First year mingles with top tennis stars

By UKJournalism

First year BA (Hons) Journalism student Sam Brydges rubbed shoulders with the biggest stars in world tennis at the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California.

The all-inclusive trip with full behind-the-scenes media access was his prize for landing the 2005 Daily Telegraph Sports Writer Award, after entering a 150-word piece about his sporting hero, Oldham Athletic footballer David Eyres.

Sam spent four nights at one of the official tournament hotels, sat in the official press seating area at all matches and had the chance to interview the top players.

"The trip was fantastic," he said. "It was really just four days of virtually solid tennis. I would spend everyday from nine in the morning to about half ten at night down at the site in and around the media area.

Scorching

"The weather was scorching. I think one day it did actually get to 100 degrees. Luckily the press box in the main stadium was sheltered and air conditioned but if you wanted to sample some of the other games you had to sit directly in the sun.

"I got full use of all the press facilities and was able to go virtually anywhere around the whole site. Plus all of the players and press shared a canteen so it was a case of star spotting at meal times."

And meal times were not the only opportunities for Sam to mingle with the cream of the tennis world: "I got to go to a few press conferences which were a great experience," he said.

"The best one was for a charity exhibition match that was played during the tournament, where Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick and Tim Henman were all available to the press for questions.

Chatting

"I also got chatting to a couple of the coaches down there and one bloke took me down to the practice courts to check out his players, the Blake twins."

Sam also shook hands with the tournamentís eventual winner and world number one Roger Federer. "My hotel was 5-star and was used by some of the players, including Federer," he said. "I got to meet him when I shared the same car as one of his family members back to the airport in L.A.

"All in all it was an amazing trip. It was just a shame I couldnít have stayed longer as there was so much to do and no time. Id love to go back to California and do the whole 'tourist' thing properly."

More info:
BA (Hons) Journalism >

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The Hitchhikers Guide to being a good writer >
California Dreams for Sports Award winner >
BBC's Lawro signs up for student paper >
Katyís back in the England frame >

See also:
Daily Telegraph online >
Pacific Life Open >
Indian Wells >

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