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This morning I headed to the Eurovea. It's the kind of modern soulless shopping centre I usually try to avoid, but I'd heard that there were come strange goings on in the centre.
Sure enough, there was evidence that a circus had set itself up to entertain the bored shoppers. There were statutes of various acts goes around the centre.
It seems there was some concern over the tightrope walker, after all there was no safety net. However, there were some precautions taken, with a man ready to catch her - a task that seems perfectly suited for Cúmil...
I then had lunch at the Be About burger bar, where I enjoyed a delicious burger with cheese and bacon, with fries. This was followed by a sublime lava cake. It very much reminded meet of Handmade Burger Company.
As the sun was out, I went for another little wander around the streets of the historic centre before heading to the tennis.
GB are very much up against it this morning and unless Heather can put in a much improved performance today, I think it'll be over after the first match.
Breaking news. Slovakia have changed their lineup and their 202 ranked player Rebecca Sramkova is playing in the first match. Apparently Kuzmova had been feeling unwell in the lead up to the tie and after yesterday's excursions decided to pull out just before the match. This gives GB a glimmer of hope.
Match 1: Rebecca Sramkova (202) v Heather Watson (74) 0-6, 5-7
Heather started well and immediately broke the Slovak before a solid hold to back it up. In a closer third game Heather gained a second break. Another solid hold then a few deuces in the following game before Heather broke again on the third break point. Heather then served out to love to secure the bagel and first set in 26 minutes.
The first 3 games of the second set went with serve then in the 4th Heather faced her first mini crisis at 0-30, then won the next 4 points. In the next game Heather took a 0-40 lead then the Slovak won the next 4 points and the game. Heather created another break point only for it to be saved by an ace. However on the 5th opportunity the break was secured for a 3-2 lead.
Heather then faced two break points. She saved the first with an ace but hit long on the second to concede the game. Two solid serve games and Heather had to serve to save the set at 4-5. Which she did to 15. Heather then broke to 15 and will be serving for the match...
Heather double faulted to lose the first point, but then won the next four to secure the match in 1 hour 17 minutes. There is no question that Heather played a lot better today, but it also helped that Kuzmova pulled out.
Match 2: Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (199) v Harriet Dart (141) 7-5, 6-3
Now, what can Harriet do? If she plays like yesterday, it could get very interesting.
Schmiedlova's low ranking of 199 is misleading as she's been in the top 30 and had slid down due to injury.
In the second game Harriet double faulted at 30-30, but saved the game. In the sixth game the Slovak achieved the break, but Harriet immediately broke back on her second opportunity, after only winning one point against serve in the previous games. Both players are battling hard and well. Now Harriet has to win her serve to take the set into a tiebreak. Unfortunately the Slovak plays exceptionally, breaks to 15 and secures the first set, which lasted about 50 minutes.
This is a high quality match. What has Harriet got left in her tank now?
Well she's nothing if not a fighter and held a break point but the Slovak eventually held. In the third game it looked like Harriet had got a clean winner to achieve a break, but the Slovak appealed, the umpire climbed down to look and ruled it had been out. Deuce. After a few more twists and turns, the Slovak held.
In a slightly below par game for Harriet, Slovakia gained what could be a device break for a 4-2 lead. Then Harriet fashioned 0-40 but could not achieve the break and use now serving to save the tie at 2-5. Harriet held to force Schmiedlova to serve for the tie.
Harriet battled hard and saved two match points with clean winners, but the Slovaks triumphed when Harriet hit the ball long after a typically tough really on the third match point.
Harriet had played really well in two competitive matches this weekend, against players much more experience than herself, so she can hold her head up high, take heart, chalk this up as a learning experience and continue to climb up the rankings.
Slovakia now go through to the Finals in Budapest in April, while Great Britain will face a playoff also in April sharing opponents yet to be determined, to qualify for next year's World Group.
Tomorrow I head home, taking the Regio Jet bus to Vienna airport before flying with British Airways into Heathrow and Storm Ciara, so am expecting delays! Once back in England I get the coach back home.
Addendum
The journey home through Storm Ciara went surprisingly well. The bus to Vienna Airport was, of course, on time. Despite taking off from Vienna about 30 mins late, we made up the time on a flight that was bumpier than normal, but less so than I expected. The coach left Heathrow on time but had to make a couple of detours. You could feel the wind against the coach at times, but nothing alarming. We arrived in Cheltenham only 15 mins late, where my brother was waiting to take me home.
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