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Today is tennis day!
We checked the weather forecast yesterday, and it's bad news. Today is supposed to be 36 degrees, and having checked out the tennis complex when we went to the cricket, there is very little shade (if any). Fabulous.
AND, we thought we were being clever by going today, as tomorrow looked hotter... Turns out, the weather will turn this evening and it's now nice and cool tomorrow. Oh well!
So we filled up Brendan with lunch and water, and made our two interconnecting trains into town for the Tennis. The complex is remarkably central, not like Wimbledon at all. Very inter city, lots of railway lines. In fact, it's a stones throw from the MCG.
We take an initial mosey around, lots of blue plastic matting everywhere and sponsor stalls, and then head for the lowly British player who's already mid-match.
Kyle Edmund GBR vs D. Dzumhur. BIS
Joining in the second set, the 20 yo Kyle had already won the first 6-1. A good omen then, right? Wrong. He first loses a tight tiebreaker in the second, wins the third 6-4, and just when he looks in complete control, sustains a hamstring injury which requires a prolonged 'medical break'. This, and combined with very excitable Bosnia fans supporters who have just joined us from another match, ensures that Kyle loses the next two sets. An entertaining five setter, but in the end, Dzumhur walked all over Kyle. What a shame for he Davis Cup winning youngster. He looked really good.. Just had a shakey first serve!
Having stood courtside in the sun for 2 or so hours, we had begun to melt, so we retreat inside to one of the show court concourses to eat our packed lunch in the lovely, lovely air con.
After our tasty cheese sandwiches we wander around the complex a little more. It's SO HOT NOW. Thankfully there are free water fountains pretty much everywhere. A god's send.
We earmarked the Heather Watson game for the evening, so to be absolutely sure we saw her, we wandered over to outer court 8 to see the conclusion of...
Y. Nishioka (JPN) vs. P. Cuevas (UGY)
Joining midway the first set, Yoshi (the wild card entry from JPN) is taking the game right to the world no 30 Pablo. However, after agonisingly losing the first set on a tie break, our young start let collapsed in the searing heat, losing in straight sets. Watching this game, we finally clocked that we were on the other side of the world... This was a home game for Yoshi! The home Japanese crowd however were SO polite - the polar opposite from the Bosnian supporters earlier. So we felt bad when Yoshi succumbed to the heat.
His straight sets loss however, brought on the main course for the day...
Heather Watson GBR vs. T. Babos HUN
Heather is now Britain's no 2, after the adopted Sydneysider Johanna Konta, but much is still expected of her. Indeed she now has Judy Murray as her 'interim' coach (who we spot wandering into the crowd amongst us).
What happens next, is rather typical really of British Tennis... But I'll let the Guardian report it for you:-
http://gu.com/p/4fqmh?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Of great amusement to us however, was a British man who was standing at the back of our stand. When the crowd noise had died down, he regularly called out the following 'encouragement', which, sounded as strange as they read here! We especially like the last one... And indication of how Heather threw away the match!!
Great hands Heather
Come on girl
Great hold Heather
Keep going Heather, you're doing fabulous
Another great hold Heather
Get in girl
Come on Heather, you can do this
Fabulous hold, Heather
Ah Heather, what's that s***?!
Whilst this was going on, the court next to us was hosting Omar Jasika's first grand slam game. A local Melburnian, he wasn't given much hope for his Aus Open debut. However, roared on by the raucous Australian home crowd, he pulled through. It was a sensational noise next door.
"Let's go Omar, let's go!!" was the most common chant in support for their guy.
Finally, at the end of the game, Alice met up with a school friend from Jersey she hadn't seen for years. She had spotted our Facebook post earlier in the day, and rather inevitably, had gravitated to the Heather Watson match (along with hundreds of other Brits).
We finish the day with long train ride home, both severely sunned out. But enjoyed visiting the AO festival areas by the banks of the Yarra River... Where we also spotted a possum!
AF
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