middy and Kevin) experienced at Kamala
Beach.
