Well, it was wonderful. Simply wonderful. I had forgotten just how great it is to see 'live' tennis, to hear the thwack of the racquet hitting the ball, how graceful it can be, how ferocious, how fast. I had also forgotten what fun it is to be sitting with spectators oohing and aahing and then the spontaneous cry of YAY and clapping when a particularly stunning shot is played.
Queen's is an odd club in that it is slap bang in the middle of a residential area just a couple of hundred yards away from Barons Court tube station. Incredibly well organised, stewards on duty the moment you emerged from the Tube, shepherding you up the road (Members go on the right hand side, the hoi polloi go on the left….), all helpful, charming and polite. Inside all impeccably laid out and arranged with smiling stewards everywhere. Decided visit to Ladies vital before going on court and as I closed the door behind me and turned round was met with a photograph of Feliciano Lopz on the wall looking down at me. Slightly off putting. Could have been worse, could have been Nadal….or Federer.
First up was Dimitrov, last year's champion. Now I know he is supposed to be a sex god and all that and the pinup of the ball girls but really, he is frightfully weedy. And I was keen to check his legs out as they always look incredibly skinny to me on the telly. They are. And he has knobbly knees. And I hate to say this, but he looks a bit bandy to me. So that has killed him off in the Gorgeous stakes as far as I am concerned. He also played pitifully and slumped out of the tournament.
So on comes Andy and a huge roar of support and great to see him play live. All went well, leading against Verdasco until he then lost his serve and he started chuntering, Andy that is not Verdasco and I could hear a few four letter words floating on the air. I reckon Verdasco gifted Andy at least two games with double faults and netting easy volleys but glad to see AM get through. One thing I have noticed about the Spaniard over the years is his hair. It is luxuriant and gorgeous and It. Never. Moves. I watched carefully to check that I was not imagining things and I wasn't.
Next up Feliciano Lopez.. Judy Murray calls him Deliciano and I am in total agreement with her there. Really gorgeous, pert bum, lovely legs, handsome, bronzed…..oh dear it is ALL too Much to Bear.
This visit was a belated birthday present to me by Grandma No. 2 and we were in the front row of the South Stand and had an incredible view and I simply cannot put into words what a simply smashing day we had. Sitting next to Felicity was a real gent, such fun, who had been a tennis umpire and was full of tales and chat and was so interesting. The entire day was magical and we have already decided to see if we can go again next year.
Just watched the final today and Andy won with such authority that I am looking forward to Wimbledon to see how he gets on. I am also going into my usual purdah for two weeks. I will be stocking up the fridge and freezer, getting in the strawberries and cream, answerphone on, curtains drawn and off we go.
Can't wait.
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