The build up is over, the jackets, Singapore Airlines ties and white trilbies are now packed away ... its down to business. So how are the Armada fairing??
Well ... yesterday's results were a bit of a mixed bag. Up in singles we had Nico Almagro, who put out the Serb *hooray* Viktor Troiki in two sets, 6-4, 7-6. Then it was Fer's turn and he faced Denis Istomin. He'd been at some Adidas press conference a couple of days ago, and had expressed a bit of regret about staying in the Olympic Village as you can see in this link. He's all blah, blah, blah about the travelling and the time it takes the tennis players to get across to Wimbledon. But I think this a little odd because you know the pictures that were brought of Team Armada in what looked like Rafa's Wimbledon house? Well, it turns out that RFET have rented a house in Wimbledon so that its somewhere for their players to sleep the night before their matches, as well as being a place for them to hang out before and after practice.
Obviously on Friday night, the team did take part in the opening ceremony so its more than likely that they slept over at the Olympic Village, but seriously ... was a car journey at fault for your performance yesterday, Fer? He lost. *rolls eyes* He went down n the first set, 6-4, but rallied back in the second to take it to a tie-breaker. It was rather nip and tuck, but he worked his way into a position to have set point with his two serves to come ... but he failed to convert. And typical Fer, he double faulted to hand Istomin the chance to serve out for the match which he duly did. So Fer is out.
We have a mixed story in doubles too. Team FeliFerrer took the first on a tie-breaker, lost the second on a tie-breaker, but then did magnificently to win out in the third by 8-6. Sadly Team M&M lost out narrowly in two tie-breaker sets. :(
I'm not sure what happens with the defeated players now - whether they go home or stay around to cheer on the rest of the team. And I don't know if any of them will be able to enter the mixed competition either. I don't know much, do I? But then, of course, I'm just a silly Armada fangirl. ;)
Anyhow, its over to Daveed and Feli today to keep the Spanish flag flying. Good luck boys, and VAMOS!!
Wooffs, I don't think the guys can stay overnight at the house. They all have to play pretty much every day so there wouldn't be enough room for all of them. It is Rafa's house - the Federation answered a question on some website and confirmed that it's the same house that Rafa rents and the Fed officials are staying there. The players can come to rest and eat and get massages.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sad for Marc! He looked like he was having so much fun with the whole Olympic experience so hopefully he can stay for a few more days to soak it all up. Very disappointing they went out in the first round as he and Marcel had been playing very well lately. :(
Hello! Thanks for that information. I'm obviously only working off hear-say myself, cos I was surprised to see them in the house in the first instance.
DeleteI, too, am really sad for Marc! At least he did have the experience, and that's the main thing, and yes he does seem like such a bundle of fun to have around. It was a bit unlucky for him and Marcel to go out on two TBs and I'm sad that I'll miss them. Not sure now what happens as to whether they still stay for the Games or go home. Again, its hear-say but I read that Fer was already back in Madrid. Let's hope the boys that are left can carry on doing it for Spain!!