Magic Rik

Davis Cup in SOWETO!

Come out and support the the SA Davis cup team in their battle for a place in the elite World Group.  The tie is being held at a historical place here in SOWETO; the Arthur Ash Tennis Stadium.  I'm sure Arthur would be pretty pleased to see his dream of bringing Tennis to Soweto a reality. 

Tickets are free!

Below are the driving directions!   

Driving Directions!

M1 from Sandton to Bloemfontein past Gold Reef City Take the Soweto/Bloemfontein split and then take the Soweto offramp At the top of the offramp turn right, (old Potchefstroom road / Chris Hani drive) continue on for +- 7 km’s past Baragwaneth hospital on left hand side and much further on the Mopanya Mall on right-hand side. Three traffic lights after Mopanya mall, turn right into Elias Motsoaledi (Old Roodepoort road) Continue for a couple of km’s and turn left into Mputhi street and then right into Diokane road.

 

There might be a park and ride option from Gold Reef city to stay keep an eye on the SATA website www.satennis.co.za

 

Hope to see you out to support the boys!! 

 

Dubai Victory

Dubai, The unexpected Victory.

Hi All,

As you can tell from the title, I just won an ATP 500 series doubles title in Dubai. It was totally unexpected as I was playing for the first time with Dmitry Tursunov of Russia.

It was funny in that up until the week before in Marseille, we both did not have a partner. I looked at the players that were going and made a calculated guess that with my ranking I needed to play with a player ranked around 30 or better. I asked a couple of other players, but the only one that was available was Dmitry and after asking him and some convincing, we agreed to play.

I came a few days earlier as I had qualifying rounds in singles. The day I landed however, I got sick and was caring a cold and sore throat with a congested nose for the qualifying rounds. My first match was against a wild card luckily, so managed to win that one, but then lost final round qualifying. I then heard that there was a potential lucky loser spot for Lopez who might not be coming and I was the first player to get it. So when that was confirmed and I did get the lucky loser, I drew Igor Andreev of Russia.

Ironically that was also who I had drawn in the first round of the doubles too. Dmitry and I, managed to win that match comfortably, however in the singles Andreev’s whipping forehand was too much for me. I was feeling better physically, but was still drained from my cold.

Our second round doubles was against Knowles and Bhupahti. They were seeded second and are a good team. I had booked my flight for the following day and was not expecting too much. After an ugly first set, with not too good tennis, we played a good tie-breaker and then got better and better to win 7-6, 6-2. So, I had to change my flight again and booked it for the next day again. We now had to play a very inform Ferrer, and the talented and popular Safin in the semi finals.

After Ferrer demolished Gasquet in the singles semi finals of the singles, he came back and played doubles against us. He was still playing well and after us leading 5-3, 40-15, we found ourselves down 7-5, 2-1 a break of serve, before it all changed again for us win 5-7, 6-3, 10-6. There was some friendly get sometimes tense rivalry between Safin and Dmitry and luckily we ended up coming on top of that one. Safin demolished a racquet in the final tie-break, the third one I have seen him break this week, and that is just the ones I have seen. We were now in the finals and so had to change my flight again.

In the finals we drew Linstedt and Damm, who have already won 2 ATP events this year and were playing well. They started really well and we lost the first set, however, got better and broke early in the second set and held to win it 6-3. In the match tie-breaker, we played well and came up on top winning 10-5 and taking the title.

The trophy is a massive sailing ship, that luckily they said they will be able to ship, otherwise it would have been really difficult to travel with. I am now off to South Africa for the Davis Cup against Macedonia, hoping it will be a success. We have been having a good record so far and hope to keep it going.

Now, playing with Dmitry is always entertaining. I never know what will come out of his mouth. He is constantly sarcastic in his humour, but not in an offensive way, but more funny, but still always borderline on controversial. It was definitely and experience playing with him, new and different, unlike I have ever played with before. I seemed to work this week, so was happy with the result.

Thanks all for reading, just wanted to share a little insight into how the week went in Dubai,

Till next time, take care.

Rik

FINALS OF DUBAI!

Well its been way to long since this blog was updated.  There have certainly been lots of reasons for it but none truly justifiable!!

Just a brief update from home court!!  Rik is in the finals of the DUBAI ATP event tommorow at 5PM Dubai time.  If you go to www.atptennis.com you can actually subscribe and watch the event online!!  Pretty amazing!

A few secrets from this week. 

