Bahrain 2025 – ATF Under 14 Grade A Tournament
Day Two: Some unexpected changes!
A few unexpected changes have unfolded in the last 24 hours, slightly affecting the schedule. First, the initial player list has been revised due to a number of participants not arriving on time—most notably in the girls’ qualifying draw, which is still incomplete with fewer than 16 players. Quite disappointing, especially for a Grade A international event where standards are expected to be higher.
To add to that, a strong sandstorm yesterday disrupted plans further, pushing the start of the main draw matches to tomorrow instead.
As for Rafa and Isabelle, they both had a productive double training day—nearly three hours in total—aimed at adapting perfectly to the court conditions. In the morning, we were joined by two Indian players for a very solid practice session. It was high in consistency and rhythm, particularly because these players weren’t the typical heavy flat-hitters, which allowed us to settle into the court tempo more effectively.
Post-training and after a good stretching session, we ventured out to explore a bit of the city. We ended up having lunch at a large shopping mall—Rafa devoured his meal like there’s no tomorrow, while I, sticking to my diet, could only watch and reminisce about the good old days when food came without restrictions.
Back to the hotel for a short rest, and by 5 PM we were back on court for the second session. Rafa met up with his doubles partner and two other players for a great round of doubles-focused training—working on point construction and strategy. It’s a key moment to get a feel for your partner and start deciding who plays which side during the tournament.
Meanwhile, Isabelle was hitting with another Indian player and looked thrilled to be part of her first international trip. You can tell she’s soaking up every moment—this is an excellent experience for her, and I’m sure she’s learning with every hit.
Now it’s time to head back to the hotel for a well-earned dinner and some rest. Tomorrow we’re heading to the courts early again, as the weather becomes difficult after 9 AM. I’ll keep you posted.