Day One – We Are Playing With the Best
We flew from Abu Dhabi on Sunday, arriving late in Bahrain with just enough time to enjoy a quick dinner from the hotel buffet before heading straight to bed. Monday was shaping up to be a busy day for Rafa, and recovery was the priority from the moment we landed.
Later that evening, we received the order of play and discovered who Rafa would be facing in his opening match. As always when we travel with Rafa, we focus heavily on routines. These routines give us a sense of structure and control in the middle of the unpredictability that comes with international competition.
The alarm was set early. By 6.30 am we were having breakfast, and by 7.30 am we were already on court warming up. Rafa had a solid hit, and because our match was scheduled second on, we had valuable time to sit down, talk through the plan, and mentally prepare.
Our opponent was a top 50 player in Asia. Skilled, aggressive, and very comfortable coming forward to finish points at the net. The game plan was clear. Use height, build points patiently, extend rallies, and wait for the right moment to strike.
The match began with both players struggling slightly to settle. The Wilson US Open balls were fast and difficult to control, and combined with early nerves, this led to several breaks of serve. The score moved quickly to 3-3 in the first set, with neither player able to establish rhythm on serve.
From that moment, Rafa began to find his range. His serve became more reliable, his confidence grew, and his consistency from the baseline improved. He held serve to move ahead 4-3, played a strong game, but then lost opponent’s serve to level the score at 4-4.
From there on, the match shifted completely. Rafa took control, playing aggressive yet intelligent tennis. His returns were excellent, point construction was disciplined, and he showed real bravery when stepping in to finish points. He closed out the match convincingly, winning 6-4, 6-1.
After the match, we had a short debrief, focusing mainly on the opening games and making a few small corrections on the serve. Some good stretching followed, and then it was time to enjoy a well-earned Filipino lunch.
The evening was calm and productive. Rafa spent time studying online, catching up on his homework, while we waited for confirmation of Tuesday’s schedule. Once we knew the plan, preparation started immediately.
Tuesday will be a doubles-only day. Another early start, with practice scheduled at 7.45 am alongside our doubles partner.
A great start to this incredible Grade A Asian Tennis Federation 14 & Under event here in Bahrain.