Unfortunately, Pratty (Nicole Pratt) lost her match today, as did The Gooch (Chris Guccione), in five sets. I was able to watch both matches but couldn't make it out to see Wayne Arthurs win and continue to be the oldest player still going in the draw! What an effort! His next match is against my mixed doubles partner, Jonas Bjorkman; one of the best servers in the game of tennis opposing one of the best returners. I'm tipping each set will edge to a tie-break!
It's the day after I lost to Serena, and although I've had a chance to reflect upon it, I still feel an immense sense of disappointment considering it was mine for the taking and I had many opportunities in the match. More or less my mind is now focused on doubles and mixed, but it's impossible to forget about your singles, even if you want to. It's not unusual that many people want to say bad luck, and there's always the extra post-match advice which floods in to my coach and myself wondering why I didn't play more of this, or serve more of that, and just do this on certain points... I know people are trying to help, and I listen as much as I can, but to be honest sometimes I feel like putting my fingers in my ears to drown it all out. I know people are just trying to help which is why I always choose to listen and think a little about the messages they are trying to give me. It's the old 'two heads are better than one' but if I do my math correctly, my coach Killer and I equal two already!
I had a great practice with Bryanne today. I feel we are both sharp and fresh and ready to fire in the doubles tomorrow! I'm hearing whispers of unsettled weather for the next few days, but in keeping... I tried to tune out and think positively!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MARA SANTANGELO!
... and a big hello to my friends who are travelling around Europe reading my blog during fleeting visits to internet cafes they stumble across!!
I lost to Serena, 76(4) 63. A very disappointing match, considering I found myself in numerous favorable positions. In fact, I couldn't have asked for more chances. Serena is world class, no doubt about that, and the best players in the world produce when it's absolutely necessary, and Serena did that today. I believe three points decided my match today; in the whole scheme of things it isn't much, yet I still lost in straight sets. That's what separates the best players in the world. I'm never in a good mood after I lose, nor am I in a foul one. I'm a realist. I see the match as it was. In no way am I ever delusional, hence I feel like I can hold a pretty decent perspective of the way I played and the outcome. When I opened up my locker room door after my match there was an invitation posted on the inside of the door. It was to a barbecue my very good friend Nicole Pratt was having at her friend's house. That cheered me up! I didn't hesitate to pick up the phone immediately to let her know I'd love to be there. It turned out to be a great night, a lot of Aussies... and just as many Aussie red wines! It's very important to unwind from the stresses of that day!
Pratty plays first on at 11am tomorrow so we all left at a reasonable hour to allow her suffiecient rest to be in top form. I will be courtside egging her on! That will be followed by a practice with my best friend Bryanne Stewart; on the agenda will be lots of doubles drills to try and get as sharp as we can for our matches Friday. And last but not least I have a date tomorrow night; it may be Wimbledon but we all need to keep it real!
I'll be seeing you all tomorrow - be good, and go Pratty!!
De jó volt őt tegnap látni! Csak az első szettet láttam, akkor tök jól játszott, most meg látom, hogy kikapott :-( de legalább megszorongatta egy kicsit Szirénát, és párosban még javíthat.
Well, my day off didn't exactly turn out as planned! During my practice today I was feeling very average and a little crook. I did the best I could to get through it but headed home to my apartment to keep warm and get rid of my shivers! I'm feeling better tonight, nothing hot tea and a solid afternoon's sleep didn't cure. I need to be full of energy for my match against Serena Williams tomorrow.
Unfortunately, the shopping didn't happen today, but plenty more time for that, it's all about priorities! I did catch up with my high school mates with an early dinner tonight - that cheered me up. I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I play at 1pm on Court 1. I love being the first match of the day, knowing exactly what time I will play. It means I can schedule my day to the minute I walk on for my match, which is ideal. I view my match against Serena as a great opportunity. I will certainly be going for it. For some unknown reason this Wimbledon is the first Grand Slam I have ever looked at my draw past the first round. I thought I'd break tradition, why not?! I'm not a big one for superstition or luck, or for that matter having the same routine. Every day is a different one and I treat them like that. About the only thing I do the same way each day is brush my teeth! I am absolutely honest about that. A lot of players need to wear the same outfit, use the same racquet, eat at the same restaurant at the same table, have the same shower as the day before, and even walk to the courts on the same streets. Not me! All that is just too much to worry about as far as im concerned. I have a big match against one of the best players in the world to worry about, that's enough!
