Follow American Irina Falconi in this “Quest to Qualify” player blog as she journeys through Europe, playing warm-up events on red clay in preparation for French Open qualifying. Currently ranked No. 156 in singles and 76 in doubles, she...
Follow American Irina Falconi in this “Quest to Qualify” player blog as she journeys through Europe, playing warm-up events on red clay in preparation for French Open qualifying. Currently ranked No. 156 in singles and 76 in doubles, she is 10-2 in her career in Grand Slam qualifying and looking for another main draw berth in Paris this month. (Catch Part 1, Part 2 and follow her on Twitter @IrinaFalconi)
It’s Friday right? Wow, when I tell you that I lose track of time whilst on the road, I’m not exaggerating one bit. I’m to the point where I need to have a calendar as the background on my phone — not joking!
I’ve been in Prague for what seems like two months already, but alas, it’s only been a wonderful … umm … ten days? I think? Maybe …
But hey, I don’t mind, because I’m pretty much loving Prague!
Irina Falconi around the grounds prior to her match
Today was another good day at the office. I got a victory in singles over Maria Sanchez, booking my spot in the semifinals against Alexandra Cadantu. It was definitely a war today as we battled for three hours, went 7-5 in the third, and in the middle of the day with the crazy wind. Then there was shade and plenty of clouds. Then a little drizzling. Pretty much, it was relentless European weather.
But if you’re a tennis player — or an aspiring one — you will hear this from your coach pretty much 100 percent of the time when you start complaining about conditions outside: “Your opponent is facing them as well. Are you tougher than they are?”
And it’s so true. I mean, today all those different and unique weather variables affected both my opponent and I. So, it’s a matter of being able to handle adversity. At the end of the day, that’s pretty much life, isn’t it?
Already back on court a couple of hours after my singles, my girl Eva Hrdinova and I played in the doubles finals. We didn’t get the title, but hey, we got an awesome piece of hardware, a super-sized bottle of champagne, and a bouquet of flowers. (Which, coincidentally, is pretty much the recipe for a man trying to please a girl in his life. You would just need to add the chocolates as well FYI.)
Irina Falconi and doubles partner Eva Hrdinova
Anyway, tomorrow is semifinals day. I had originally planned my Europe trip to include another tournament before the French Open qualifying, a WTA Tour Event in Brussels, but hey, I’m going to have to miss it. Prague just doesn’t want me to leave it seems!
The funny thing about this situation is that I had told my sister to book a flight to Brussels so we would meet up before Paris. So … I’m in Prague … while my sister is in Brussels without me … OH HOW AWESOME TENNIS IS SOMETIMES!
Ciao friends. Ya’ll have been way too kind.
-IF
score: 1
about 5 hours ago