Rik mathmatically calculated who would be the best person to get into the event with and landed on Tursinov.  I keep telling him that his analytic skills could probably be better used in another career!!

Rik has been showering every night with his clothes on because he doesn't want to pay for laundry service.

Rik has had some fan support by family: brother Mark and his fiance Carina and Aunt Jane have all been flying over from Bahrain to cheer loudly!

Rik has a secret motivator for the week; you have to ask him what it is. 

I hope that this blog will be updated with a victory report on Sunday!!  Fingers crossed!  After here Rik is off to South Africa for Davis Cup, then Indian Wells.  Hope you will follow along and send him your wishes of encouragement!  All the best!! 

Rik's #1 Fan!

October, November, December

Hi All,

I certainly have been busy these past few months in terms of traveling and racking up the frequent flier mileage.

After my visit to Vienna in the beginning of October, I headed back to Vancouver for a week vacation, which I needed. I then flew to Korea for 2 challengers there, one in Seoul and one in Busan. I made it to the quarters in singles in Seoul and 2^nd round in Busan, in doubles, we lost first round in Seoul, but Ashley Fisher and I redeemed ourselves in Busan taking the title. It was an important win for Ashley as it ensured his 5^th year for the ATP pension plan, so he was really happy about that.

In Busan after the doubles finals, I received a huge bouquet of flowers. I next was headed to Bahrain to visit with my relatives and family there, and my mom had just had her Birthday a few days earlier, so I decided I would try to get these flowers to Bahrain. It was a long trip for the flowers with 4 flights, first from Busan to Seoul, then spent the night there, then early morning flight to Singapore, then on to Dubai and finally to Bahrain at 11pm that night. I must say that traveling with a bouquet of flowers does making navigating the airports and planes much easier as everyone is so accommodating and I was getting all these great smiles from all the females both passengers and staff too. It was quite interesting.

Once in Bahrain, I had a small holiday. The flowers made it fine, and my mom was pleased and happy. We were also all there to meet my brother’s new fiancé and have an engagement party for them. It was great to have the whole family there; the only one’s missing were my wife and my cousin Anthony. Next time Carolyn will make it. I managed to wakeboard too in my 4 day visit to Bahrain which was great and see my aunt and uncle’s house there too.

I then flew to Paris for some club matches there for TCBB. I have been playing for this club for 5 or 6 years now and it is always a great experience. The members get so involved with supporting and encouraging and it is just a great atmosphere to play tennis in. Unfortunately our team came so close to making the semi finals, one 10 point tie-breaker win away actually, but then ended up having to play a relegation match as the group was so close. We then lost that match too by a 10 point tie-breaker and so are now unfortunately relegated to division 2 for next year.

In Paris, we also managed to do some cultural things like visiting the Louvre. I have been to Paris so many times and have yet to visit, so this time we did, it was massive, we only managed to see a little of the Louvre, but we did manage to see the Mona Lisa.

After Paris, I had a week in Vancouver catching up with admin and relaxing. Carolyn and I managed cram a ton into a week. I must say, it is always great to head home, to me one of the best things is sleeping in our own bed again with the best bed lines that we got for our wedding.

I then had some tennis training to do and flew off to Austin Texas to practice with my coach. I spent a week there and actually got to practice with Andy Roddick too, so that was good. It is always a high level when practicing with Andy. He sets such a high bar, that it forces everyone else to lift their game and play better. It was a great workout and some great training.

I am now in Sayulita, Mexico for a family vacation with the in-laws. (Carolyn’s whole Family). They have been planning this vacation since like May or so. We are all staying in this huge house which is four levels built into the mountain. It has 5 bedrooms and we have 2 swimming pools. The view is simply amazing and we are walking distance to the beach. It is just such a great little spot and perfect for a big family holiday. We are 9adults and 4kids, so always fun and things going on.

I then head back to Austin for 1 more week of training before going to Vancouver just before Christmas to spend it there with Carolyn. After that it is down under to Australia for the Aussie Open. I hope to have a successful beginning to the year after all the good training I have been putting in. It is hard in the beginning of the year, as all players have been working hard in the off season, so if you can do well then, then you know you are really playing well. I am planning on making this the best year of my career and hope to break the top 100 in singles and start making some headlines in the newspapers. So look for me there soon, and not just in my blog.

Thanks you all for reading. I know it has been a long time. I am still plugging away at my tennis career and enjoying my married life. Hope everyone is doing well and that you are all having a great festive season with family and friends.

