Day Two – A Doubles Day
Second day in Bahrain and today was all about doubles.
Due to the organizers not being able to finish all the singles matches yesterday, Rafa’s order of play today was reduced to one match only, an important doubles match. Rafa partnered with his good friend and regular warm up partner Arjun from India.
We know Arjun very well from previous tournaments. We faced him in Qatar in the playoff for third and fourth place, which turned into a great match. They train together often, and that familiarity can be a real advantage in doubles, knowing each other’s patterns, strengths, and habits on court.
The day started with our usual early routine. Breakfast at 6.30 am and straight to the courts before the rush begins. That extra time on court can make a big difference. We managed to complete our warm up calmly, and by the time the courts started filling up with players, parents, and coaches arriving on the official hotel bus, we were already finished and mentally prepared.
Anyone who has been to junior tournaments knows how hectic that moment can be, with everyone trying to secure a court for a last minute warm up. Avoiding that stress is part of our routine and something we value a lot.
After the warm up, Rafa and Arjun discussed their court positions, Rafa on the forehand side and Arjun on the backhand side. We also spoke about communication, staying positive throughout the match, and refreshed some basic doubles concepts so everything was clear before stepping on court.
We entered the court earlier than expected as the previous match finished very quickly. As anticipated, the crowd was supporting the opponents since one of the players was local. Despite that, Rafa and Arjun started the match very solidly.
There was a short moment where focus dropped slightly and the opponents began to look more dangerous. In doubles, especially with short deuce, things can change quickly. One simple mistake or a lucky shot can cost you a game.
However, both Rafa and Arjun stayed composed, showed great attitude, and closed the match comfortably with a 6–3, 6–2 win. Rafa served much better today, which made me especially happy, as yesterday that was my main concern heading into the next rounds.
After the match, it was time for a good stretch, followed by a well deserved lunch. Then back to the hotel to catch up on some studies and get some rest.
Tomorrow will be a long day with important singles and doubles matches ahead. We are excited about the progress Rafa has shown over the last few days and, even more importantly, about his attitude on and off the court.