Wednesday 4th April 2013
It was a very positive day for Alex today as he progressed through to his first ever ITF semi-final while on the other hand it was bitter disappointment for the girls as they lost an extremely close third set tie-break in their doubles.
As both doubles matches were scheduled for later in the day we had breakfast at 8am and then went into Oistins to stock up on some supplies at the supermarket. We were back at the hotel just after 9am and the plan was to warm up at 9.30am and then train on the hotel court at 10am, but the weather had other ideas! A big storm came over us at bang on 9.30am but as we’re in Barbados it didn’t last long and by 10am we were back out warming up.
Even though Mia, Georgie and Alex had to all share a half court with 2 Americans, they had a good 40 minutes warming up and then we finished the session with some doubles specific work to get them all closing in an dominating the net. We were finished by just after 11am and then it was back to the hotel for a very quick shower and change before getting the bus at 11.30am.
For the next 5 hours there wasn’t much to do apart from sit and wait for some long matches to finish but the players managed to keep themselves occupied with either school work, reading or Subway Surfers!!
At 5.15pm Alex went on for his ¼ final with Christian to play Simon D’Alfono from America and Jorge Vargas from Columbia. The first set was very close with both pairs playing well on their own service games and it went with serve until 4-3* when Alex and Christian got a vital break. Christian then went on to make 6 out of 6 first serves in the next game to hold serve and take the set 6-3.
When Alex and Christian took a 2-0 lead in the second set it looked as if their opponents were defeated but a poor service game and some poor shot selections when Christian was serving at *3-2 gave that break up. Both boys had been moving well at the net in the first set but they had become a little static in the second set which allowed their opponent to relax more. That changed at 4-4* when both Alex and Christian were a lot more active and that resulted in them getting the break that they needed. Alex continued to move well and finish volleys in the next game while Christian was serving, which helped them hold serve and take the match 6-3, 6-4. Another good performance from both players and on to the semi-finals tomorrow!!
Mia and Georgie went straight on court following Alex’s match to face Abigail Altick and Jenna Friedel from America. Both girls started well; they were very sharp at the net and even though they went *0-2 down they were definitely playing the better doubles. Mia and Georgie fought hard and continued to dominate the net which saw they win 5 out of the next 6 games to take a *5-3 lead. Mia then served for the set and despite being broken both girls stayed positive and broke back in the next game to take the set 6-4.
The performance in the first set had been of a high quality and it was almost like déjà vu in the second set as the girls once again went from *0-2 down to 4-3* up. Both girls were still playing well but some negative responses in the next game caused them to lose concentration and after Georgie was broken at *4-4 the Americans took advantage to hold serve and take the set 6-4.
The third set match tie-break was extremely close and very nerve-wracking, especially for the spectators! Mia and Georgie got a break through at 3-3* and won the next three points but the Americans kept their focus and fought hard. Our girls continued to play positive doubles and take control of the points which saw them take a 8-6 lead. Mia then served at *8-7 but both points went against them to give the Americans match point at 8-9*. The Americans couldn’t convert that chance and our girls won the next two points to take a 10-9 lead with Georgie serving. The Americans then played a good point to level the scores at *10-10. The next point was very close with both pairs playing well but after a long rally Mia had an easy smash on top of the net but she went to hit it much too hard and the ball sailed straight into the back fence! That point was always going to be difficult to recover from and, with more of a spring in their step, the Americans took the next point to win the match 4-6, 6-4, 12-10.
Both girls were bitterly disappointed with the result and even though there were so many positives to take from the match it was understandably difficult for them to see past the result.
By the time the girls had finished it was just after 8pm so they cooled down and stretched out before we got a taxi straight to Mamma Mia’s for dinner.
Schedule for tomorrow:
(1) Charlie Ridout (GBR) & Robbie Ridout (GBR) vs Alex Hagon (GBR) & Christian Haushammer (USA) – 3rd match after 9am (not before 11am)
