Meet Our Young Torch Bearers

You must be one of the youngest torch bearers in Eastbourne Lauren, how old are you?

I’m 15 years old, still at the Angmering School in Year 10, but nearly in Year 11.

So tell us about your reaction when you found out you had been selected to carry the Olympic Torch, I bet you’ve got some very jealous friends at the moment?

I never thought that I would end up carrying the torch, so when I found out I was so shocked and so excited. I am really into sport and looking forward to the Olympics, it’s such an exciting year and to be apart of it is even better. I can’t wait for my day to run and to be part of the 8,000 inspiring people. All my friends are really supportive and coming up on the day to watch! 

Tell us about your passion for sports?
Sport is brilliant, as much as I enjoy school and my other subjects; PE has to be the best! My achievements in sport are being captain for Worthing rugby club and then getting into Sussex and then getting trials for South of England, but unfortunately I didn't get in. I am really into outdoor sports like kayaking and adventure activities as I was part of the scouts and was very involved until I was too old and then volunteered at the local beavers club for over a year. I play all sports at my school and am always willing to do after school fixtures. If my teachers need help in sports leading then I always help out. I won sports personality of the year for 2011/12 and can’t wait for when I leave school to help younger children get more involved with sport. I play basketball, athletics, stool ball, rounders, rugby and netball. I am really enthusiastic about PE and was able to take my GCSE a year early and got an A - which means next year I can work on teaching skills, if I ever want to go down that route.

I guess you won’t need to do much preparation for the big day, as you do a lot of sports. Are you nervous about it?

I’m really nervous, but I’m more excited to be able to celebrate sport, see everyone there and have all my family and friends around me.

Tell us about your nomination for a bravery award for saving someone’s life, what happened?

Yes, I got nominated for a bravery award at the Windmill Theatre. It was just a natural instinct really, I saw I woman was distressed and she was trying to drown herself, so I knew that it was important for me to help her out. So I swam out and helped her back to land. It was quite deep but I knew that I’m a pretty good swimmer and she was more important at the time. I would of done it if it was anyone, I’m always willing to help and it was horrible seeing someone so upset and wanting to end there life.

What are your plans for the future?

Well I originally wanted to be a PE teacher but now I really want to be part of the police force - helping out people and making the streets safer. If I don't get into the police I would be very disappointed, but then I would go into teaching. Recently I did my work experience at the Orchards Middle School in Worthing and I really enjoyed being part of the PE department. They made me feel very welcome and I loved working with the children.

Do you live in Eastbourne, if so how long how you lived in the town? (If not, where? Do you live nearby?)

No I don’t live in Eastbourne; I live in Ferring near Worthing. Its about an hour away, it would of been good if I was closer to home but I’m happy to be there and would of traveled anywhere to be part of the relay. I do go to Eastbourne a lot for my Sussex training - it’s a lovely place to run.

Will you have friends and family coming along to the Torch Relay in Eastbourne to cheer you on?

Yes, all my friends and family are coming, from all over the place. Luckily I have a few cousins that live in Eastbourne so it’s great they can come. Hopefully my friends can get the day off school because it wouldn't be the same without them there. It’s a shame my PE teacher, Miss White, can’t be there as I wouldn't have got into sport or joined rugby if it wasn't for her, and all my rugby coaches who have helped me progress throughout the years.

Thanks for speaking to me Lauren - best of luck on the day! Hope you enjoy yourself, I’m sure you will remember it forever.

Lily

David Bradford - Olympic Torch Bearer

Let’s meet out latest torch bearer, David Bradford who will be carrying the torch through Eastbourne next Tuesday 17 July.

A big congratulations to you David on being selected to carry the Olympic Torch. Tell us about your reaction when you first found out?It was an honour just to be nominated, so I was really pleased to find out I had been selected.

The charity RP Fighting Blindness nominated you to be a torch bearer, why was this?
I have the eyesight condition retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a progressive disorder affecting the retina of the eye. I was diagnosed in 2006. The charity RP Fighting Blindness – which funds medical research into finding treatments for RP – nominated me because I raise money for them each year by organising Canter for Sight, a team of runners that takes part in the Kings Head Canter 5k run from Chiddlingly to East Hoathly. www.justgiving.com/canterforsight12

Could you tell me more about your sight condition, retinitis pigmentosa?
It's a genetic condition that causes the gradual loss of photo-receptor cells in the retina of the eye. This causes night-blindness at first, followed by the loss of peripheral vision and ultimately complete blindness. I currently have night-blindness and some loss of mid-peripheral vision; my view of the world is best described as 'patchy'!

