Qatar Trip Day 5 – Fresh Strings, Sharp Focus & Quarterfinal Energy
We kicked off Day Five with our usual early-morning routine — a good breakfast, a bit of movement, and a calm start to set the tone for another big day. With both singles and doubles quarterfinals ahead, we decided to head out earlier than usual to pick up Rafa’s freshly strung racket from Ken the stringer @kens_string_lab.
He’s doing an amazing job with Rafa’s rackets, and it’s becoming more and more important now. Rafa is starting to break strings more often — a clear sign that he’s hitting heavier, faster, and with more intensity. At this level, having a reliable professional stringer makes all the difference. The racket needs to feel perfect in the hand, especially on pressure points.
After collecting the rackets, we went straight to the federation facility for a practice session with Arjan, a strong Indian player who, like Rafa, is also competing in today’s quarterfinals. The boys had a solid warm-up, hitting cleanly and getting the legs moving early. I used the session to address a few small details I noticed yesterday — particularly those first few games where Rafa sometimes takes a little time to find his rhythm. We worked on routines, breathing, and starting matches with clarity and intention.
Today’s singles opponent is a lefty — always a bit uncomfortable to play against, especially at this age. Lefties bring different spins, different patterns, and require a sharp tactical mindset. But Rafa is prepared, confident, and ready to adapt. The feeling with the racket and his groundstrokes this morning was excellent.
Quarterfinal Singles – A Strong, Focused Win
We got ready on time to have a proper warm-up before the match, making sure Rafa had the last instructions fresh in his mind. Everything felt organised, calm, and ready for battle.
From the very first ball, Rafa was fully focused. He didn’t allow his opponent to impose his game at any moment. Point by point, with patience and discipline, Rafa took control and didn’t look back. The result: a comfortable straight-sets win and a well-deserved place in the semifinals.
Doubles Semifinals – Another Dominant Performance
A couple of hours later, we stepped back on court for the doubles semifinals. Once again, Rafa and Hassan proved to be a very strong team. They were superior in every aspect of the game — serving, returning, at the net, and in their decision-making. The boys closed the match in straight sets, securing their place in tomorrow’s doubles final.
Looking Ahead
A fantastic day of tennis: two clean wins, high-level performance, and plenty of confidence going into the final stages of the tournament.
Tomorrow will be a big battle — singles semifinal and doubles final. We’ll be ready.