Take Care to All and watch out for me on the sports headlines.

Rik

European swing

HI All,
This time it is me writing again. Carolyn was been wonderful enough to add to my blog every now and again. She tends to have some time on her hands when coming to tennis tournaments, and is always good at finding ways to keep herself occupied and productive. This past trip, she was with me for 2.5 weeks, starting in Monte Carlo for the Davis Cup, which was a first for her, then Grenoble, Metz and then 3 days in Vienna. Her thing for this trip was knitting. It would keep her occupied between matches and practices and well whenever she has to wait for me, as well as during my matches, she would knit to remain clam and relaxed. Her scarf is almost finished. I also gave it a try.. but I somehow managed to add a whole extra stitch without knowing it. I must be a natural.

This was taken during Metz.

After I won my match against Clement in Metz, I was asked to do some promotional stuff on court, so I ended up racing a Mercedes remote control car around the court against a spectator from the crowd. Here is a photo of this too.

The Davis Cup was amazing, was awesome winning the final match.Before the match I had this nervous excitement and energy, and said to myself.. this is why I play tennis... for matches like these.. not many people can play the deciding match to win a tie for the their country. While I was waiting to go on to court for the 2all and deciding match, there was a South African sports network covering the match. So before I walk on court, they ask me a question. "so, it is 2all, deciding match.. have you ever played a deciding rubber". It was the first time I had tought about it being my first match in such a situation, right before I walk on court. I responded diplomatically, and with confidence and then went out on court and played a really good match to win and for us to progress on to Euro/Africa Group 1 next year. We play at home in SA during the first week in March against Macedonia and if we win, we play again in South Africa against Belarus, also at home in SA. So that all looks very promising there.

I am in Vienna now, had a tough loss final round of qualifying, I played a good match, but he just happened to win the important points this time. Doubles we had a tough draw, coming up against the number one seeds in Nestor and Zjimonic.. so that was tough too.

I was entered in a tournament in Tashkent next week, but after playing so many matches recently, I ma tired, physically and mentally. So I am taking the week off and heading back to Vancouver for one week. I will also be celebrating our 1 year Anniversary, which was on October 6. Carolyn had to fly home on the 5th, but we did have a little celebration the day before. Now I go back to Vancouver and have a second celebration. I will then be heading off to Korea again this year for 2 challengers there. These will be my last official tennis tournaments of the year. So, will be good to go to Vancouver for a week, rest and get prepared to finish the year strong.

Well, thanks again for reading. Hope you enjoyed it. Till next time.
Take Care
Rik

First round win in Metz!

Well I'm excited to let you all know that after winning three matches to qualify Rik just beat the "chou chou" of France Arnold Clement to win his first round in the main draw.  Also yesterday with his partner for the week Jeff Coetzee they won their doubles.  Next in singles he plays another qualifier another Frenchman who is playing well-Mannarino.  So we'll have to wait and see what happens! Today was a tough match as the stadium was filled with rowdy school kids.  Really it came down to who could keep their head with all the interruptions of kids running aroud, cyring and whistling. In the end it was our boy Rik.  Also it was a lot of fun to watch the many kids asking him for autographs.  It was really neat to watch! 

I have to tell you all Rik is playing so well right now-its been a lot of fun to watch.  His serves are on fire.  Even under pressure RIk is delivering.  You honestly would all just be so amazed by his play.  Metz has been very good to us so far-keep your fingers crossed.  One more win and it will be the best RIk has done at this level.  As I said fingers crossed!!

Be sure to keep following-Rik loves your support!  All the best from Metz!! 

Davis Cup in Monte Carlo

A great team, great surroundings and some great wins made for a great week in Monte Carlo!

In the news!

Summer

Hi All

It has been a very long time since I last wrote a blog message. Truth be told, I have just been lacking in motivation lately, that and a bit lazy. Anyway, now have made concerted effort to get things going again.

So where to begin. We had a very successful Davis Cup earlier in July, playing at home which was great, then I had a reasonable summer. Could have been better, could have been worse. I managed to have a little holiday with Carolyn and her Family at their lake house near Edmonton, which was I am told a right of passage into their family. One that ever new member has to pass. A small family ritual and I am glad to say that I passed with flying colours.

Then came the Vancouver Challenger and then was definitely some hope and expectation from everyone there that I knew as well as myself, and unfortunately came up against a inform player, and lost 1^st round. A tough loss, especially as I had set points, but that is tennis as they say. Did manage to make the doubles finals, so that was good.

