What an extraordinary day!

 

In a day of incredible events, the image that will be etched on minds of many tens of spectators, will be when George Barth got out his pneumatic drill, and dug up the hallowed Senegal F1 Centre Court, so that he could take home a piece of his treasured hard court home with him.
But, who could deny this great man a memento of what has become his second home over the years.

But first on Centre Court today, was the number one seed Komlavi Loglo, looking as majestic as ever as he strode on in his cream dinner jacket and tie.  Though his opponent, Maxine Bonami, put up a creditable fight, Loglo was always in control, cruising to a 7-6(2) 6-4 victory.

Second on, was Senegal’s bright new hope, Cheikh Salif Kante playing Gert Briton’s Amadeus Fulford-Jones.  This match was only ever going to go one way, after Kante forgot his PE kit, and forced to play in just his vest and pants.  He still has much to learn.  In his post-match interview Kante commented, “I’ve still got much to learn”.
Fulford-Jones won 6-1 6-2.

So then Barth arrived on court to a deafening clap.  But sadly for Barth and his supporters (including the 7 times women’s Senegal F1 champion, Ingrid Steffason), he never got into the match, disappointingly losing to Roberto Lopez-Sanchez 6-1 6-2. Barth's only comment was, "Should've worn the duck suit again".

Then, it was that time of the year again, the rollercoaster ride that is Ndiaye-mania.  The crowd were up for this, but Daouda Ndiaye got off to his, what seems, traditional bad start, losing the first set 6-2 to his Israeli opponent Yoav Schab.  But, then things changed he started playing unbelievable tennis, he led 5-0 in the second set. But just as things were looking bright for the Senegali, he was lobbed, Ndiaye scampered back to almost reach the shot when suddenly his foot disappeared…

He’d fallen down Barth’s hole, Senegal hopes sunk with it.  He could hardly walk, but struggled on, but there was no chance, he lost 7 straight games and the match.

All Senegali hope gone on the first day.

The head of the STA, Welgreen Nir, called for radical organisational changes, and duly sacked himself.

A few minutes later, the new head of the STA, the Western Samoan, Bruce Woolagaroo, had already called a press conference.  “Money’s no issue,” he said, “we need Aaron Krickstein.  Only Krickstein can save Senegali tennis now.”  Then promptly sacked all the ballboys and ballgirls.

As I said, an extraordinary day.

-- Edited by Akhenaten at 23:41, 2006-09-14

He didn't

Thomas DROUET (MON) def. Amadeus FULFORD-JONES (GBR) 64 62

So another Senegal F1 over with respect to British interest in the singles, with just a single R2 performance as the peak of our achievement. The nation remains once more disappointed.

Doubles R1:
FULFORD-JONES (GBR) / JANSE VAN RENSBURG (RSA) def. MARK (ISR) / STEINBLATT (ISR) 63 64
DIANKOV (BUL) / LAALEJ (MAR) def. JOHNSTON (GBR) / MISHRA (IND) 64 61
EL ALAOUI (MAR) / IDMBAREK (MAR) defeated BLAKE (GBR) / HARFIELD (GBR)

Here's looking forward to the sequel: Senegal F2. Our life need not be empty for too long.

Another superbe offering Akhenaten, thank you, I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Senegal F1 Round up

Sadly, the curtain has fallen once again on the finest tournament of the year.

There were celebrations on the discovery of a new shining light of Senegali tennis, Kante.  The disappointment once again of the Senegali Statesman of Tennis, Ndiaye.

But, the tournament was once again dominated by that Togon master, Komlavi Loglo.  He more or less strolled into the final without losing a set, looking invincable.  Loglo's great strength is his versatility, both an adept volleyer, possessing some of the finest hands on tour, and an excellent baseliner, with the ability to dictate play with his precise groundstrokes.

But on reaching the final he faced the Ivory Coast's Valentin Sanon, 19 year old, with an incredibly pumped up upper torso, who's won Gabon F2 for the last 2 years, but has never made an impression on Senegal F1's surface until this year.

In an enthralling match, Loglo showed he's a class above the rest with a 61 16 61 victory.  But he's certainly found himself a rival for many years to come.

So comes the end of yet another incredible Senegal F1, now only memories remain.  Memories like the corners of my mind.  Misty watercolor memories....



(sorry to making some of that up, Sanon is actually 26, but I'm sure you'll find the rest undeniably true)