The Long Road Ahead

"To achieve their sporting goals New Zealand's top young tennis players must follow the domestic and international circuit around the globe. The cost of attending these events presents a barrier in achieving their potential, and there are very few avenues of support funding available to help them in these emerging years. Tennis players develop at different rates and much can be gained by battling away on the Futures and Challenger tours. This process takes time and it is important for New Zealand's young players not to be discouraged if success is not immediate. For that reason, on their behalf, we ask your help." - David Frank (Tennis Northern CEO)

Saturday 8 October 2011

October update

Since you heard from me last from Dublin I have been busy travelling, training and playing tournaments. After Dublin I flew straight to Nice and trained at an academy just outside of Nice before I trekked off to play some money tournaments. France was a good experience and the people from the clubs took very good care of me cooking me fresh snails most nights!!

I started to play futures again, this time in Mexico. First in Leon (middle Mexico). It was a big eye opener there as 90% of Mexicans are living in little shanties. In the last round of qualifying I played, I lost to a friend of mine from Australia, tough loss. Next tournament was in Tijuana, I did well to qualify but had another tough loss first round 6-4 7-6 and then the same situation in the next tournament where I drew the 6th seed first round main draw. These 3 tournaments were at altitude which didn’t suit me.
I had a 10 day break before my the next tournament in California. I stayed with some tennis mates in Laguna Niguel where myself and Marvin Barker were training but unfortunately both fell ill before the tournament and were forced to withdraw.

Back down in Mexico we would now play at sea level, I was travelling with Marcus Daniell which was good as I learnt a lot from him. I managed to qualify and win my first round (2nd point)  but had a tough loss to an opponent I later beat the next week. The last tournament of my trip I travelled all day only to get off the plane and play my first round of qualifying which I managed to get through 7-6 6-2 and the last round 6-0 6-1. Then I played main draw against the player I had lost to the previous week and won 6-4 6-1 for my 3rd point. Next round I played a German player who was a tough competitor but played well and won 6-4 6-2 (4th point). Also that day I played the doubles quarterfinals with Marcus Daniell against Marvin Barker (NZL) and Chris Letcher (AUS), we lost 7-6 6-7 10-8. Finally in my quarterfinal singles match I played the 2nd seed, former top 200 and Davis Cup player from Mexico. I went down in a tough 6-4 7-6 match after having set points in the 
2nd set. 

All in all, I had a really good trip, learnt a lot and look forward to being home for a while and training hard before setting off next year.

Thanks for all your continued support, it has been much appreciated. 

Kind regards
Anton

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