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Montpellier, France

I beat Mathieu 7-6(3), 6-1 yesterday. I'm very satisfied with the way I played. It was a solid and tactically good match. I was also hitting the ball well and clean. There was only one game where I didn't play good but I could step up and rise the quality of my game immediately after that 4-3 game in the first set.

I served really well today, I won 72% of the first serve points and 86% of the second serve points. Those numbers are extremely good. I usually mix up a lot the pace and the spins of my serve. That doesn't give good rhythm to the opponent and he doesn't know what to expect then. I did that also in the beginning in the yesterday's match but my hard flat serve felt so good and it brought a lot of points so I decided to use more that ,mixing up it less with a slice or different pace. It kept going in and I won many short points because of that. In the tie-break I served all first serves in, hard and accurate.

After winning many matches and having a very good confidence you usually play even better in the tight situations and over all, trust your shots more. That's how it is with every player. Even though I went a lot for my serve, my first serve percentage was really high, 77%. If I can keep up serving like this today, it would obviously help other parts of the game as well. Serve for sure will be one of the key factors today, in the quarterfinals against Monfils. If I was serving well yesterday, so did Monfils as well. He beat Russell yesterday 6-3, 6-3 and he served 17 aces and also with very high first serve percentage. I was watching most of that match because I played after them. I had two tight battles with Monfils (in Bangkok and in Stockholm) last year, unfortunately he was better in the end of both matches. Hopefully it will be other way around this time.

I'm feeling very good at the moment so it's very nice to go out there to the center court again and fight for every point. The center court is much faster than other courts here but yesterday I had no problems to adjust my timing to it. I also liked the court two years ago when I played here last time. This big poster's picture in the Arena is from that year.

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Montpellier, France

I beat Teixeira 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Teixeira was moving really well so we had more longer rallies than I expected. Teixeira served with a high first serve percentage, they were not often bombs but very accurate so it was not easy to return them, also because the surface and the balls are very fast. Over all, Teixeira played well.

I lost only one service game in the match and I tried really to step up in the third set but I still couldn't take the break before the last game of the match. That was actually only poor game that Teixeira played. Until that he was going for the shots and he didn't miss much, maybe in the end he started to think more about the situation, got tight and that's why he missed more. I think he has a good future in front of him if he works hard and stays healthy, he has a good game. It was nice to get match play after a little break and the most positive thing was that my stomach was totally fine during the match, a little bit longer match was very good test for it.

Yesterday we lost the tight doubles match with Bruni 6-4, 7-6(9). We had a lot of chances, break points, set points etc. but unfortunately we couldn't convert them so instead of two matches today, I'll have only one. I'll play against Mathieu late tonight. He is coming back from a very long injury break. I practiced with him once and I saw his first round match and despite of the long break he had from the tournaments, he is playing really well so I expect it to be a tough match.

Montpellier, France

I'm back in action, this time in Montpellier. My stomach muscle is fine and I'm ready to go with full force again. I took a few days off from tennis after coming back from Melbourne. Then I started to do fitness and play tennis. I also played ice hockey once, for the first time in many years. I could do that every day, that's so much fun. Over all I really enjoy doing many other sports as well, unfortunately it's not often that I have time to do that. Maybe a little bit later then.

It's always nice to be at home, especially after a long trip. It's still never more than a few days (until November) that I can enjoy that before it's time to leave again. Sometimes leaving home is painful but I still love so much what I do and I also always get used to the routines in the tournaments very fast so I haven't ever missed home that much that it would have bothered me when I'm travelling. I just enjoy being home in Finland so much and more I travel, more I appreciate it.

I came to Montpellier on Saturday, I've already got 5 tennis practices here which is good because the balls that we play with here, are very different from the Wilson balls that we played with in Australia or the balls that I practiced with at home. These ones here are like bullets, very fast. The court is also fast so there won't be extremely long rallies. My first round match will be tomorrow against Teixeira. I'll play doubles with Bruni, we'll play on Wednesday against Rochus and Zelenay.

Melbourne, Australia

Two easy days and a lot of treatment helped so much that I could play doubles yesterday without a risk of my stomach muscle suffering or not lasting playing.

We lost the match 6-2, 7-6(6). In the first set we played very bad, we both lost our serves once. Then in the second set we got in to the match by playing a little better and controlled that set, having also four set points. The opponents came up with some great shots in those points and we couldn't convert them. That was a pity because we felt that if we could have taken the second set, we most likely would have controlled the third set much more.

