This morning is an example of using your time in an effective way. I am actually waiting for my laundry to get dry, as I just put it in the dryer. Hopefully I can leave the hostel at 9 am, I'd like to have a short stroll over the Queen Victoria Market before going to the tennis again. I saw some nice things yesterday, and I still need to go present/souvenir hunting, so let's start today :)

You might have noticed that I am not writing a daily blog about the tennis, this is because I don't think everyone would be interested in what practices I am watching or what matches I am attending. Anyway, this is about day 4 and 5.

Day four didn't have much tennis for me, just another groundpass day, the only match I wanted to see with full attention was the doubles match of the two spanish teams against eachother. Sometimes the boys like to change from practice court, so we are all confused. I remember one day running around court 12, but no Feli on court 12, no the man decided to be on 16, which is on the other side of the park. Same once with Nico, disappearing in the nowhere.

This morning we got a surprise with the doubles practice, because the both teams shared the court with their warm up. I wonder if they knew already how it would go later, with the retirement. it was a bloody hot and boiling day, and this felt warmer than in Sydney the other day, because there was no breeze to cool us off. This is how it feels to get slowly toasted I think, really something I never felt at home. ;) But the practice was nice to watch, four spaniards on a court, what more can u wish for?

The only real match watched was this one set of the doubles, and unfortunately it went by too fast. Team Feli retired but then he talked a lot with Fernando. Wish I knew what about, but it was on the other side of the court. The others found a spot in the shade somewhere, to feed themselves and to drink. As for myself, I always find it very dificult when a certain someone is out of the tournament and you don't know if you get to see him again. So I went to see the rest of Marcels match, and cry in silence, didn't want to bother the others with this, as I am not sure if they will understand why it always hits so hard. Some things don't change I guess ;)

I left the tennis after Marcels match, but of course I was next morning back for day 5 in Melbourne. Another spanish doubles team were practicing early, so I don't see my bed much these days. Marc and Marcel were on court at 10.30 am, followed by Nico at 11 am. There must be something in the food in their hotel, they were all so smiley, especially Marc and Marcel. It's lovely to see so many smiles and Loretta got her pic with Marc, and so did I. There was this strange pic with Nico too, too much zoomed but the memory is nice. I asked him in spanish so he said yeah sure, and came over. Proud of myself haha, because somehow it's still scary :P

We saw Fernando on court too before heading to court 6 for a doubles match, Marc and Marcel as third seeds here in Melbourne. It's lovely to see good doubles match, I always love the action in those matches. They won in 2 sets and Marc surprised me by giving me his towel. So now I have an extra souvenir from Australia, a players towel, and earlier the morning I already got a tennisball. :)) Via some food we went to Hisense Arena to go to Fernando's match. I was feeling torn in two, I really would have loved to see the Almagro-Janowicz match too. I like the polish guy and still haven't seen him play here! Today he is in doubles against Fernando, so I will see him in the end, but a pity that in singles he won't be here, haha, oh don't get me wrong, i am glad Nico won, because now there's a chance I can at least see his fourth round match. ;)

Fernando gave us a long long match to sit in, going into 5 sets. It's such a pity that he got a warning for coaching, while all his father said was vamos. If you're a coach when you say vamos, then there are a LOT of coaches in the world these days! He seemed to have lost the concentration a bit and it was like he gave up during the match. It's so sad to sit in a stadium and cheer out loud and you see your supported player going down. :( Even though it's in 5, and even though I love 5 set matches, it's still sad.

Almost 4 hours we have been on Hisense arena in that match, everything was over on the outside courts already. No more reason to stay at the tournament, already before 8 pm I left the grounds.

Now it's saturdaymorning 8.42 am and I am all packed and done to leave soon again. Like I wrote in the beginning, first to Queen victoria Market and then try to be at the tennis at 10.30 am. I need to make a plan with the practice schedule, so I am outta here for now. Talk soon my friends!