Bahrain 2025 – ATF Under 14 Grade A Tournament
Day Six: A much quieter day!
A much quieter day today in terms of the schedule, with fewer matches being played—but that doesn’t mean it was any less intense. In international events like this one, the format is based on position points, which means every match still counts. Even if you’re out of the main draw, you’re still fighting for your final standing.
From the 64 players who started the tournament, Rafa is now playing to secure a finish between 9th and 16th place—a solid achievement considering the depth and level of the field. Unfortunately, Isabella wasn’t able to recover from her physical issues and had to withdraw from the tournament. It’s really unlucky—she had the game and the form to go far here, but health comes first. We’ll regroup and look ahead to the next challenge.
Rafa’s match was scheduled for the evening. It wasn’t his best, to be honest. The strong winds continued—something we’ve been dealing with all week—and once again, rhythm and control were hard to come by. There were too many unforced errors on both sides, and it turned into more of a mental battle than a technical one.
That said, I see this as a valuable experience for Rafa. Learning to adapt—to the weather, the opponent, the conditions—is part of growing as a player. Not every day is going to be your best, but how you respond is what matters.
After the match, I had a serious conversation with him. I told him clearly that I wasn’t happy with his performance—not to discourage him, but to help him understand that feedback isn’t always about praise. Sometimes, the most important lessons come when you hear the things you don’t want to hear. Growth demands honesty.