It would have been nice to continue playing with Robin of course but I have to be happy that my stomach recovered so fast and I could play the doubles. It's also great that I can try to continue my great form in the tournaments soon in Europe and I don't have to skip any more tournaments because of a serious injury. This was already painful enough to be not able to finish the singles match here. I guess that was the price to pay with this scheduling.

Now after my stomach recovered so fast, it could have been possible that a day off after the final might have saved me and I could have played normal here, maybe not. Anyway, I take it like it is. I'm still very happy with how this trip went. There was nothing I would do different. I'm very satisfied with how I have played, almost only good matches and my game's basic level has been very high.

I reached some goals that I had for the season already this early in the year. One of them was to win a title and the other one was to secure a spot for the Olympic Games. Achieving both of these goals feels great. Now it's time to go for other goals. There are always goals to reach, but I put priority to having the goals in my game...the results will follow. I was pretty confident that I would play myself to the Olympic Games but to do it already now, is very nice. Winning the title is one of the nicest prices I can get from working hard and trying to do the right things. To do it in Sydney, feels especially good. It's a tournament with a long history and the level there always is one of the highest of 250-tournaments during the year.

So, I'm leaving Australia with a very positive feeling. I can enjoy being at home for a few days before leaving for the next tournament (Montpellier) next week. With keeping up the good work and by trying to do the right things and improving every day, I give myself a better chance to achieve my goals in my game. Then the results are the outcome of the work and effort you have put in to it.

Melbourne, Australia

I had to retire against David, the score was then 4-6, 2-4. In the beginning of the match, in my second service game I started to feel pain in the stomach muscles and it got worse from that moment on. I felt it only when I served, otherwise everything was fine. I just couldn't serve normal, then I tried to serve with a different technic and in the end I couldn't serve at all. It took also a major part of my concentration, after the first two games I was thinking if I should stop or continue playing.

I'm feeling maybe better on the court than ever before so I really enjoyed being there, even with the pain and without a serve. I'm also able to play so well at the moment that somehow there was a slight hope that I could break him so many times that I could hang in there and still compete. I almost broke him three times in a row in the second set but it didn't help because he was toying with my service games and broke me three times in a row.

It was also difficult to stop playing, because I HATE quitting. Luckily I was smart enough to stop before I teared the whole muscle. It would have been very stupid to keep going more, there's anyway no hope to beat a player like David without a serve.

I had a stiff stomach muscle after I played against Stepanek in Sydney. I got treatment for that after the match and since that I had absolutely no pain in that muscle. It was totally pain free and it didn't feel stiff either. What is unbelievable is that after playing 12 matches in one week, my body felt that I wouldn't have played a match, I never had this good feeling in the body even after playing one or two matches. I had no pain what so ever anywhere in the body. That's why I was surprised that I got this pain in the stomach yesterday. Even in the match warm up I served normal and felt no pain.

Today I met a tournament doctor who could tell with the ultra sound what is the situation in my stomach. I kept fingers crossed that there's no major damage. Luckily I got good news, no tear, just mild strain and inflamated. He said that it was clever that I stopped playing because by playing more I could have done some major damage, it could have been in the next serve or in the next set, who knows, but the big risk was there. With breaking something in the muscle it could have been a weeks break from serving/competing. Now when there's nothing broken, it can be healed fast with the right treatment.

The rest of the day I got treatment which revealed that my right hip and the right lower back was extremely tight, even though I hadn't felt it. According to the physio, the stiffness in the hip and back has caused the problem that my stomach muscles had been working a lot extra and in the match against Nalbandian, it came close to the maximum limit. That makes really sense because I have done a lot of work for my mid-body area and my stomach muscles are very strong and I haven't had problems with them in 7 years so they should last any amount of serving. By releasing the tension first in the hip, then in the back and then in the stomach made an unbelievable improvement immediately.

I will have another day with a lot of treatment and no serving, and most likely I can play and serve normal and play then doubles on Thursday and the days after that. I go only to the court if I'm sure that I can safely serve normal. I'll listen the professionals. opinion tomorrow again but listening to them today and the improvement what the treatments did today, it seems that my decision to play risk-free or not to play on Thursday, is easy to make.

