European Individual.
I flew to Brussels on Tuesday 26th May. I had been back training for about a week and a half and was keen to get started again on court. Nick Matthew, Adrian Grant and myself all flew to Brussels from Manchester and we met Pete Barker and Vicky Lust at the airport in Belgium. We got the train from the airport to Herentals and there got picked up and taken to the hotel. By the time we had got to the hotel and checked in it was about 8pm so we decided not to hit. Instead, we ate and went back to the rooms early.
The next day (wed) I had a bye in the 1st round and so went down to practice with the guys. I stayed and watched Vicky Play her 1st match which she won 3-0 and then got some food. Vicky was due on again at 6.30pm against Camille Serme of France so I watched her and then went on myself at 7.30pm against Sina Wall of Germany. I played ok, alittle rusty in parts but felt ok. I won 3-0 and was pleased to be off.
Thursday, Vicky and I practiced and then came back to the hotel for a while, got some lunch and watched a DVD. We went back to the courts for Vicky's match at 5.15pm and then I warmed up to play Annelize at 7pm. I got better in the match as it went on and Annelize made quite a few errors. I was pleased to be off in 3 again.
Friday, semi's day. I was feeling quite good going into the semi. I'd had a couple of matches and was feeling sharper. I felt good physically and technically was hitting the ball well. However, I did feel rusty in my mental concentration. In my first 2 rounds I had been able to win by hitting the ball around without really thinking. However, Vanessa is too good to play without a game plan. I think that's why I felt good through the game but didn't win. I played well and felt ok but actually didn't think about what I was doing and where I was putting the ball. I think there is such a thing as concentration fitness and when you play hard matches week in, week out it comes naturally. However, today I just ran and hit without much thought. I ended up losing 3-1. Vanessa played well and did have some tactics which put me under pressure. So, now it'll be the 3/4 playoff against Isabelle Stoehr of France.
So, finals day.....but for me 3/4 play off day. It is unusual for us to have 3/4 play off and so it felt strange preparing for a match after losing the day before. However, after losing before my seeding I wanted to try and come as high as I could and therefore tried to get up for the match. I did a good warm up and made a good start against Isabelle. I have some tactics against Isa that normally work quite well and after yesterday I wanted to try and get back some of my tactical play. I won 3-0, the match was up and down the whole way through and I think I wanted it more than she did. After the match I was told she was injured but who knows.....it was up and down. Either way I was pleased to be off in 3 and finish 3rd!