Everything hurts this morning.
All muscles are stiff.
I must hydrate them or today will not be a good day.
I limp out of bed and get myself to breakfast.
I am a creature of habit.
Same Cafe, same meal at breakfast for the duration of the competition.
Superstitious!
A slow walk uphill to the Whole Foods and started searching for protein packets.
Found one with a very high gram content; grabbed three of them.
A hand of bananas.
A big jug of chocolate milk.
Water for my salt mix and back down the hill.
Made a chocolaty protein shake and started muscle recovery for play today.
I got picked up at 10 am this time.
4th match on court 18 means I don't have to be at the club so early.
But I do want to be there to support my team.
Court 18 is The Isner court.
He played the longest match in history there.
And I am amped to play on it today.
* I must say it is super cool to be driven through those hallowed gates every morning.
My early arrival gave me time to have some locker room fun.
I asked the ladies for a marker and I made a name tag for my locker.
Seriously, when am I ever going to be in this locker room again?
I watched my teammates play.
Still achy.
Made another chocolaty protein shake.
Fran is playing Anthea on Court 18.
Looks like another tight match. The points are long and well constructed.
I walk around to watch matches.
Court 19 next door: Rick Leach.
Rick has several Grand Slam doubles titles under his belt.
Fran won against Anthea in a tie breaker. Revenge for me.
One match down on 18, two more to go and I am up.
Hey Jersey girls, how about we go find a court to hit on?
Louise, Linda and Bobbie are all up for this idea.
I suggest we try a court overlooking the balcony.
Seems to have less play today.
My girls arrived in their tennis whites today, so opportunity and attire matched.
We walked over to court 8.
Out of view a little. Just in case.
I am a firm believer of apologizing rather than asking and being told no.
I filmed.
Took pictures.
Hit with each.
A joyous, joyous moment on court 8.
Jersey Girls
My captain mentioned he might move matches up, so I left my girls hitting to find out how the rest of the day will play out.
All good.
Still 4th match up.
Walked back to court 8 and suggested we move to that Stadium over there.
The girls were in a point game when I arrived.
That stadium? THE court #2.
We entered at the middle and walked down to the court.
The girls started hitting again.
More photos.
More video.
And I left them again to watch my teammates play.
My captain David Nash suggested that we don't miss the tour which starts at 230 pm.
So, my match will go on after the tour?
Cool, because I did not want to miss that tour.
I sent a text to the girls to meet me at the members cafeteria.
The tour was awesome.
Started at the doors only Royalty walk through during The Championships.
They lead down a short hallway directly into the Royal Box.
Royal box. Been there more than once.
Broadcast room
Press room.
Practice courts.
This place is HUGE.
I jumped off the tour around 340pm .
Starving and I have to play soon.
As I walked back toward the cafe, my captain caught me and told me I am up on court 17.
17? Aw man, I am so disappointed I won't be playing on 18.
An injury on 17 made it available.
Match on 18 was still going on.
I am familiar with 17.
Practiced there on Wednesday.
It is adjacent to the Wimbledon museum.
I ate 2 bananas.
No time for lunch.
Match started at 405pm.
I played my heart out.
Played like myself.
Served and volleyed.
First serve percentage was high!
No Double Faults!
Could actually hit a cross court forehand.
Struggled with that shot against Anthea.
Lobs worked.
Passes worked.
Wind was much more agreeable.
Very cool to see my Jersey girls on the sideline eating lunch.
Court 17 was Cafe and viewing.
If you don't know yet, I won that match against World #4 Christine French.
My friend Simon was arriving at 710pm.
I had to get ready.
Never saw the locker room this crowded.
Every guest, wife, girlfriend, player was preparing for the awards dinner.
And surprisingly, we were not in each other's way.
Wierd!
Finally collected Simon at the gate.
Introduce him to my girls.
And we cannot find where to go for cocktails.
Hysterical.
A long walk to the other side of center court near the museum got us close.
Up stairs.
Take a few shots of some fabulous Art.
And wallah, we made it.
Champagne.
Conversation.
We are all at table 4.
Speeches.
Dinner. Delicious!
Awards.
IC of GB won The Ted Avory Cup.
We had to leave the trophy with them.
Caroline, a member sitting next to me gave me the low down on joining The All England Club.
It is not as easy as joining one of our Premier clubs.
But it is extremely affordable!
We all said our goodbyes to our new friends.
Hugs. Handshakes.
Back to the locker room for our things.
Sadness.
Crying.
Singing ala New Orleans funeral march.
Hysterical.
Our climb upstairs from South locker room was the slowest I have ever walked to go anywhere.
Wanting to stretch out the inevitable.
My driver was waiting for us again.
So sad to leave this magical place.
Blows Disney away!
We took pics of the gate.
In the dark.
Losers, right?
I said goodbye to the girls at their hotel.
Joy remembering an awesome experience.
Sadness that it is over so soon.
Safe flight tomorrow girls.
I am thinking of heading to Stonehenge tomorrow.
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