I'm obviously very happy about the news that there is no major damage done in the muscles but otherwise I have very mixed feelings. It feels that if I would have had one day (or two days, in case that the final would have been played on Saturday and I would have played here on Tuesday) of rest/easy hit after the final, I maybe could have been able to play without getting hurt here. Even though I most likely wouldn't have asked treatment for my stomach because I had no pain there, one day off could have helped a lot or if I could have had time to have an easy practice day here and felt something in the stomach, I still would have had time to get treatments before the match.

Anyway, IFs don't help. First of all it was a coincidence that I happened to won the tournament where I happened to also qualify, make final also in doubles and it was the week before the Slam (where they strictly play half of the draw on Monday and the other half on Tuesday). There's nothing wrong with that, it's also a free choice to play the tournament and I'm very happy that I did play singles and doubles. First of all, if I commit to play something, I play full, all the way, that has always been my principle. I also had no tiredness (what I would have felt) and no pain after the tournament which was amazing after the week I had. Like I mentioned I had no physical problems coming to Melbourne but now after what happened in the match, it's easy to say that I had bad luck first with the rain moving both finals from Saturday to Sunday and then that my half of the draw had to play on Monday.

I also had very mixed feelings yesterday from another reason. I hardly had any time to enjoy the victory when I already had to quit playing in Australian Open. Yesterday when I came to the courts in the morning, about 100 people (players, coaches, physios etc.) congratulated me big time winning the Sydney title, that was nice. Then after I had to retire, same people had to say "bad luck", during the same day, or today, on the following day.

On Sunday I felt like I was king of the hill and then in 24 hours I had big disappointment being not able to play in the first Slam of the year, at the time when I feel extremely good on the court. It still easy to look forward now, after hearing the news that I won't miss more tournaments because of the stomach. I always try to do the right things and I did right things last week and it was definitely the right thing to retire yesterday.

My game is in great shape and even though it's very painful to accept that I couldn't play singles here in one of the main events, I still have about 25 (including Olympic games and 3 Grand Slams where I really want to succeed) tournaments this year and I'm looking forward to continue playing well in those. Now I have also a little bit time to think and enjoy my win last week and obviously I still hope to have chance to enjoy and be able to play and go deep in the draw in doubles here.

Sydney, Australia

I took the title! I beat Benneteau 6-3, 7-5. It's hard to put my feelings into a few words now. I just feel so good. I have done so much work to be able to play well, I have tried to do the right things, to improve every day and I have always believed in myself and in the things I do. Then when you get big wins like today, it's very rewarding.

I feel like I haven't been physically and mentally in better shape than now and I'm also playing maybe better than ever. I had one of my best off seasons in December and I had a very good feeling when I started the season. It was still hard to imagine that when I started qualifying here 9 days ago I would play for two titles later during the week.

Matthew and I lost the doubles final 6-1, 6-4. We got a slow start and Bryans played really well from the beginning to the end. I still had a great week with Matthew, going to the tournament with a wild card, playing together for the first time and making the final.

In the singles final I played smart, tactically right and I served well. It's tough to describe the moment, the 0.5 seconds when you realize you have won the match point and the whole tournament. Every match is a single match and I always just try to do the right things but the fact is that I also wanted to win this final badly. We had to also wait this match for so long so it made the mental preparation more demanding.

Yesterday we had very bad luck with the weather because it started to rain only in the late afternoon, until that the weather was fine. You can't control the weather but I think there shouldn't be an evening final only two days before the Grand Slam. Afternoon final would leave more margin between the tournaments. Anyway, we were more lucky with the rain today. The weather forecast was really bad for the whole day and it was already raining in the morning. The rain stopped after 9.00 but the radar showed and everyone were talking about another huge rainfall soon again. Then suddenly the winds changed and this "perfect storm" started to move to another direction and didn't hit us. In that moment the court was almost dry already.

First you think that the match can't most likely start for at least a few hours because of the rain and then suddenly you are told that you have to play for the title in 30min. Despite of that I could play relaxed, calm and with a good confidence, the way I had played the whole tournament. I have lost many finals on the Tour level and even though I feel that I haven't messed up in any of them (in some other matches yes, I have), the feeling after losing and winning the final is huge. Only a few times I have had 50/50 matches in finals and unfortunately I have lost them. Many times I've been destroyed by a better player even though I have played good or at least ok. I have simply been the second best player of the week then.