You’ve run the London Marathon, tell us why your diagnosis made you even more inspired to take part and achieve a person best of two hours and 38 minutes?
When I was diagnosed, my driving license was revoked, so I had to give up motorcycling – one of my main interests at the time (I was a journalist on a motorcycle magazine). This meant I had more time and energy available for running. I'm currently training for the Berlin Marathon, where I hope to run sub-2hrs 35mins.

How has your life changed since being diagnosed? It sounds like you still continue to do a lot of the things you love?
Apart from no longer being permitted to ride motorcycles, my life hasn't changed greatly. I went back to university and studied for an MA; I wrote a dissertation on examples of blindness in literature, from Sophocles, to Milton, to Diderot and into modern times and writers such as JM Coetzee. It was interesting to learn about how fundamental vision is in western culture and philosophy. My nighttime vision is poor, so getting around after dark can be tricky; I much prefer summertime - the longer daylight hours. I'm doing more running than ever, too.

Are you looking forward to the Olympics being held in London, what sports will you be watching in particular?
I'm most looking forward to the middle- and long-distance track events, and hoping Mo Farah wins a medal at the 5,000m - and possibly the 10,000m too.

Are you nervous about being one of Eastbourne’s Olympic Torch Bearers, how have you been preparing for the big day?
I'm slightly nervous, but I figure 300m should be fairly straightforward – a marathon is 42,000m!

What’s your next project and goals for the future?
A PB at the Berlin Marathon, hopefully some more writing projects, and more fundraising.

Finally, 2012 is a momentous year for Britain, what lasting legacy would you like to see from these fantastic celebrations?
It would be nice to think the Olympics will inspire people to take up sport, and discover the enjoyment it can give - whether that's simply jogging a couple of times per week or training hard to compete in marathons. The UK has problems with high rates of obesity and related health problems, including mental health issues, and exercise can be a great, drug-free solution. It needs investment at grassroots level, not only money for the top tier of sportspeople, and I'm not wholly optimistic about that happening.

Thank you David for sharing your inspiring story with us and once again congratulations to you! To find out more about David and to follow his marathon progress visit his website at www.dbfreelance.co.uk

Lily

Carrying the Olympic Flame... Kate Steer

You must be delighted to have been chosen to carry the Olympic Torch through Eastbourne Kate – where were you when you were told you had been selected and tell us about your reaction?
I was at home when I found out that I was definitely carrying the torch and I was amazed and really honoured.

Tell us about your passion for music and involvement with local schools?
I have always loved music and have strong memories of the teachers who inspired me at both primary and secondary school. I started to get involved at Seaford Primary when my first son started. I used to play the piano for the Christmas productions and then started to help with the recorder club. Over the years I got more and more involved. I became a teaching assistant in the afternoons and eventually helped the teachers out with their music lessons. I became an HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) in March 2005 and have been leading the music in school since about then. When the children were young I used to teach guitar at home to children on a one-to-one basis and also an adult group in the evening .

Apparently one of the choirs that you teach has sang at the o2 arena in London?
I first took our after-school choir to sing at the o2 arena in London two years ago and it was a fantastic experience for them (and me!) They sing with around 8000 children who have learned the same songs, rehearsing in the afternoon and then perform to a huge audience in the evening. I'm expecting to take about 100 children to the next one.

I hear you are organising a fantastic event for children called ‘Proms in the Playground’, what’s this about?
'Proms in the playground' was an exhilarating and exhausting four-evening event. We started with dance night, followed with instrumental night, then key stage one and year three night, ending with the 'Last Night of the Proms'. It was a huge success and the children were amazing. There were performances from both choirs (Chamber and after-school choir), the orchestra, stylophone club, various bands, soloists (dance, instrumental and voice) and a fantastic time was had by all 152 children who took part. On the last night, the audience were standing, waving their flags and singing along to 'Land of Hope & Glory' accompanied by the orchestra. We can't wait to do it all again next year!

And tell us more about your involvement in the local community (care homes)?
I take groups of children to sing in the community and we visit several care/nursing homes/sheltered housing/groups. There is only one venue, however, that I can take all the children to! We go in small groups, generally at Christmas but sometimes at other times during the year. It's good for the children to 'give' to others and they are encouraged to talk with residents after the concerts.

