Tuesday 31st January 2012
Today was doubles day at the East African U18 Junior Circuit and a chance for Jack and Tom to get a main draw win under their belts while Mia had a rest day in singles but was still scheduled to play doubles last match on.
We decided to have an early start today so that we could have a break before lunch to try and buy some internet dongles before Jack went on for his doubles match. We’ve been without internet for 5 days and I think the players were starting to miss the outside world!!
After a light breakfast at 7am Jack, Tom and I warmed up at 7.30am before practising from 8 – 8.50am. Tom trained with his doubles partner while Jack and I worked on his doubles specifics which included his consistency from the back of the court as well as his movement forwards to finish off 1st volleys. While we were training Mia arrived to start her warm up and then we all left site to go to the Public Service Club at 8.50am so that we had a full hour from 9-10am. Mia and I mainly worked on her movement around the ball as she was setting up a little too early during her match yesterday and then moved on to her working on her front court game in preparation for her doubles. While we were doing that Jack and Tom hit a lot of serves and then finished with some doubles points in the half court.
After training we went back to the hotel and then walked the 20 minute journey into Nairobi city centre to go to the Orange shop to get us all connected to the internet. We would have come in earlier on the trip but the tournament kept on telling us that they would have internet at the club but after 5 days everyone had enough of waiting. We were soon all setup and on our way back to the club for some lunch.
Jack was first on just after 1pm and took to the court with Mateuzs Izycki from Poland to play Maxim Dmitriev from Russia and Palash Mishra from India. Jack and Mateuzs started very well and took a commanding 4-1 lead before a lapse of concentration cost them the next 3 games without them hardly winning a point. Jack then settled them both back down with a strong service game and then an easy break handed them the first set 6-4. In the second set they both raised their levels; Jack was much more commanding at the net and Mateuzs served much better as they stormed through to take the match 6-4, 6-1.
Just as that match finished Tom and Aakash Goyal from India were just about to play the first point of their match on the next court against Henry Ayesiga from Uganda and Shabani Kabura from Burundi. The boys started well and despite a few early breaks of serve they managed to hold, break and hold from 3-3 to take the opening set 6-3. It was a bit of a scrappy set where first serve percentages were a little low but both Tom and Aakash returned very well and were just more solid than their opponents. In the second set Tom and Aakash took their foot off the gas and allowed their opponents to build a bit of confidence. They were broken in the second game of the set and never recovered as they then lost 6 games in a row. By this stage the African pairing were really pumped up and hungry for the win whereas Tom and Aakash were struggling to get themselves going.
As the third set Match Tie-Break started it seemed to be heading the same way as the 2nd set but at 0-3* Tom and Aakash fought back and put more pressure on their opponents taking the next 4 points in a row. From then on it was neck and neck until Aakash missed a simple smash at 7-7 and then they didn’t win another point as they went down 3-6, 6-0, 10-7. It was a very disappointing loss especially as Tom and Aakash were in full control of the match after the first set but as always it’s a learning experience and hopefully Tom will use what he’s learnt this week in training for the next 4 days before he competes again on Sunday.
By this time it was around 4pm but Mia’s doubles partner had only just gone on for her singles match. Mia watched the first set while I went through Tom’s match with him but then just after 5pm the referee decided it was too later for Mia to play her doubles so it was postponed until tomorrow. That did us a bit of a favour as Mia’s knee had been a little sore all day so it gives her time to rest it before her singles match against the top seed tomorrow.
After showering and changing we walked down to the Fairview Hotel for a lovely dinner and met up with fellow Brit Mikey Puttick who had lost in the 2nd round of main draw today. As always the meal was great but half way through we were very rudely interrupted by a huge Cricket which flew in through the window and tried to take out Dawn and Mia (well . . . that’s how they reacted anyway!). Jack also got a little scared and almost ran out of the restaurant as; in his own words “it tried to get me too!”
After dinner I went through Tom and Mia’s singles with them from yesterday and then it was off to bed for the players for an early night as Jack looks to get his first ITF points tomorrow.
Schedule for tomorrow:
(1) Anastasia Shestakova (UKR) (368) vs Mia Smith (GBR) (1330) – 2nd match after 9.30am
Mateuzs Izycki (POL) & Jack Large (GBR) vs (7) Nimrod Berman (ISR) & A Vakouftsis (GRE) – 3rd match after 9.30am (not before 12pm)
Kasandra Kozub (POL) & Krystyna Shumlianska (UKR) vs Anastasjia Homutova (LAT) & Mia Smith (GBR) – TBC
