What a Week!

It's been a "fun" 10 days


After a sleepless night at the National Tennis Centre (thanks to a wedding party at the next door Sports Club) we made avery early start last Sunday on our Journey to Tarbes for Les Petit AS. Les Petit AS is one of the premier junior tennis tournaments in the world and includes the Cruyff Foundation Wheelchair Tennis Master (the junior world champs), which is what we were heading over for. After a long days travelling (I cannot fault the staff at Heathrow, CDG or Pau airports, all were fantastic and helped us move our heaps of baggage so efficiently) we arrived in Tarbes tired but excited. 


After a very early night and a good sleep we hit the practice courts at Azerieux-Ossun tennis club for a three day training camp. The weather was cold but clear, and as tennis clubs go it is small but in a most spectacular setting at the foot of the pyrenees mountains. We had three good practice sessions and although nervous, both players are happy and ready for the fight ahead! Thanks must also go to the members of the club, who were on hand (having taken time off work) to make us tea, coffee and cakes and lunches everyday. We had three good training sessions, although we trained for less time than many of the other nations (team decision - it's a long week and we didn't want to go in over-cooked).


Tuesday night we were presented at the official opening ceremony in front of 3500 people! Only slightly nervous and met the Deputy Mayor of Tarbes


The main event kicked off on Thursday morning with the round robin matches. Team GB had players qualify for the Boys and Girls events and both performed well. I cannot go into too much detail about all the matches (as I don't have the words to describe the journey Alfie and I went through) Suffice to say after 4 days of intense competition Alfie was crowned World Junior Masters Champion! Greedy little so and so also took home the doubles title! Oh, and I shed a little tear when they played the National Anthem at the presentation ceremony!


You can read more about the final here...
http://beta.itftennis.com/wheelchair/news/articles/hewett-and-bernal-win-cruyff-foundation-junior-masters-titles.aspx

I'm pretty sure it was a week I will never forget - and match point, and seeing the emotion on Alfie's face is a moment that will last with me forever. Thanks also to the 4000 strong crowd who created such an amazing atmosphere in the stadium, your cheering and stamping and clapping made it all the more special!



I am emotionally shattered, but I cannot wait to go back next year to defend our titles, and hopefully bring back the girls titles too!


Cheers