#2 – Tennis match

It seems to have become a bit of a birthday tradition that my brother and Louise get me tickets to something for my birthday.  This was the second year that it was a tennis match at the O2 for the ATP Masters final event and I was really looking forward to it.  We had our tickets but you only find out the line up a few days ahead of the match.  I was checking each day in an attempt to find out hoping it would be Federer or Murray.  So in all honesty I was a little disappointed when I found out that our singles match was Ferrer v Del Potro.  I knew of both of them but wasn’t especially a fan of either.  But this is the Master’s final after all so, of course, they are both great tennis players and we were in for a greater match than I anticipated.

I made it through a day at work and for once left the office with incredible punctuality and headed to the tube full of excitement for the evening ahead.  After meeting the others under the baubles we headed on the long trek to the other end past the practice courts, which were sadly empty, and went through to our seats.  Throughout the doubles match the atmosphere was building as the seats filled up around the arena.  Victory to Paes and Stepanek and on to the big singles match.  Out came Ferrer and Del Potro both in slightly bright fluorescent shirts which was quite a stress to the eyes as I made the continual criss cross along the court as they pounded the ball between them.  Even though I was not an especial fan of either I had decided to cheer for Ferrer throughout the match.  But that became harder to stick to throughout the match.  Not because Ferrer wasn’t playing well – not at all!  But because both players were playing so well and it was hard to see either of them lose after such incredible play.  In the end Ferrer won through but Del Potro had also managed to make me a fan. 

 

What a great evening - tennis at the O2 never fails to please!  And I’m so pleased to hear that they have extended the contract for the ATP Masters final staying in England...  here’s to repeating the experience next year!