Week 38 Futures F4 (10k) - Kefallonia, Greece

wolf · Tennis legend

RE: Week 38 Futures F4 (10k) - Kefallonia, Greece

Fitzy · Intermediate Club Player

Hi guys, well what a discusting day that was, on and off with the rain, we eventually got on about 3pm local time so two hours behind, on a court that turned out to be ice, because of the rain i didnt get to practise on it like i wanted in the morning to get used to it. As i had been on the other 3 courts, which are slow for the past 3 days.
Litterally was swinging with my eyes closed on most shots. Was 6-0 5-0 down and dug as deep as possible to get last two games! Didnt help that he was playing out of a tree and slapping winners all over the place, so i couldnt get a rythm if i wanted too0.
Given my situation finacially this is a severe kick in the balls, pritty down, just sorta of moping around here by myself, i have doubles i suppose.
But i messed up my entry thing i was supposed to be going to sweden for two weeks two 15's and i would have been one out of main, thus probably getting in, but i automatically put me in this as i was in main draw, which i didnt realised happend.
Struggled to get flights here and so im here till next tuesday, which i hate because i will just be thinking about how much of a muppet i feel.
Searios low. Its killing me how im not showing anything like my potential.

seagull · Hall of fame

Sorry to hear that thanks for updating us - at least you are giving it a go and really hope it goes for you.

Any reason why you didn't enter Greece next week..finances?

James · Satellite level

Unlucky Fitzy, keep your head up bud.. it's not the end of the world. The most useful thing you can do now is to list what went wrong for you and think of the next week as a perfect opportunity to work on any issues you think you had. Every player has his/her bad days but its good players that don't let it affect their confidence [regardless of how hard it is - and it can be tough... I know that even as merely a club player] and bounce straight back, trying hard to draw positives out of a disappointing situation.

Sorry about rambling on.. I thought I'd give you something to read seens as you've now got a lot of free time on your hands

-- Edited by James at 20:29, 2008-09-15

steven · Tennis legend

That really was a disgusting draw then - I didn't want to say that out loud and get you down if you read it, but having seen the dwarf Belgian's record, I thought I'd better hint to the regulars on here that it might be a tougher one than it looked. You can probably empathise with the 2nd qualifying seed in Limoges, Alize Lim, who must have been hopeful of a place in the main draw there only to draw that 'unknown' unranked player Laura Robson in QR2 - Lim got as many games as you did.

It does sound like everything conspired against you this time, but well done for avoiding the double bagel - it must take some character to keep fighting right to the end in a situation like that, lesser players would have tanked from a long way out.

At this level, so much depends on how lucky (or not) you are with your draws - all you can do is keep trying to improve and try not to let the bad losses get you down so that when you get handed a reasonable draw, you're ready and waiting to take advantage.

I reckon going to Greece was still a good bit of tournament picking, so don't beat yourself up about that, but the luck of the draw can make even the best plans go awry.

-- Edited by steven at 21:21, 2008-09-15

Drew · Sep 15, 2008

Fitzy wrote:

Hi guys, well what a discusting day that was, on and off with the rain, we eventually got on about 3pm local time so two hours behind, on a court that turned out to be ice, because of the rain i didnt get to practise on it like i wanted in the morning to get used to it. As i had been on the other 3 courts, which are slow for the past 3 days.
Litterally was swinging with my eyes closed on most shots. Was 6-0 5-0 down and dug as deep as possible to get last two games! Didnt help that he was playing out of a tree and slapping winners all over the place, so i couldnt get a rythm if i wanted too0.
Given my situation finacially this is a severe kick in the balls, pritty down, just sorta of moping around here by myself, i have doubles i suppose.
But i messed up my entry thing i was supposed to be going to sweden for two weeks two 15's and i would have been one out of main, thus probably getting in, but i automatically put me in this as i was in main draw, which i didnt realised happend.
Struggled to get flights here and so im here till next tuesday, which i hate because i will just be thinking about how much of a muppet i feel.
Searios low. Its killing me how im not showing anything like my potential.

Dont know really what to say to you young man....You obviously have talent and you have to keep that chin from telling you otherwise.

Sleep on it and see what tuesday brings. Go into the dubs swinging and see what comes off. Try and enjoy that...oh and make sure you get a tan eh !

All the best Fitzy.

daisy · County player

Bad Luck Fitzy.

Glad you came out with a couple of games in the 2nd set though.
Hope the doubles goes much better and perhaps you can get in some good hitting practice before you head out of there.

Take care....

-- Edited by daisy at 21:27, 2008-09-15

Fitzy · Intermediate Club Player

Cheers guys, just woke up and strolled over to the local net cafe and read your comments, made me feel a little better.
True it wasnt a good draw, but then i cant blame that, i should be able to beat someone of his quality even though the conditions and preperation wouldnt let me be how i wanted to be.
Its just frustration... and in reply, yeah im not doing the 2nd two weeks because of finance, though my one big trip this year will be pakistan again the same as last year, not because i think it will be weak, but because i know people over ther adn will be able to stay two weeks for free.
Also a good marker a year on to see how far i have come.

I will keep my chin up, i have talent i know that, but everyone is playing twice as many tournaments as me, so i dont have the match sharpness when i need it somtimes, and know what to do and when to do it.

Like it didnt help last week being 1 set all and 5-1 in the 3rd against smethurst and loosing.

I build my confidence up from a run of two or 3 tournaments then feel ready to go into a fourth of 5th at my best, but i never can because of the money.

Doubles later with a ****y greek, should be intresting given he can be unbilevable or rubbish. lol. The least i will come back with is a tan. lol

Doubles title now for me. . . . ? :P

Count Zero · Tennis legend

Well to me it sounds like you are a hard worker with your head screwed on and i'm sure if you keep persevering things will come good.

i can appreciate the frustration about not being able to prepare properly. i am sure that the level you play at if you step onto a match court and are trying to feel out the speed etc for the 1st time you can be down a few games before you even feel settled.

i remeber a quote BG said about sometimes when luck is against you theres nothing you can do, but when she turns her head your way you have to be ready to grab it with both hands.

DJ · County player

There're are lots of us pulling quietly for you, Fitzy. The Brad quote relayed by the Count is a good one to remember when things go against you. Keep working at it - good luck!

wolf · Tennis legend

R1
BECEREN (TUR) / ERGUDEN (TUR) defeated FITZPATRICK (GBR) / LOUCAREAS (GRE) 6-4 7-6(3)

Count Zero · Tennis legend

:(

Akhenaten · Pro player

The guy Fitzy lost to, David Goffin, went on to the whole thing... easily. His other scorelines were...

2R 6-4 6-2
QF 6-3 6-1
SF 6-1 6-2
Final 6-1 6-2

Sean Thornley now got him in Round 2 this week.

steven · Tennis legend

Rubbish draw of the year for a Brit then? I guess drawing Machado in Portugal was equally bad, and quite a few Brits did that.