Even though Benneteau had been playing great, even better in this tournament (and tennis can't ever be played on the paper, like this tournament's draw showed again), I had the feeling that I was a little favorite for this match, a favorite maybe for the first time going to a Tour final. My body felt still surprisingly fresh and I had a good record against Benneteau in the past, even though that doesn't mean much. I knew that it will be a difficult match like it always is against Julien. He competes hard, plays well and I was sure that he is very hungry to win his first title. If he keeps playing like this, he'll get more chances to go for the title. It has been already 6 years since I won Auckland and I have been so close to winning many titles after that and now when I did it, it feels especially good.

I'll enjoy the moment now but the time for celebration will be later because now I have to start concentrating for tomorrow. My next challenge is already waiting and it's a really tough one for a first round match. At least my match against Nalbandian will be later in the evening so I have a few hours time to adjust to the other place. David is one of the most dangerous players in the world when he is on. I'm playing well, I'm full of confidence after these wins and I'm still not feeling that tired. Hopefully I can keep it up and hopefully my body will hold up and it will be a good match.

I'll play doubles in Melbourne with Robin Haase. We'll play against Elgin and Kudryavtsev, that match will be later during the week.

Before going on the plane to Melbourne, I add a few pictures to this text. There's me with people who worked in the locker room (extremely nice people), me and Jan in front of the Champions board and the Champions corridor with pictures of the tournament's past champions. My name will be on that board and my picture in that corridor soon. It feels very good to be among many big names.

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Sydney, Australia

This was an unlucky day for the tournament, the fans and for us, the players. We supposed to start the singles final at 19.30, but on and off rain started at 17.00, just when I was supposed to have my warm up hit. From that on it has rained more or less the whole evening. There were only short breaks when it didn't rain and the court had time to dry (thanks to people who were working on the court). Once we were only 5 min from starting the match but then it started to rain again. This on and off rain is the most difficult for the players because you have to be all the time ready to play in about 30 min (that's the time it takes to dry the court here). Then at 21.15 the matches were cancelled.

Our new starting time is tomorrow morning at 10.00. At least the situation is same for both players but I really hope for everyone that the weather will be better tomorrow and the finals can be played. I also have to get to Melbourne during tomorrow (I just cancelled the morning flight there which I originally supposed to fly with). I was hoping that my half of the draw (other half plays on Monday and the other plays on Tuesday) but unluckily it's scheduled for Monday. My opponent there will be Nalbandian but I'm not thinking or interested about that at all at the moment. I have first two matches to play tomorrow and hopefully the rain won't move them anymore because there are no extra days left anymore, Grand Slam won't wait. I also want to play those matches, I have come so far already and I want to get the last challenges as well.

Now I'll sleep, I'm tired of waiting the whole evening. I can't control the weather so I just wait, stay positive and relax until it's time to play.

Sydney, Australia

Double duty again, on the final day of the tournament, I can't complain. I think I haven't been in the finals in singles and doubles in the same week since the junior years. I also can't remember the last time when I have had 10 wins in a row. I try to keep up the winning streak as long as possible.

Today was a good day on the court. First I beat Istomin 7-6(12), 6-3. My legs were not that sharp during the first 4 games but then I started to move and play better after that. The first set tie-break was obviously one of the key moments in the match. I have been playing my best in the tightest moments here, that what confidence usually does to everyone. Istomin had also confidence after winning so many matches and I could feel that he was also able to step up in the tie-break. After the first 6 points of the tie-break, the quality of the game was extremely high. We both played aggressive, served well and didn't miss any easy shots. I felt that I didn't do anything wrong there, both of us just came up with good shots all the time... we had few amazing points. I just tried to stay aggressive and fight as much as I could, I knew that it's a huge factor to win that tie-break. Luckily I could win it and take a big momentum.

In the second set I broke him once and by holding all my service games, I took the set 6-3 and the spot in the final. Score in the doubles semifinal was 6-3, 7-6(4). We continued playing well and solid, we didn't lose our serves in the whole match and used our chances well.

Both finals will be tomorrow evening, first the singles and then after suitable rest, the doubles final. Singles final will be against Benneteau. He has obviously played well here, being in the final. He hasn't dropped a set so far so he must feel pretty good as well. He has also definitely improved in some of the areas in his game. It will be another tough challenge to try to beat him, but I'm feeling very good at the moment.

My body is still ok, even though I haven't had any days off during this whole trip. I'm really looking forward for tomorrow, it.s always great to play in the finals. The doubles final will be against Bryan brothers. One more day and two more matches left in Sydney. Days has gone so fast here because I have played matches every day. That's the way I like.