A lot of the funds you raise go to your link school in Nairobi, when was this link initially set up and do you have any plans to visit (or have you)?
As a school, we have a link with the 'Church Army Academy' in Nairobi (set up several years ago) and support them by sending funds each year that we have raised from our summer concerts (Proms). I don't have any current plans to visit but you never know as my brother and his wife have moved to Kenya for five years so it is now a possibility! We usually send around £300, which goes a long way. Some of the teachers have been known to teach for no pay when times are really tough. We are pleased to be sending off £400 this year after our 'Proms' marathon!

Do you live in Eastbourne, if so how long how you lived in the town? (If not, where? Do you live nearby?)
I live in Seaford and have been here since 1988. I enjoy shopping in Eastbourne on a regular basis, but try to stay out of the music shops as I always spend too much in them!!!

How have you been preparing for the big day?
In preparation for the day I have been trying to get a bit fitter! I go to Zumba and exercise in the mornings before school on my wii fit! The children are helping me at lunch times by escorting me jogging around the school field. They are taking it in turns to hold my inflatable torch!

Will the children you teach be coming along to the Torch Relay in Eastbourne to cheer you on?
I believe that around 160 of the children are coming over to cheer me on! They are allowed to leave school at lunch time.

Finally, 2012 is a momentous year for Britain, what lasting legacy would you like to see from these fantastic celebrations?
I'm hoping that a lasting legacy of the games might be more unity between the people of the UK along with support and understanding of each other. Also I 'm sure it will give the children some wonderful memories to tell their grandchildren!

Good luck and thank you for your time Kate - look forward to seeing you (and all your supporters there on the day!)

Lily

Eastbourne's Olympic Torch Bearers

Meet our next Olympic Torch Bearer in Eastbourne – Gavin Owen, who will be carrying the torch through our town on 17 July.

Firstly big congratulations to you Gavin, you must be so excited to have been chosen. What was your first reaction when you heard the news?
Yes, I was somewhat shocked to find I had been chosen, especially after reading some of the other nominations. I’m proud that I’m one of 8,000 people chosen to carry the flame on its journey to the Olympic Stadium.

Your friend Rona nominated you initially, why was this?
Rona nominated me for my passion in the community – which includes running marathons and other events for children’s charities like C-R-Y (Cardiac Risk in the Young). I have helped organise Pride in Brighton for over 10 years and London Pride for the last five years and because I always put my friends before myself and will help them out whenever I can.

You’ve run the Brighton Marathon a few times now, what was it that initially inspired you to take part in these?
After I had completed a tandem parachute jump I decided to try something different. Knowing that I like to jog I thought why not give the marathon a go – it was also the Brighton Inaugural Marathon in 2010 that inspired me.

Tell us more about your involvement with Pride in Brighton and Hove, and London?
I first got involved in Brighton Pride back in 2000 when a friend asked me to help. Having done such a good job as a steward I was asked to help out the following year and this then became a regular event in my life. I have covered all areas as a steward, including being the Chief Steward. I got involved in London Pride a few years later when another friend asked me. Once again I covered many different areas and this year I’m going to be in the ELT department.

Why do you think the judges selected you, I hear one of them was particularly inspired by your achievements?
Once closing date has passed back in December all nominations went to a panel of judges. Sophie Johnstone loved my nomination due to my enthusiasm and my zest for life that came across in my nomination, and that I raise money for charity.

Do you live in Eastbourne Gavin, if so for how long have you lived here, if not do you live nearby?Unfortunately I’m not an Eastbourne resident; I’m actually a born and bred Brightonian. I do however have family members that live in Eastbourne – due to the logistics of the torch relay not everyone was able to have their hometown.

Are you looking forward to the Olympics being held in London, what sports will you be watching in particular?
Yes, I’m looking forward to both the Olympics and Paralympics and although I haven’t gained any tickets I will certainly be watching it all on the television! I’m probably going to watch as many sports as possible, but swimming will definitely be at the top of my list.

Are you nervous about being one of Eastbourne’s Olympic Torch Bearers, how have you been preparing for the big day?
Nervous? No definitely not – I’m so excited it’s unbelievable. I guess I will be nervous on the day though as the whole work will be watching! I’m taking preparing for this momentous day very seriously. I keep up to date on the Torch Relay on the BBC via iPlayer and I’m regularly down the gym training on the treadmill – although we only carry the torch for approximately 300 metres!

