Warsaw 10k

I just got back from a week over in Poland. I played in a 10k that was held at the Legia Sports Complex. It was a nice site. It had two courts inside of a stadium, and they also had two rows of four courts in the back of the stadium and a stone’s throw from the Legia soccer stadium. I’ll have to admit that I was quite surprised. I have never been to Poland so I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, but it was the nicest facility I’ve been to so far. The surrounding area maybe not the nicest but I not there to be a tourist so it doesn’t matter.

I finally got into the main draw without having to qualify, thanks to my ranking finally moving up! So I was wicked excited about that. But it also meant that there was no easing into the tournament. It’s a one and you’re done situation so you better be prepared from the very first ball. The first round I played a girl or woman I should say (she was in her 30s) from the Czech Republic, Vymetalkova. I was bit nervous before the start of the match, but once the match started I felt pretty good. The first set was a bit close but towards the end of it I played a bit steadier than my opponent. And in the second set I played better. I won 6-4, 6-2. In the second round I played a Polish girl, Frech. I won 6-2, 6-1. I felt like in this match I was very consistent. I didn’t make many mistakes and I played aggressively. The one game she won in the second set I was up 40-0 and managed to lose it, so I made sure from then on I wasn’t going to let that happen again, and I ended up winning the next 6 games and win the match. In the quarterfinals I played against a Ukrainian, Kolb. I lost 6-2, 6-3. There isn’t much so say about this match. I played pretty bad. I missed tons of first serves and returns, the two most important shots in tennis. They get the point started. You aren’t going to give yourself a chance to win if you don’t make your opponent play so I deserved to lose. I was angry at myself after that one, but I won two rounds, got some points to keep my ranking moving in the right direction. So I can’t be too upset. I just know now what to work on.

I also played doubles in Warsaw. I partnered up with Elyne Boeykens from Belgium. We played once together in Bath, England but we lost to the first seeds in the first round, so I guess you could say that one doesn’t count. But we played well all week. We ended up winning the tournament. First round was 6-1, 6-1. Second round was 6-3, 6-2. Semifinals was 7-6(5), 6-1. This was a good match. Had we lost the first set we weren’t sure what could have happened. Our opponents (two Dutch girls) came out firing in the first set, but when the tiebreaker came into play things started to lean our way. We held a 5-3 lead in the tiebreaker, then lost 2 close points to make it 5-5 but squeezed out the final two points to take the first set. Once we took the set their energy waned and they started missing. But we played really well in the second set, staying aggressive and on our toes looking to poach at the net. In the finals we won easily 6-2, 6-2. Elyne had just lost a close 3 set match in the singles semifinals so I could tell she was a bit upset, so I just tried to keep my energy up and keep her positive. She let me do the thinking out there and I came up with a game plan and we stuck to it and managed to win the title. Not bad for what I consider our first time playing doubles together. :)

Overall, it was a good tournament. I got some matches in, won some points, won the doubles, and learned what I need to work on. Nothing I can complain about there. Up next are about 8 weeks of tournaments in the Netherlands and Belgium so hopefully I can continue to play well. I hope to play well enough to get past the quarterfinals in singles. But we’ll see. I just need to focus on playing my game and not worry so much about results. Until next time.

Stadium Courts



Back courts with soccer stadium in back

More back courts