Sydney, Australia

I beat Reynolds 6-3, 6-3. Until 6-3, 1-0 I played really well, the way I wanted to play and I could really control the game. Then I played one sloppy game, Reynolds broke me and it took me half set to find the right way to play again. Reynolds also started to play better and more aggressive but I let him to do it for a few games by playing a bit worse than before. He was close to break me again when I was serving in 4-3 in the second set, it was already 0-40, but then I could hit 3 aces in next 4 points and hold my serve. In the end I broke him to 6-3.

Tomorrow I'll play first the singles semifinal against Istomin and then later in the afternoon the doubles semifinal against other wild cards, Matosevic and Ebelthite. Istomin beat Gasquet today, he has obviously played well here. He has also won 6 singles matches here and he is for sure confident like me. We have had very close matches before so I'm expecting a difficult match again but anyway, there's usually nothing more to expect when you are in the semifinal stage.

Despite of the amount of matches I have played this week, my body still feels surprisingly fresh (knocking the wood at the same time!), hopefully it stays that way. It has helped that most of my matches hasn't been that long and I have been able to control them quite well. Now I'll take it easy the rest of the day, eat well and enjoy the moment, read and listen some rock.

Sydney, Australia

I like these kind of days a lot! I beat Stepanek 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-1. I'm very happy that I could beat him this time. Stepanek has been a difficult opponent for me. I had lost against him a couple of last matches what we have played.

I played a lot better now than a week ago. Like I have written earlier, I have been hitting the ball and also moved much better here than in Brisbane and today I continued playing well. I'm especially happy about the fact how well I played the whole third set, after a frustrating second set loss. There was many breaks in the first two sets (like in many other matches today, singles and doubles) because it was extremely windy today. Then for about 1,5 sets the sun was in the middle of the toss (that happens often if you play at a certain time) so the sun and sometimes the huge wind together made serving very difficult. Both of us just tried to put the serve to the box. That changed when the sun moved away from the serving zone. In the third set I actually served really well. Good thing is that the conditions are always same for both players. Despite of the wind, my timing in the ground stokes was very good and I could hit aggressive all the time. If I have to pick my best shot of the match, it was definitely my passing shots, they were in fire.

Later after the singles we beat Mirnyi and Nestor in doubles 0-6, 7-5, 10-4. We had an unbelievable comeback, we were down 0-8... 0-6, 0-2. We lost 4 no-ad-points and all tight games so the score looked really ugly. Nestor and Mirnyi played really well and absolutely everything seemed to go in their way. We still stayed positive and kept fighting with Ebden. We also felt that we hadn't done that much wrong, opponents were just playing great and had a big momentum. Then we got a couple of games, got in to the match and started playing like a dream. We broke them twice in a row in the end of the second set and then played extremely good match-tie-break. It feels so good to beat such a great team. They are 2. in the rankings and especially hot pair just now, winning the Masters in the end of the year and Brisbane last week.

Singles quarterfinal will be tomorrow against Reynolds who upset the second seed Isner today. The doubles semifinal will be on Friday.

Sydney, Australia

We won the doubles with Ebden 6-1, 6-7(6), 10-3. We played well, held all our service games, returned and volleyed well and in the end, played a very good match-tie-break. It was nice to play with Ebden, he has a good talent and he is playing smart with a great attitude. I really enjoyed playing with him and we were a good team, even though we played first time together.

Tomorrow we'll get a tough challenge against the last week's winners, Nestor and Mirnyi. Hopefully we'll keep playing well. Before that I'll play singles against Stepanek. I'm looking forward to that.

Last three days has been very hot here. The day I played against Robert, was also a very humid day. It's really good to play matches in tough conditions before playing best of five sets matches in Melbourne. Shoes just don't last long when the surface is sticky and hot. I'm using my second pair of tennis shoes at the moment. I took four pairs of them with me to this trip. First ones lasted for 9 days, then I could almost see my toes from the other shoe.

Sydney, Australia

I beat Duckworth 6-2, 6-2 today. After the beginning I could control the match pretty well. I'm satisfied with the fact that I have won my last matches in a very convenient way and there is still room for improvement in some parts of the game. Yesterday's match was definitely this trip's best match so far.

It was nice to start playing main draw when you have already three wins under your belt. If you are not feeling tired from the qualification matches, those wins help a lot, you are gamewise really in the tournament, especially when the qualification is tough like here. All three qualifiers who played today, actually won their matches.

Tomorrow I'll play doubles with Ebden. My next singles will be on Wednesday against the winner of the match Stepanek vs. Malisse.