Now it's time to unwind and relax. I'll check e-mail, read the Australian papers online then head to bed. Of course, my evening would not be complete without chatting to my coach 'Killer' about tactics and my mentality for tomorrow's match. That will only take about five minutes, but I find it helps to think about it the night before; not too much, but have a clear picture of the way I'd like to play. Oh and did I mention I'll need to get on Facebook also to keep up with the latest on all my mates... priorities! Love it!
Now a year since coming back from an illness-induced hiatus, Alicia Molik has been enjoying an impressive rise back up the ranks in singles and doubles. Now, straight from the All-England Club and fresh from her second Grand Slam doubles title at Roland Garros, she adds blogging to her already-packed resumé. Enjoy the Wimbledon fortnight through the eyes of the Australian star in the latest Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Player Blog. -----
Monday, June 25, 2007
What a day! Dark from the onset, windy throughout, rainy for most of it, yet sunny just when we all thought it was time to abandon play and go home. For those of us who have played at SW19 before, a typical Wimbledon day! I was scheduled as the second match today after Tommy Haas, and by the time I took to the court it was around 6pm; lucky for me I only had to endure one rain delay, so a smooth day at the office. Some were not so fortunate, busily preparing and resting all day only to have their matches cancelled at the last minute. One of my good friends, Eleni Danilidou, must come back tomorrow to finish her match against Gisela Dulko. It's always difficult to rest when that's the circumstance; it's hard not to think about the match, but the mind must rest also! I believe Tim Henman had the toughest day. I was being driven home around 9pm listening live to Wimbledon radio at 5-5 in the fifth, and with Henman having a few match points play was abandoned on Centre Court due to darkness. I could not imagine being in that situation. Today I will be very eager to sneak onto Centre Court and watch the end of that match live!
For me it was great walking out on Court 3 today and seeing some familiar faces and voices. I have a few of my high school mates travelling around London so it was so nice to see them in the front row for my match. I had to smile at them a few times. I'll make sure they can come and watch my next match against Serena. Unfortunately, I couldn't catch up with them post-match as it was a little too late, but there's a lot of gossip I need to catch up on... However, Wimbledon is a long two weeks so I'm sure we will find quiet time one evening to share an Australian Shiraz somewhere up in Wimbledon village - I'll make sure of that!
And you may ask what does one do at Wimbledon on a day off like mine on Tuesday? Well, it's 4am first of all. I forgot to write this blog last night and I woke up in the middle of the night and realized it! I have a blanket wrapped around me in the lounge room of my apartment; as I write this, I'm in my pyjamas and looking forward to getting back to sleep! I'm a relatively early riser so my day off will start with walking down the street for a VERY strong coffee, and a read of the paper. The way I start any ordinary day. More than likely in the morning I will go to gym to loosen up, have a bit of a jog and do a few exercises. I have a practice court booked at 1pm at Wimbledon with my coach so I will only begin to walk down to the courts around an hour before that, to minimize time there; last thing I need is to hang around the courts all day again! Did I mention another coffee and maybe a bit of shopping yet? No doubt I will get in touch with one of my best friends, Bryanne Stewart, and try and co-ordinate a time to meet up with her in Wimbledon village to catch up and chill out, a large priority for me. As soon as practice is done I need to get away and forget Wimbledon is happening also, and with Bryanne that is always very easy... Of course, that is all weather permitting!
Seventeen seeds Alicia Molik and Mara Santangelo are the surprise winners of this year’s French Open. The Australian/Italian pairing had never previously won a doubles title, so their triumph in a Grand Slam is a great way to start their trophy collection.
Molik and Santangelo upset the second seeds Cara Black and Lisa Huber in the semi-final 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and overcame Katarina Srebotnik from Finland and Japan’s Ai Sugiyama in the final this evening, 7-6, 6-4 in 1hr 36mins.
Srebotnik and Sugiyama did well to reach the final themselves, defeating the No.1 seeds Lisa Raymond from the US and Australian Samantha Stosur in their semi-final 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Alicia Molik claims her second Grand Slam doubles title, after her win with Svetlana Kuznetsova at the 2005 Australian Open. What makes victory particularly sweet for her is the fact that she spent months out of the game due to an ear infection and has gradually been making her way back this year.
This is Santangelo’s first major title, but it is richly deserved on the back of successes in Rome alongside Nathalie Dechy, and Amelia Island, when she was associated with one of her opponents today, Katarina Srebotnik.