What’s your next project and goals for the future?
I have a few projects in the pipeline – including a 10k run in Brighton on the 18 November and then the Brighton Marathon in 2013. I’m also considering looking into doing a personal trainer course later in the year. And I’m also a Games Maker for the Paralympics.

Finally, 2012 is a momentous year for Britain, what lasting legacy would you like to see from these fantastic celebrations?
I hope that these events will inspire people to go out and try something new, whether this be trying a new sport or helping someway in the community. I hope that the Games continue to inspire others and pass the legacy onto future generations.

Thanks for talking to us Gavin. Wishing you the best of luck on the big day on Tuesday 17 July – let’s hope all that training pays off!

Lily

AEGON International Guest Blog - Finals on Saturday 23 June

Words and Photos By Matthew Arnold.

After a titanic penultimate day of the championships, many would have wondered if finals day left any room for drama on centre court. After bad weather had thrown it's unseasonal spanner in the works, our finalists had been forced to play both their quarter finals and semi finals matches all in one day.

These kind of situations usually bring out the fighting spirit and thankfully at midday two gladiatoral warriors of the womens game stepped out onto a warmly receptive centre court. What made this encounter even more enthralling is that not only were they battling the fatigue of the previous days exertions, but also a very blustery wind, playing havoc with both serves and ground strokes.

Fastest out of the blocks was the promising German, Angelique Kerber, who with her platted blond locks is certainly worthy of the 'Angel' contained in her first name. Showing no signs of weariness, she bullied her way through the first three games, taking a break of serve against the initially timid, Tamira Paszek.

Photos by Matthew Arnold.

Fortunately for the Eastbourne crowd, this was not going to be a swift and unsatisfying match that would have you sipping the remainder of your much-needed coffee before you'd barely stirred in the sugar. What we were about to witness was an epic battle balanced finely between two women that were both desperate to get their name on the silverware.

Initially Kerber narrowly took the first set 7-5 with some solid play, often chisseling away at the Paszek backhand, but it was spirited Austrian who turned the tables in the second set. With the crowd tilted decidedly in Paszeks favour, we saw her rally to a 6-3 reverse against a, by now, sulky looking Kerber.

The demeanor however, did not match the response, as again Kerber fought back in the decisive third set. With brute strength belying the tiredness she must have been feeling within, Kerber edged out in front and looked to have outlasted her opponent, when a little over two hours of play gone, she brought up 5:3 and love 40 on the Paszek serve. The tension was palpable as evident on every one of Tamira's support team, who had been vocal throughout the entire match. Then something happened that took this final into realms of the legendary as Angelique disintegrated into a bag of nerves and squandered nearly half a dozen championship points.

Photos by Matthew Arnold.

Although the shift in momentum was obvious after that epic game, it was Paszek who was in the most trouble physically as she twice called for assistance of the trainer. Delving deep into her reserves, Paszek somehow managed to claw her way back level and then overtake her opponent with some gutsy tennis. By this time it was almost as if her name had already been etched on the trophy as after a couple of squandered oportunities, Paszek converted a championship point, sank to her knees and kissed the Devonshire Park turf in front of an elated support team.

One couldn't help feeling for Kerber as she buried her head in her towel and tried to make sense of how she let the title slip out of her hands. But this was Tamira's day and Centre Court had their preferred victor walk away with their first senior tour title.

After a brief turnaround we were treated to an almost celebrity like event, as Andy Roddick strutted onto a court many of us would only ever expect to see him do in our most ridiculous flights of fancy. He may be well down in the rankings and not even US number one, but to all of us packed into Centre Court, this was a living legend that still had magic wafting out of his Babolat Prodrive racquet. It was hard not to have sympathy for his worthy adversary Andreas Seppi, who has had a fantastic season so far and was more than capable of upending the American squaring up at the other side of the net. But with serves of 135mph and blazing forehands, this was as one-sided a final as you are ever likely to see. The first set notched up by Roddick 6-3 in roughly half an hour and victory coming in in about the same again, this was an emphatic statement that no one should ever right off Roddicks chances of finally capturing the elusive Wimbledon title.

Photos by Matthew Arnold.

With just the Womens doubles left to bring the curtain down on another successful tournament, the general conscensus was that this had surely been the finest year yet at Devonshire Park. Heading through the mist of a slowly receding barbeque, I exited the grounds with an appreciative face ruddied by the sun and windburn and a whole load of happy memories that should last well beyond the 12 months I will have to wait until the next years championships.