Sydney, Australia

I had a good day at the office, I beat Robert 6-2, 6-2. I was playing smart and hitting the ball very well, over all I'm hitting the ball much better here than in Brisbane. I'm also satisfied that I could beat Robert so easy today. I lost against him last year and the first time I played him, I won 7-5 in the third so he hasn't been an easy opponent for me before.

I'll continue playing tomorrow, my first main draw match will be against Duckworth, he is an Australian who got a wild card for the tournament. I had never seen him before last week when he played in Brisbane. It was good to see him play because now I know a little bit what to expect. I won't expect it to be easy because he played really well in Brisbane, beating Mahut and he also played a good match against Simon.

I got a wild card for the doubles here with Ebden, that was very nice. We'll play against M. Lopez and Andujar, that match will most likely be on Tuesday.

Sydney, Australia

This day was schedulewise a little bit "back to the roots": first match at 9:00 in the morning and second at 13:30 the same day. That doesn't happen often on the Tour, only here in Sydney and maybe in some other tournament as well, but not in many. Especially here in Sydney it can be tough because it can be 40 degrees warm. Luckily today was under 30. I was also lucky in my first match, I had to play only one set which saved a lot of energy for the afternoon match. I was leading 6-1, 1-0, 30-0 when my opponent, Delic had to retire because of a shoulder injury. Hopefully Delic's shoulder gets better for Melbourne, he is a nice guy and a good player as well.

In the afternoon I beat Begemann 6-2, 6-3, it was quite a convenient win. Someone played 6 sets today so I was happy to get through the day only by playing three. I'm also quite happy with the way I played. The last round of qualification will be tomorrow, I'll play against Robert.

Now it's time to go for a dinner with an Estonian mate, Jürgen Zopp. He is also playing here and he was also in Brisbane. Here is a picture from yesterday when we went for a dinner to the harbor.

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Brisbane, Australia

I lost against Stepanek 7-6(3), 6-2. He played well but I didn't. The quality of my game was just not good. After the match I went straight to the gym and trained hard. It's good to do something active after a frustrating loss and usually I get a good training session out of it. Then I feel better afterwards and it's easier to look forward again. It's better option than to go alone to the hotel room and discuss with the walls how bad you played.

Now I'm looking forward to get to Sydney. I'll fly there tomorrow. I continue practicing there, the goal is to get better quality to my strokes and game. Hopefully I'll also get some more matches there, that would be good before Australian Open. I start qualifying in Sydney on Saturday.

Brisbane, Australia

I beat Levine 7-6(4), 6-2. It's always nice to win the season's first match, doesn't matter how experienced you are. It was mentally and physically a good game. I played smart and better in the big moments. Physically it was also a good test because it was warm out there, 30 degrees and on the court it felt closer to 40 Celsius because the surface was so hot. I'm very satisfied that all the hard work on the fitness side during the off season paid off so clearly already in the first match of the year. Levine seemed to get bit tired in some stages of the match. I'm also happy about how I took the momentum after he could break me back in the first set. Quality- and strokewise there was room for improvement, even though there was good parts as well. I'll have a chance to raise the quality of my game already tomorrow when I play against Stepanek.

Brisbane, Australia

Happy new year to everyone! My preparation here in Brisbane is over and now it's time to play matches. I've practiced with Zopp, Kamke, Murray, Melzer, Rojer, Stepanek, Müller, Matosevic and Giraldo during these days here. I'm very happy the way I have adjusted to the time difference this time. Luckily I have always been quite good in that (which helps in this profession) but now I have slept almost normal from the first night on and I haven't been tired during the days. It took more time to get used to the heat but I knew it when I came here and that's why I came early enough, I'm already feeling physically good as well. Now it's just a matter of putting the pieces together in the game.

My first match will be tomorrow against Jesse Levine who came from qualification. It was good that I happened to watch his match for a while today when he beat Kamke because it's already a couple of years since I played him in Melbourne and I haven't seen him play much after that. Today he played really well so I'm expecting a tough match tomorrow. Because I've practiced a lot here earlier, today, the day before the match, I practiced less.

Now I'm on the way back to the hotel. After doing pilates in the hotel's gym, I'm planning to go to the music store which is only 2 blocks from my hotel... I'm still always exited to check out the local cd-stores. The pictures are from the tournament's activity area where I was giving autographs for the kids today and the outside court where I most likely play tomorrow.

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