My first tournament of 2013, and I will not be able to play many more this year, maybe none: the financial crisis has hit me as well, combined with some big unexpected costs.
On the positive side: I have now over 4000 viewers of my blog, how great is that?!
Thanks so very much everyone for reading, viewing, commenting and now up to 5000 !
Smashing Valentine is held in Geldrop for the last time this year.
I am playing in C-Singles and C-Mixed Doubles, with Godelinde of course.
As we were the only couple in D-Mixed Doubles, we could of course just have the trophy, but then again: it is nicer to compete, so for the first time, we will play in C.
The good thing, is that there are group stages, so we are playing at least 3 matches.
Also, please note all matches were played with a Super tie-break (up to 10) instead of a full 3rd set!
My first round C-Singles match was against experienced C player Roger from Germany.
In a long and tense match, I won! It was 4-6, 7-5 and then 14-12 in the Super tie-break, where we both had matchpoints. I played extremely well and focused, and I returned his hard service nearly every time.
There was still some success for gentleman Roger, as he reached the C Doubles final.
I had barely recovered from these efforts, and had to play my 2nd round match only 30 minutes after
this epic win! Another German player was my opponent, Frank. He was the nr 7 seed.
See? the ball hardly bounces on carpet:
Time to focus on our Mixed Doubles matches. Focus, I said! Godelinde...
This is more like it: discussing our tactics (yeah right!).
Our first group match was against Belgium "couple" Benoit & Marina.
It was probably the most tense and exciting match of the whole tournament, and one of the longest!
We were 1-5 behind in the 1st set, but still won it in the tie-break, which was 7-5. The second set was also close, but we lost 5-7. Then sadly, we lost 6-10 in the Super tie-break, but only on their 4th matchpoint. This match lasted 2 and a half hours!
This time, plenty of rest as we had to wait 6 hours to play our second match. That was against fellow Dutchmen Reno & Wanya. It was another 2 hour thriller:
We lost the 1st set 2-6 but deservedly won the 2nd in 7-5, after we were leading 3-0 and let them come back to 5-5. So, again a deciding Super tie-break: at 9-8 we had a matchpoint, but after some quality points by Wanya, we lost 9-11.
Our 3rd and last group match was very early on Saturday morning, and our opponents were the nr 1 seeds Heike (Germany) & Mikhail (Russia). They proved to be worthy nr 1's, as we lost 1-6, 2-6. But Godelinde & I both felt that this was our best match.
No surprise that Heike & Mikhail went on to win the C Mixed Doubles: 6-4, 6-0 was the score in the final.
All matches finished: party time! They even laid out the red carpet for us:
On Finals Sunday, Godelinde and her C Womens Doubles partner Sarah, won the title, under the watchful eye of my brother Wilbert, Firman and me:
The trophy ceremony:
After hard work, this was thoroughly deserved:
Oh look who was caught writing up his blog! Thanks Lachlan:
O yes, then there was the raffle for charity: at least I won something:
Then it was "Time tooooo, say goodbye..."
These are the results for the C, Singles and Mixed Doubles:
http://glta.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draw.aspx?id=F058E23F-527C-47D9-9368-E7398965C231&draw=4
http://glta.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draw.aspx?id=F058E23F-527C-47D9-9368-E7398965C231&draw=50
And this is an overview of my matches:
http://glta.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/player.aspx?id=F058E23F-527C-47D9-9368-E7398965C231&player=12
I should have done it with the microphone on the red carpet, but I would still like to thank all who have made this tournament an enjoyable experience: especially my mum for the support, my brother Wilbert for the driving, Christian for your support and phone camera use, Martina and Godelinde for being such great roomies and Godelinde separately for being the perfect partner, in mixed doubles!!!
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