AEGON International Guest Blog - Friday 22 June

Words By Ross Hudson. http://rosshudsoneastbournetennis.blogspot.co.uk/
Photos By Mark Jarvis.

What do Eastbourne and Miami have in common?

They both have tennis tournaments renowned for having some of the windiest playing conditions on the WTA and ATP Tours. A few weeks ago the Rome tournament also experienced exceptionally gusty winds. So Eastbourne is certainly not alone in feeling the force of blustery weather, and the effects it can have on tennis balls struck by world-class players.

Today saw some of the windiest conditions most players had ever played against - in effect, they had two opponents: the player on the other side of the net, and the wind. The conditions were also, of course, challenging for the spectators. Yet there was no rain, it was mostly sunny all day, the tennis was fascinating, and often of incredibly high quality; and the line-up of matches was so sumptuous, it wasn't so much a feast as a banquet.

 

Photos by Mark Jarvis.


Originally due to be semi-finals day, it turned out to be men's quarter-finals day as well. Following the controversial decision, at about 5pm on Thursday, to postpone all men's matches, due to concerns over the weather forecast, fans with tickets to Court 1, or a Ground Pass, had a real treat in store. This included the unlikely scenario of Andy Roddick on Court 3! That became a reality when Court 1 wasn't initially ready for play, due to some of the heavy rain seeping in overnight.

Roddick battled to a three-set win over Fabio Fognini. When court one began play after the hiatus, defending champion Andreas Seppi faced Philipp Kohlschreiber, conqueror last week of Rafael Nadal on grass at the Halle tournament. Unfortunately, Kohlschreiber was forced to pull out, trailing Seppi by a set and 2-1, due to an ankle injury.

Centre court, meanwhile, was witnessing an incredible match between defending champion (and world no. 9) Marion Bartoli, and battling underdog (and world no. 59), Austria's Tamira Paszek.

I saw Paszek play a qualifying match on an outside court last year, and was struck by how bubbly and gregarious she was when greeting autograph hunters after the match. Nearly all players are polite and pleasant on these occasions, but more than most she seems to genuinely love the experience of playing in front of a crowd, and meeting fans afterwards. Before her first match this week, she tweeted a "love Eastbourne" hashtag - she knows how to ingratiate herself with the locals!

  Her cheerfulness is particularly impressive considering she hasn't yet achieved the stellar results her early career suggested. In 2007, aged 16, she was beating top players in big matches, and reaching the 4th round at Wimbledon and the US Open. She looked to be a tip for the top, but since then injuries and some weaknesses in her game have seen her struggle to reach the highest level. She's an exciting player to watch, hitting with huge power despite her lack of height. She reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon last year, but her conqueror there, Victoria Azarenka, looked to have bigger shots and more versatility.

Paszek's serve can be a major weakness, and this looked to be an even bigger problem in the wind, as Marion Bartoli seemed to have that extra know-how. The Frenchwoman took the first set 6-4, and raced to a 4-0 lead in the second. It had already been a long match, full of lengthy points and interesting shots, as both players found inventive ways to adapt their games to the extraordinary conditions. But the match was about to get a whole lot longer.

Tamira Paszek gave a superb fightback to win the second set. Marion Bartoli's cause was not helped by a fall in the hard-fought final set. Finally, Paszek managed to dig in and dethrone the champion, in a match that lasted over three hours.



Photos by Mark Jarvis.


The second women's semi-final was a contrastingly short affair. Fifth seed Angelique Kerber is the world no. 8 - another indication of how many top-ranked women play at Eastbourne. This year has seen a huge breakthrough for the 24-year-old German, and on Thursday she recorded her 39th match win of 2012 - more than any other female player. Her left-handed game is looking mighty impressive on grass, while her Czech opponent, Klara Zakopalova, never really looked able to combat the conditions. She hit a few formidable forehands, giving an indication of how she managed to be the only player to take a set off Maria Sharapova at the recent French Open, but it was almost all about Kerber, who triumphed 6-0, 6-3.

On court one, the first ever all-British men's doubles final on the ATP Tour was taking place. Third seeds Ross Hutchins and Colin Fleming beat Ken Skupski and Jamie Delgado 6-4, 6-3.
The whole Devonshire Park site was teeming with matches and spectators. A day like today brings into even sharper focus the importance of all the staff and volunteers across the whole site, in keeping the event going and working. I'd like to, at this point, give a mention to Will and Sophie on the Convex catering stand between centre and no. 1 court. They've been extremely affable and friendly with customers each time I've seen them, despite often being rushed off their feet during the "stampedes" between centre court matches. Today, like everybody, they faced all the extra challenges of the weather, as the wind blew nearly everything that wasn't nailed down (and it's very difficult to nail down packets of sugar, tea-stirrers and coffee-cup lids!).

