Wednesday, July 4, 2007

 

 

Jonas Bjorkman, my mixed doubles partner, what a legend! It's nearing 7:30pm and Jonas has his fourth round singles match the next day, yet he is working his butt off to win this first round mixed doubles match with me. If anyone wanted a fine example of a true competitor and heart, Jonas is your man. To be honest, his fighting spirit and eagerness to win any tennis match and put himself on the line is truly commendable. A lot of youngsters should take a page out of his book, because I certainly have. It would be very easy for him just to be going through the motions just to get mixed over and done with, yet unlike a lot of the guys, Jonas treats every match like it's his last, which is amazing to see and experience on the court with him. I felt pressure in the mixed doubles; I didn't start very well at all. In my mind I kept thinking the last thing in the world Jonas wanted to be doing right now was to be playing in a three set mixed match right before his singles tomorrow... and wasn't I wrong! We are through to the next round and play Thursday after his singles match, which I'll be keeping a close eye on.

 

This evening, Pratty (Nicole Pratt) invited me over for a July 4th dinner. She's staying with a lovely American family, hence the celebration of this day. Although I arrived slightly late, I made it just in time for the backyard fireworks. There were plenty of little kids around. I was chief sparkler twirler and they were following. I played some soccer with a few four-year-olds, scored a couple of goals too! So that's the type of thing a professional tennis player gets up to! That's what I miss the most, the normal, ordinary things - dinner at a friend's house, being in a comfortable space like home, your own couch, walking down the street for a morning coffee and stopping to chat on the way to one of your neighbours who are gardening out the front. My neighbours back home are two of the people I miss most; they are like parents to me, I always drop in to say hi, have a cup of tea or fill them in on what's been happening in my life. If I can describe it a little better, as a tennis player and traveling the circuit, what I miss most is normality, and I embrace it. It's very easy to get caught up in the bubble as there's a whole other world out there, a real one.

 

See you tomorrow... fire up Jonas!!!

 

 

Alicia Molik

 

 

-----