Then after a brief quick few days in LA, went to Washington and had a good week there, qualifying in singles before losing in 3 sets to Tommy Haas, so a good effort there, and then doubles making the quarters. On to NY next after 2 days in the Hamptons over the weekend before qualies started. I stepped in for another player in a pro-am and had some fun up there, living the rich life for 2 days.. wow do they live in a whole other world.

I then got to Manhattan on Sunday and had some practice before qualies started on Tuesday. My dad was coming to the States on business and came a few days earlier to watch some of the qualifying rounds. He missed the first one, but managed to watch the next 2 matches and watch me qualify. Dave and Della Hagedorn from Joplin, Missouri, also made the trip up to NY to come and watch myself and some other players too. I stayed with them during a challenger when I first started playing in the states and have stayed in touch ever since and appreciate their continued support.  So, I can a little entourage. Felt good.

Carolyn arrived just after my match on Friday when I qualified and she spent the next 10days with me in NY so that was good too. I unfortunately lost in the first round of the main draw, after a reasonable draw. I felt I had a chance to win, but that did not work out. In doubles, I was playing with Ashley Fisher and we won our first 2 rounds before falling to the eventual finalist of Paes and Dlouhy. It was a good week for me and a career high ranking after the rankings were released after it all finished of 41 in doubles. So happy with that.

I then had 2 whirlwind days in Vancouver with Carolyn in which we managed to accomplish a ton of admin which we needed to do. Unfortunately with travelling so much, I don’t  always get to be in Vancouver and so a lot of everyday routine stuff does not get done, so every now and again I we need a day or 2 to get some admin done where we both need to be there.

Then the other news is that I will now be studying online. I won a scholarship to do a 4 year degree from the University of Phoenix. I have always wanted to do it, but never knew what and did not want to commit to something that I was unsure of. Now I have decided to commit and so as of next week my first online classes will begin. The first year is apparently the same for all degrees and is just common work for all.  Anyway, I am kinda excited and nervous all at once. Will let you know how it goes.

I am now in Orleans in France, before heading down to Monte Carlo for Davis Cup there against Monaco. I have never been there and am looking forward to it. Davis Cup is always a fun experience, we get to be a team and support and play as a team and you just don’t always get that when travelling on the tour. We will be playing on clay, so it will be tough for us, but hopefully we can put in a good team effort and come through with a win.

Well that is all for now. I do hope to remain more motivated and keep this blog updated. Thanks for reading, I will try and get some new photos on from Carolyn when she visits next week, as the new photos are on her computer.Take Care.

Rik

New York

The first few days at a tournament are always my favorite; no stress and lots of excitment.  When I boarded the plane in Vancouver bound for New York on Friday morning Rik was about to play his 3rd round qualifying match.  I got off the plane and thought to myself-wouldn't it be great if Rik was just waiting for me in arrivals after having just won and qualified.  But I quicky tried to erase if from my mind and not think about outcomes.  Enjoy the moment, enjoy being in New York, enjoy having some time with Rik. 

Well as many of you all know already Rik qualified.  And my dream of having him be there to collect me actually came true.  He was there-big smile on his face after just finishing a beating of a match.  6-1, 6-2.  When we arrived at the hotel we shared an elevator up Silver Doubles Medalist Thomas Johansson who turned to Rik and said "you weren't very nice to that young swede."  Pretty great way to qualify for the Open.

Rik is practising with Gonzales as I type this.  It has been a while since he updated his blog so I thought I would help out.  He will probably play his first singles match tomorrow and hopefully his first doubles match on Wednesday.  Be sure to follow along with the schedule and live score at www.usopen.org  Also feel free to send him any encouraging text messages!!  We hope you are enjoying these last few days of summer!! 

French and on to Wimbledon

Hi All

Ok, ok, it has been too long and yes...it is becoming a habit, so ... how to break it.. maybe writing less more often.. well this will be a lengthy one as have some catching up to do.

Here goes, French was great.. played some good clay tennis and then also had a good win in doubles over Murray and Mirnyi.. so was happy with that. After that I had a 10h London visit en-route to Prostejov for another clay challenger there. Had just enough time to drop off some luggage at my aunt and uncles house in London as I had accumulated some equipment and shoes  recently and was over weight.. so took the train to London and then a 7am flight to Prague. Prostejov was nice enough.. good weather for the most part.. I got to play on center court and beat Hrbarty.. so another good win on the dirt.. ad feeling good about my game. Originally I was not going to play doubles there as I wanted to play in the qualies of Queens.. but they scheduled a Friday final.. so I was able to do both and ended up winning the doubles and now have another trophy(a vase).. which managed to get to London and which Carolyn will be taking home.

