I stayed up way too late watching the (Marin) Cilic- (Bernard) Tomic clash yesterday. What an effort from the 17 year-old Aussie who's being rightly hailed as the next big thing out here. Big is the right word - he's 6 ft 5 and has size 14 shoes. His tennis is a major talking point down under but an intriguing side issue is also gripping the nation - the Tomic-Hewitt "bitter feud".
There was even a mini programme on TV about it last night. Apparently it all started when Lleyton invited Bernard to practice with him several months ago and the young man (or his dad) declined. It has gathered pace since with Lleyton saying Tomic isn't ready to play Davis Cup. He may have changed his mind after last night’s performance.
I just grabbed a late breakfast in a coffee shop in the mall beside my hotel. They do great toasted banana bread and I decided to try the vitamin C mix juice after watching Daniel Nestor tucking into one yesterday. Orange, watermelon and grapefruit. "Good for the serve" apparently :)
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I bagged going in for the three women’s doubles matches featuring Laura (Robson), Bally (Elena Baltacha) and Sarah (Borwell), which were all on at 11am.and they all won! Awesome! Sorry girls but overdose of tennis and sun yesterday.
Unfortunately I didn't get a chance yesterday to watch Louk Sorenson the Irish qualifier who lost in round 2 to big John Isner - 55 aces in two matches – 6-3 7-6 7-5. Pity :( I'm told there was a huge Irish presence in the crowd - lots of green and white painted faces - and he got a standing ovation at the end. I know his dad Sean from umpteen years ago on the circuit and Tri Nations events. He's now the Ireland Davis Cup coach but went to Germany as a club pro in his twenties and raised his family there, so no surprise to hear that Louk speaks with a German accent!
A great boost for Irish tennis since Connor Niland made the last round qualification too. Ireland is a potential Davis Cup opponent for GB this year so that could be very interesting! John Lloyd was grinding it out in the heat yesterday checking out the British doubles guys and must have been impressed with Fleming/ Skupski. However it’s the singles picks that will be crucial if we are to beat Lithuania in March.
I read the local papers while struggling to finish the vitamin C mix and loving all the gossip columns. Did you know that Jelena Jankovic is starring in a TV ad in Serbia for Orbit gum? It seems perfect for her and her super white teeth. Taylor Dent’s wife is due to give birth next week and Svetlana Kusnetsova’s favourite movie is Love Actually.
After catching up on the latest from the papers I went out and watched Andy practice at lunchtime, although they spent half the time playing tennis footy. Ross (Hutchins) made up the four (with Jez and Miles) and gave a woeful performance to claim the forfeit - doing Stepanek’s worm dance in front of sizeable crowd. He disappeared pretty quickly after that!
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I didn't watch any matches today and instead hit the shops later in the afternoon. I managed to find a cracking Oz designer shop called Sass and Bide on Chapel St. Serena Williams found it too. According to one of the assistants, she bought "an extremely short mini skirt and a very cagey vest top". Needless to say, I didn't.
Heading out for dinner tonight with Louis Cayer to The Botanical, one of my favourite Melbourne Restaurants. They do great fish.
G’day guys!
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