Qatar Trip Day 3 – Preparation, Practice & Staying Sharp
Today we finally had a day without official matches, as Rafa received a bye in the doubles draw. Only girls’ singles, doubles, and plate draw matches were scheduled for the evening, giving us a small break from competition — but definitely not from preparation.
We started the morning early and headed straight to the tennis centre for a physical and coordination session. The focus was all about footwork principles: shadow movements, clean stances, balance, and efficient movement patterns without the pressure of hitting the ball. It allowed Rafa to really lock in on the fundamentals that will help him when things get tight in matches.
After the first session, we joined two Indian players for a very intense training block. The boys worked on controlled rallies, changes of direction, serving routines, and played out several singles points. We finished the session by practising doubles formations, making sure Rafa is comfortable and confident ahead of tomorrow’s doubles match.
Once training was done, we grabbed some lunch and Rafa headed back to rest and catch up on his schoolwork. We’re still waiting for the official schedule, but since doubles is definitely on the programme, we expect our first match to be around 4 p.m., followed by doubles later in the evening.
We also found out who Rafa will face in singles tomorrow. Although the opponent doesn’t look as strong on paper as the first round, our approach remains exactly the same: treat every match like a final, respect every opponent, and prepare for every scenario.
Tomorrow is match day again — and we will be ready.