Tuesday 11th August

8.30am

Woke up after 10 whole hours straight, and feel much better and more lively. What is wrong with me, I never sleep this much!

10.50am

Just finished practice with Sasha my doubles partner. It is incredibly humid today, we were both struggling to hold the racket where the grip was soaking within minutes. Warmed up with the sponge ball against the wall before the practice and got many stares and questions….care factor zero,I know why I need to do it and what I’m working on, I’m not bothered that it’s the type of ball that I used when I was five!

12 noon

Absolute monsoon rain! One minute I was watching the match that I follow go to a set and 3-1, the next minute a huge torrent of water had appeared and with no shelter at the club I made a run for it into a tuk tuk, where the streets were in complete chaos. Nearly 6 inches of water fell in 20 minutes, and it seems the whole of Delhi are celebrating. I, on the other hand, am not! I just want to play my match….

3.15pm

Ref said I would be back on at 2pm, I was thinking that was a little hopeful on his part, unless there were a hundred Indians squeegying the courts. (I’m not sure they even have squeegys here come to think of it!) Arrived at the club at 1.45pm and within seconds of me being there, the monsoon began again, and I mean really began.It was the biggest rain I have ever seen! Absolutely soaked for the second time, the tarpaulin roof over the watching area by the courts caved in and a waterfall was created onto us. Ran to the official onsite hotel (which is an absolute hole) waited for half an hour or so and then we were informed play had been cancelled for the day. No s**t sherlock!Then ensued a pretty scary journey back to the Hyatt, with nearly a foot of water flooding the roads in parts and total mayhem with the traffic. What amazed me the most is that the drivers don’t even flinch about ploughing through nearly a foot of water in their cars, tuk tuks or mopeds, they just get on with it. I felt like we were going to need the chitty chitty bang bang car with inflatable sides at one point but the tuk tuk man did not fail me, we made it in the end, if only a little worse for wear!

7.30pm

Headed to the gym once I had changed for the fourth time today, and did some sprints on the treadmill to keep the legs firing, and then the usual core, injury prevention with the bands and recovery on the bike and in the spa. I’m on at 9am tomorrow and there are 2 rounds of singles scheduled and 1 doubles so could be a long busy day. Rice and mackerel followed by an early night methinks….after I’ve spoken to home. Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad! They’ve been married for 36 years, now that deserves a trophy!