Thursday July 18, 2024
I played my second round robin match yesterday evening in Lugano and it was pretty quick. The match in the other round robin was scheduled at the same time but ended up going on court after my 6pm match, around 7pm and Carola Kluzer from Italy won pretty decisively, so I play Carola here for the second time in two years. She’s a very nice player. We play at noon today, match 3 and 55 doubles is scheduled for the second match after 7:30!
Leanne Swaysland, who beat #1 seeded Laura DiVittori in three sets on Tuesday night, plays her second round robin singles at 6pm, then mixed 1st match after 7:30 (round 8), then our doubles (round 9)…crazy scheduling here. They scheduled out all the singles (filling the courts) before doing the doubles draws I think.
Michael Roberts from the USA won his first match, in the 55s, playing the Club Lido’s president, Michel Faoro, and faces the #4 seed next.
There are only three teams in 55 doubles; small draws plus a separate entry fee for doubles and mixed and then the awkward scheduling. This tournament has over 200 players, small compared to Barcelona which had over 500, but also has only six courts, though the same number of tournament days.
There was a nice cocktail party in a small area next to the restaurant and court 1 with wine, focaccia, various meats and sausages and pasta (I think). It was pretty well attended and very crowded. I watched a little of my next round opponents play, then left.
While the party was going on, the restaurant was roasting chickens for dinner.
