Grass hopping to Wimbledon...
Not a great start to the weekend.
I did not get into the qualifying at the Artois ATP tournament because the cut off was very high. So I stayed there practicing, as I needed some grass court practice, especially since I was also playing doubles that week.
Rohan Bopanna: ATP Biography
The doubles draw came out and was I partnered with Mahesh Bhupathi. We were seeded eighth and we had a bye first round as the top eight seeds get byes.
We needed the bye as Mahesh was coming back from a calf strain which made him pull out at the French Open. So more days before the match helped us. We were scheduled to play the second round on Thursday but our opponents gave us a walkover as Lapentti had hurt his shoulder.
I was there from Friday the sixth of June practicing, and on the 12th -- the middle of the tournament week -- I had not yet played a match.
Then Friday came and we were drawn to play against the No 2 seeds (Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic). We played well but ended up on the losing side and lost 4-6, 4-6.
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I guess having a match before playing such a strong team would have helped us, as they played a little better at the crucial moments, while for Mahesh and I, it was the first match we played together without either one of us being injured.
So next for me was Ordina Open in Holland and the qualifiers started on Saturday. I had to take the 7am flight out of London so that could I make it in time for my match in Holland. Fortuunately, I had a bye in the first round. (Bopanna qualified for the Ordina Open and has reached the second round)
Will let you no how the week progresses and, hopefully, I will get to play lot more matches here before heading for Wimbledon next week.
Rohan
June 17, 2008
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