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**AlistDakisa** · 06-11-2011, 08:51 AM

11:45 am - 1 pm: Nieminen v. Ebden. I move to the far side of the court (facing the umpire's chair) -- and discover, after the match begins, that I'm now a few seats away from Nieminen's coach, who periodically mutters encouragement to JN, in English: "C'mon, Jarkko." "Good basic pace. Good movement." "Just play. Point by point." "Move as good as possible and just play." "C'mon, c'mon. Positive. Here we go." "Is good, Jarkko. Active. You're the one. Let's go."

I'm so close to the court that a ball hops into my lap 2 minutes in. The ballkids are extremely well-rehearsed and adorably intense. (Their kits are ugly, though.) The roof is low enough that it gets hit by at least two of Ebden's shanks. The match is much closer than the scoreline indicates (many, many deuces) and Jarkko is visibly frustrated for much of it, talking back at his coach at one point, snapping his towel, and at one point methodically bouncing his racquet in a square pattern within the service box. Ebden questions one call with an incredulous "Really?"

One of the linesmen sounds and looks like Neil Patrick Harris. This is the point when I realize that even though I'm a Jarkko fan, it's time to head to Court 1.

06-11-2011, 08:51 AM	#10
AlistDakisa Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 537 Senior Member	11:45 am - 1 pm: Nieminen v. Ebden. I move to the far side of the court (facing the umpire's chair) -- and discover, after the match begins, that I'm now a few seats away from Nieminen's coach, who periodically mutters encouragement to JN, in English: "C'mon, Jarkko." "Good basic pace. Good movement." "Just play. Point by point." "Move as good as possible and just play." "C'mon, c'mon. Positive. Here we go." "Is good, Jarkko. Active. You're the one. Let's go." I'm so close to the court that a ball hops into my lap 2 minutes in. The ballkids are extremely well-rehearsed and adorably intense. (Their kits are ugly, though.) The roof is low enough that it gets hit by at least two of Ebden's shanks. The match is much closer than the scoreline indicates (many, many deuces) and Jarkko is visibly frustrated for much of it, talking back at his coach at one point, snapping his towel, and at one point methodically bouncing his racquet in a square pattern within the service box. Ebden questions one call with an incredulous "Really?" One of the linesmen sounds and looks like Neil Patrick Harris. This is the point when I realize that even though I'm a Jarkko fan, it's time to head to Court 1.
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