 Photographer: Henk Koster
Date: 20 Nov 2007 |  Photographer: Henk Abbink
Date: 07 Jun 2007 |  Photographer: Henk Abbink
Date: 07 Apr 2007 |  Photographer: Rien Hokken
Date: 19 Nov 2006 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 12 May 2004 |  Photographer: Mark Bullock
Date: 24 Jan 2008 |
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| 25 Jan 2008 | |
| Blogging from Melbourne comes to an end |
Saturday
Esther
I am happy. I played pretty good. My coach told me to be agressive against Korie (Homan) to stop her playing too into my back. It was tough but it worked. We already celebrated in the locker room with the Dutch players. It is so cool that a Dutch junior won the girls event. Tonight we go down town for dinner as it is Australia Day. Tomorrow I fly to Sydney for the next event.
Friday
David
Last night we went back to the hotel room and watched Nadal against Tsonga. This morning I relaxed in the hotel - I lost to Brent this morning at the baseball psp game.
Today we played the doubles final against Sarah (Hunter) and Peter (Norfolk). We started off a little tentative but we played well and won in a deciding tie breaker. We played on show court 2 and there was a good atmosphere.
After the match we did some media interviews. Tonight I am going to get my revenge against Brent on the psp and prepare for my singles final against Peter.
Esther
Last night I had dinner at Melbourne Park as I still had some money on my pass. We went back to the hotel, took a shower and I replied to some emails. Most of them are tennis related eg from sponsors, requests to do clinics, work for my own foundation - Handzzzup.
I have been nominated for the Laureus award again so I have been booking flights.
This morning I came to the courts and practiced with Maikel Scheffers for one hour and fifteen minutes. I had lunch and then prepared for my singles against Florence. Florence is playing more aggressively so I had to get used to that and that forced me to play like I play against Maikel when I train. I won 61 61.
Now I am getting ready for the doubles final and I am looking forward to an interesting singles final tomorrow.
Thursday
Esther
Last night I went to the pier at St Kilda and ate on the boulevard. Today I was first on against Mie Yaosa. I had a short practice with Maikel Scheffers beforehand. Quite a few people watched my match which was good. I won 61 62.
I had lunch and right after I had to play doubles against Maaike (Smit) and Aniek (Van Koot). It was a fun match with a lot of good rallies. And after this match I am going back to the hotel to have a power nap. Maybe I will eat here or maybe we will go out - depends how hungry I am. Tomorrow I play Florence (Gravellier).
David
Last night I went back to the hotel and took a shower and relaxed. I played Brent on the psp baseball game - broke the tie - so I lead 2-1 in the series. I hope to make it 3-1 night. We then watched the Blake Federer match on the tv.
I had a warm up this morning with national coach Dan James, Nick Taylor and Brent Poppen as all 3 American quads were playing semi finals today. I played Brent in my semi and won 62 63. I had a good match.
It is fun to be at Melbourne Park and represent the quad division for the first time here. Tonight I will go back to the hotel and have dinner. Tomorrow Nick and I have our doubles final against Pete (Norfolk) and Sarah (Hunter) in a rematch of the Flushing Meadow final.
Wednesday
David
When I arrived in Melbourne we ate, checked in to the hotel and went to Melbourne Park to collect our accreditation. We walked around and got familiar with the site and took room service on our return to the hotel. We slept after a long day, the shuttle bus in Christchurch picked us up at 3am. On Sunday I relaxed in the hotel.
On Monday we hit and went to the grocery store to get some food for the room. Yesterday I played singles against Sarah (Hunter) and won in 3 sets. I then stayed and watched some of the other American players and then relaxed in the room, beat Brent (Poppen) at baseball on the psp and watched the Australian Open on tv.
Today we just played a doubles match and we played Brent and Matt Ingram. We won in straight sets. Now we will head over to Melbourne Park for a hit and then head to the hotel to watch the Blake - Federer match. And then I will prepare for tomorrow when I play my room mate Brent in the semi final.
Esther
I was playing Park yesterday, never played her before, and it was a good match. She tries to do something with the ball. It was 60 60. I think she needs to work on her mobility. It was a good first round for me - to get that match feel and some confidence for the next round.
After I played I watched a couple of matches, and then went to the hotel. In the late afternoon I went to Albert Reserve to hit with Maikel Scheffers. He is my training partner in the Netherlands and I try to hit with him at tournaments. For me it is a challenge as he hits so much harder and he is so much faster. I love to hit with him, we click and it is fun. I went to dinner with Maaike Smit and Maikel to Mah Jong at St Kildas. It is a Chinese Japanese restaurant and the food is awesome. I had spinach prawn dumpling.
Today I played doubles. Jiske and I played Park and Wang. We won 62 60. I am hoping to hit with Maikel this afternoon and then relax in the hotel. The switch from European to the heat in Australia is tiring.
Shingo
After the NEC Singles Masters I rested for 2 weeks. I played no tennis. I went to a hot spring, spent time with friends and family. I practiced over Christmas and New Year including Christmas Day to prepare for the Australian Open. I focussed on endurance training. I did some 10km pushes.
Before Christmas we had the Japanese Masters also sponsored by NEC. I won beating Satoshi Saida in the final. The week before the Australian Open I went to Okinawa island to prepare because the temperature is more similar to Melbourne than where I live.
Yesterday I didn't play as I had a bye in singles and doubles. Today I played Nicolas Peifer and I won 61 61. This afternoon I will play doubles. Tonight I will have a Japanese take away with all the other Japanese players.
Tuesday
Esther
I had a very very traditional christmas. We have 2 days for Christmas, the 25th and 26th. On Christmas day we spent the whole day with my dad's family - that's 18 people in total. We play this game where everyone buys 3 small presents and then roll a dice and each number means something - you take a present out of the pile, move a present 3 places to the right etc. Then we have a big dinner at night. On the 26th I had a relaxed day, watched a movie, went to my parents - just a relaxing day.
For New Year I was planning on having a party at my new apartment but my friends had other commitments so I spent New Years with my parents which was really cool as at 12 o'clock it was great to bring in the new year with my family. 2007 was a great year with a few ups and downs. To be with my parents at the beginning of the year was special - they are always so supportive.
On 3 Jan we started the Nationals. I won the tournament so it was a great start to the year. It was difficult to prepare over Christmas without regular practice as my coach Aad Zwaan was on holiday. It was important to win the Nationals. I was working on some things in my game before Christmas and I was able to integrate these into to my matchplay so I was pleased with that.
Over the winter I worked on some specific things in my game and I changed some technical things. I have a physical trainer and I feel that I can still get fitter. I have trained physically a little harder in the off season as I have had more time and worked closely with my trainer. When you are on Tour you have to maintain that and my New Years Resolution is to be more disciplined with that.
Today I play Park from Korea 3rd on. I don't think I have played her before. It is my first match of the year so I need to get the feel of matchplay. I have trained a couple of times and it felt good.
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