I then had a joke of a day. I left Prague at 7.30am Saturday, landed at Heathrow airport at at 9.15am.. took the tube to my aunts house.. dropped off my luggage and picked up my grass court shoes.. then had transport collect me at 10.30am from her house.. got to the queens club courts at 11am, warmed from 11.15am-11.45am and then proceeded to play my first round qualies match for Queens at 12noon. First balls struck on grass were in the warm up for the match. I managed to win that one 7-6.6-1, then had to play my second round qualies later that day at 4pm and won that one again somehow  7-6,6-3. So that was an amazing achievement I thought..to play on clay for 5 weeks, then land and play and win2 matches on grass the next day. I then qualified on Sunday and drew Grosjean on Center court on Monday and managed to create a ton of chances.. but was unable to win the first set.. then I got tired and he won the 2nd set easy. Grosjean then proceeded to pullout of his next match injured against Andy Murray after just 2 games.. that was upsetting, but the plus side was that Grosjean also pulled out of doubles and so I got in as a alternate and played against Djokovic and Tipsarevic and beat them, so that was good too. I also had a ton of support.. firstly from my Aunt who came out.. then my sister-in-law and then a friend and his wife from Irene where he and I went to school together and played tennis against each other too.. my first rivalry.

Wimbledon qualies was next the following week and I was seeded but had a tough draw.. first I play Dick Norman of Belgium, who at 6 foot 8.. has a huge serve and is a lefty too.. so made that difficult. After an amazing display of serving from him in the first set.. I managed to get my foot in the door and win in 3 sets.. next was Jan Vacek from Czech.. who is like 6 foot 5 or 6 and he had just qualified and won a round the week before on grass and then lost close to Federer.. so he was playing well on grass.. I started well this time, then he got going and I was down 1-3 15-40 in the final set and managed to win it 9-7 in the 3rd set.. so a good fight. Final round qualies.. I thought was a decent enough draw against a lower ranked Polish player who did not have many good result son grass except this week. Well. I had another thing coming, he served so well in the match.. I could not get any chances at all and it all went for him to. I found myself down 2 sets to love.. with no way in. I was then down 1-3 in the 3rd set and not looking good. I somehow hung in there and he gifted me the break back of serve. It went to a tie-break.. which I played really well and won 7-1.. he was rattled and so I pressed on and went on to break serve again twice this time to win the 4th set 6-2.. then he took a toilet break time out. Now the toilets are like a 7-10min walk away as we were playing on the furtherest court.  He came back more composed.. even though I did have 0-40 first game.. that was my only chance. I was then down 5-2 in the 5th set again, managed to claw my way back again somehow.. but then he came up with some power shots and ended up breaking my serve to win 8-6 in the 5th and final set.. arggghhh..  I have never ever felt so deflated and despaired after a loss. Not just because of losing, but because of all the work in the match.. fighting and coming back.. playing for almost 4hours.. it was a battle and it drained me both physically and mentally after it. A very tough loss.

Then there was the shot at being a lucky loser.. and again they pulled out all 16 final round losers in random order to see who will get in first. It did not go my way again. I was third on ranking and got pulled out 7th.. but this time.. on 2 got in.. so I would not have got in anyway..

Doubles we were drawn to play Wild Cards first round and ended up winning in straight sets and then unfortunately lost 2nd round to Parrot and Polasek.. both of whom I have beaten separately.. but not together. I then stayed on a had a few days off.. with Carolyn who had flown out on the first Monday of Wimbledon and was exhausted after her bike relay race across Canada. It was a success for her.. a great experience and she loved every minute of it. I also had a pretty mean cheering squad at Wimbledon for the doubles.. with Gareth and his wife and Carolyn and her sister.. they all made a great cheering team.

I am now sitting in the airport lounge waiting for my last flight to Providence and Newport for the tournament there starting Monday. It just never stops.. after that we fly back to South African for Davis Cup and then I get a few days off to recover in Edmonton with Carolyn and her Family at their lake house.. before heading to Vancouver for the tournament.

Well.. that is all for now.. I know I missed alot of stuff out and will probably add more later..

Thanks for reading and checking the blog even when I have not updated in along time.

Take care to all

Rik