I have posted in a couple of other threads about some of my experiences in Madrid, but there is one more I wanted to share. It doesn't relate to any GB players so I thought here was the most appropriate place.
Much as I enjoyed being on the centre court with Nole, Muzza, Rafa et al, I also enjoyed wandering the outside courts for some of the doubles or even just watching the players training.
Between two lines of end to end courts, there was a raised walkway that provided excellent viewing of all the outside courts. Each court had it's own seating, but I worked out that if I positioned myself on the walkway in the middle of one court, I could easily see three courts at once. On my last day, I found myself doing exactly that.
On the middle court of three was a junior match - not U18s but real "tiddlers". These two under twelves were giving it "what for" and playing their hearts out, lost in their own little competitive world. Now they always say that it is important to be able to maintain your concentration amid distraction but I wonder if two kids have ever played with such distractions as these two. Because on the court to my right and just a few yards away, Isner and Querrey were trying (and failing) to literally bash the Bryan brothers off the court, and on the court to my left, Federer was going through his morning workout, complete with his screaming fan base looking for an autograph.
Balls flew from one court to the other, often interrupting proceedings and yet these two lads ignored it all and played an awesome match, full of all the mannerisms and foibles of their heroes. We had the passionate celebrations after big points, the animated fist-pump, the line call queries, the code violation for slow play and even the tactical MTO for the player a break down in the 3rd set. What an experience it must have been for them. In the end, their match went 7-5 in the third.
