Yes - final night at the Ritz and it's scarily quiet. Only the Scots, the Spaniards and one Swiss rattling around the place but interestingly, 5 of the 8 singles finalists are among the 11players left here. I say that because the majority of the competitors were placed in hotels!
I can't wait to get home to a soft mattress, a proper pillow, a duvet and curtains on my windows! Not to mention my TV and last weeks episodes of River City and Apprentice even though I know the insignificant American woman went out.
There was a lot of Brit action today. Victories in the 12s girls' double's final for Freya Christie and Lana Rush (is she really under 12? She's bigger than me!). I thought they went out in yesterday's semi to the Italians but I was given bum info from the Italian coach or maybe it was just lost in translation. He made me laugh today when he was leaving and he came over and said "we are going to the airoport so I come to say hello". He meant goodbye!
Lila Simpson and Gabby Taylor took the 11s doubles title and picked up a DVD player for their efforts. Excess baggage here we come. I remember being at one of these events in France many years ago and one of our kids won a mountain bike! Try getting that home on EasyJet! The excess cost more than the bike.
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Ross Wilson and Vincent Gillespie (or Gillups as the ref called him) let slip a 6-3,4-2 40-30 lead in the 12s boys dubs final and went down 10-8 in the super tie-break. It was a cracking match but they will have learned not to back off when in a winning position. Don't be afraid to win! Go for it! More DVD players though.
So to the singles...Maia Lumsden beat Lila Simpson 6-2, 6-2 and will play Gabby Taylor in the final on Sundayl. Gabby beat local player Ines Voelker 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The French player went to bits after Gabby's mum requested a line judge on the baseline to call footfaults. It's true the girl was stepping into the court on serve and the umpire wasn't calling it but I wonder whether a 10 year old kid gets any advantage from a few extra inches?
She certainly wasn't aware she was doing it but when the linesperson started calling "faute de pied", her concentration and game fell apart. Kids that age rarely play with an umpire, never mind a footfault judge so it's perhaps not surprising that she started to struggle. Especially when there was a bit of a crowd and she probably was made to feel quite self conscious about it. I felt very sorry for her.
Marcus Walters lost the 11s boys semi to one of two impressive little Spaniards who will contest the final. Another Spaniard with a very long name that I can't possibly spell, beat Freya Christie 6-2, 6-1 in the last 4 of the 12s girls and will face Belinda Bencic for the title. That could be the match of the day for me.
An interesting snippet for you - a representative from FFT (French Tennis Federation) delivered a large batch of posters to the club during the week. They have been sitting on a table in the bar and the kids can help themselves. I don't think anyone has taken one. The posters are of French No.1 women's player Marion Bartoli who I first saw as a very skinny 12 year old at a Tennis Europe 14u event in Poitiers. Her opponent - Anne Keothavong!
According to one of the club members, youngsters don't identify with her. I wonder if that's because she is not one of the glamour girls of the Tour and has a very unique and unconventional style of play? She did after all make a Wimbledon final and has a very endearing personality. Image seems to be everything these days! Even for very young kids.
Last blog coming up Sunday pm :)