Andy Roddick made it onto centre court at almost 5pm, for his second match of the day. He'd lost six matches in a row before this event, but now looks to be rediscovering the winning habit. He played well in his semi-final against Belgium's Steve Darcis, but sadly there was another injury withdrawal, as Darcis was forced to retire with a back problem, when trailing by a set and 3-1. This gave Roddick the 600th victory of his career. The word "retirement" has been bandied about a lot recently when referring to Roddick, but right now the word "longevity" seems more appropriate.

But who would he play in the final? His American compatriot Ryan Harrison, or Italian defending champion Andreas Seppi?

20-year-old Harrison is one of the "up and coming" young players Eastbourne is fortunate to witness each year. This week he's gone further in the tournament than the more hotly-tipped Bernard Tomic.



Photos by Mark Jarvis.


Today, Seppi edged the first set 7-5, before charging ahead in the second. Harrison became frustrated and stroppy, earning a code violation warning for ball abuse. His mood did lighten, however, when, at 1-4 and 0-40 down, he turned to one of the members of the now quickly thinning-out crowd (it was well after 7pm, and becoming quite cold), who was calling out support for him, and said, "Thanks. I need all the help I can get right now."

In the end, though, Andreas Seppi pulled off a 7-5, 6-1 victory.

So it's Roddick against Seppi, and Kerber against Paszek, in the singles finals tomorrow, plus there's the women's doubles final. The weather forecast is better, expected to be blustery, but very much less so than today, and likely to be sunny and dry.

So the stage is set for a fascinating finale to the week.

AEGON International Guest Blog - Thursday 21 June

Words By Gabriella De Feo.

Cloudy skies cast over dry courts as my mum and I arrived for the quarter finals of the AEGON International Tennis Championships in Eastbourne.

Much to my delight (and my mum’s), the complimentary tickets I had won as a result of my blog entry were for centre court; we knew we were in for an exciting day.

Numerous rounds of applause echoed around Devonshire Park as British ladies doubles Laura Robson and Heather Watson were taking part in their match against top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond. The British pair eventually lost the quarter final 6-4 7-6 (3) but that didn’t stop the support from the British crowd, who remained vocal throughout the day.

A further ladies’ doubles quarterfinal took place despite the weather, with Anna-lena Groenefeld and Klara Zakopalova of Germany and the Czech Republic respectively, defeating Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and Zheng Jie of China, 6-4 7-5.

Devonshire Park was a sea of blue for the tournament, with Marion Bartoli of France taking on Lucie Safarova in the first quarter final of the day. The defending champion came through with a 6-4 6-2 victory, which included a sensational eight aces, undoubtedly showing she is on top form in the run up to Wimbledon. The French star will face Tamira Paszek of Austria, following her 6-0 6-4 victory over Bulgarian Pironkova Tsvetana on Court 1 today. Bartoli is definitely the favourite for me to defend her ladies’ singles title at Eastbourne as she seemed so comfortable at Devonshire Park, taking just 73 minutes to move one step closer to retaining her crown.

The rain in Eastbourne was getting heavier and more frequent. More than 2 hours later and it was number 5 seed Angelique Kerber and Ekaterina Makarova’s turn to take to centre court. The Russian fought strongly despite the regular rain delays but could not match the level of Germany’s Kerber. Makarova won a break point in the first set, however the German went on to comfortably win it 6-2, despite pressure from the Russian. Kerber continued to play strongly in the second set, taking an early lead of 2-0. Despite a long rain delay in the second set, the in-form Eastbourne champ wrapped up the match with a 6-2 6-4 win in just 59 minutes.

The final ladies’ quarterfinal saw Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic come out on top against Anastasia Pavlyunchenkova of Russia, with a hard fought victory of 6-3 7-5.

The rain continued to interfere throughout the day, with both Andy Roddick and Fabio Fognini’s quarter final being postponed until tomorrow as well as Philipp Kohlschreiber and Andreas Seppi having to put their efforts on hold as well.

Though the weather was miserable today, my mood certainly wasn’t as I was able to enjoy a day of tennis (albeit with several rain breaks in between!) and gain valuable experience in what life is like working as a sport journalist.