I have lost count!
This is a long trip and it is a big challenge to keep the same routines and focus. 2 tournaments played over 4 weeks is like a 3 week grandslam with a draw of 256!
To be able to keep the level of concentration is in today’s game almost impossible and can understand Nadal and federer choosing to skip one of these tournaments! The Williams sisters have done this for years and Justin Henin did the same and now LI NA not playing IW is a sign how tough it is really is and especially when you are not 100% fit!
For me it is always a challenge ever since the work with adidas to balance the work with all of our players! Their are 3 transitions that take place in trip!
1) Vegas to IndianWells
Routines will change
Court change
Climate change (minimal)
Altitude change
Hotel change
2) IndianWells to Miami
Same changes as before
Add time change (3 hours does not
seem much but it does when you have
14 hour days and take a red eye plus 8 am practise in Miami means 5 am means 3:30 am wake up call)
3) Miami to clay ( or next tournament on hard)
All the same as 2 plus
-surface change
-some matches and additional double up practise sessions
-tension of string adjustment
-different shoe for clay
-additional stretches
I am sure there a re a few more but those are the key adaptability challenges!
Unfortunately Sorana lost her match against Jankovic but she has shown great fight again and continues to change the locker room talk and is earning respect for her determination and level of tennis is improving!
It was great to catch up with Andrea Petkovic at the site today and go over some of the match analysis using the latest video analysis systems! It is great to be court side and able to register your video and use in your post match analysis and have purpose and focus for your next practise sessions!
Tomorrow we will be back on the practise courts and getting ready for the clay in Charleston!
It is great to see 10sballs.com player Flipkens reach he quarter final in Miami! Look forward to see her in her next round!