New Years Day and I receive a phonecall from a kiwi friend asking if I'd like to go to the tennis?
Every year they have the Mubadala World Tennis Championship here for Jan 1-3. Six top players attend and it is an event the locals flock to annually.
I'm due to pop down to my other kiwi whanau for lunch but as the tennis doesn't start until later in the day and the ticket is free I agree.
After a great catch up downstairs I meet in the lobby and we head off in a taxi. The weather is good but I expect it to cool down once the sun sets so grab a jacket. I can't believe how many times my hoodie has been on me this year. In three years it's the first time I've worn it and I'm wearing it daily. I think this winter is cooler than previous years. And the fog has been late starting also.
Arriving at the tennis we are in time to see several of the stars signing autographs. Crowds line up and the queue snakes around the complex. Not being interested in autographs we attempt to fly a plane, get photos of myself as a champion, pose with a huge racket and generally soak up the atmosphere.
I am stoked to see that bubbly and strawberries are on the menu.
Our seats are nearly at the top and the steps are narrow so care is required, especially when climbing down later after a few bevvies.
Our first game is Andy Murray vs Feliciano Lopez. What a game! The excitement mounts as the players go back and forth points wise. The game continues for 2 hours 45 minutes with Murray taking out the win, but only just.
The second game is nowhere near as exciting. I feel a bit for the players as they have a difficult time to play to the level of the first game. Also the crowd has dwindled as people left either to find food or because it was getting cold.
As we leave there is dew sitting on the cars. We have to walk across the road to the hospital to get a cab and even there there are none. So we walk some more, past a family park full of locals having BBQs on little portable stoves with coals burning brightly. Eventually I flag down a cab and head home for a well earned rest. Who knew I'd enjoy tennis so much I may become a regular.
Roll on 2015.
Every year they have the Mubadala World Tennis Championship here for Jan 1-3. Six top players attend and it is an event the locals flock to annually.
I'm due to pop down to my other kiwi whanau for lunch but as the tennis doesn't start until later in the day and the ticket is free I agree.
After a great catch up downstairs I meet in the lobby and we head off in a taxi. The weather is good but I expect it to cool down once the sun sets so grab a jacket. I can't believe how many times my hoodie has been on me this year. In three years it's the first time I've worn it and I'm wearing it daily. I think this winter is cooler than previous years. And the fog has been late starting also.
Arriving at the tennis we are in time to see several of the stars signing autographs. Crowds line up and the queue snakes around the complex. Not being interested in autographs we attempt to fly a plane, get photos of myself as a champion, pose with a huge racket and generally soak up the atmosphere.
I am stoked to see that bubbly and strawberries are on the menu.
Our seats are nearly at the top and the steps are narrow so care is required, especially when climbing down later after a few bevvies.
Our first game is Andy Murray vs Feliciano Lopez. What a game! The excitement mounts as the players go back and forth points wise. The game continues for 2 hours 45 minutes with Murray taking out the win, but only just.
The second game is nowhere near as exciting. I feel a bit for the players as they have a difficult time to play to the level of the first game. Also the crowd has dwindled as people left either to find food or because it was getting cold.
As we leave there is dew sitting on the cars. We have to walk across the road to the hospital to get a cab and even there there are none. So we walk some more, past a family park full of locals having BBQs on little portable stoves with coals burning brightly. Eventually I flag down a cab and head home for a well earned rest. Who knew I'd enjoy tennis so much I may become a regular.
Roll on 2015.
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