Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE
US Open Mon 20 Aug 2012
I am sore. My left quad is sore. My calves are sore. I think it is my broken toe. I am walking funny because of it. I need a massage.
We go flat out all day and finally finish up just after 9.30. We do 330 racquets for the day. That’s 40 more than we did the same day last year.
Jeff does 40 racquets for the day and wins the competition. Jim and Vasilly are close behind with only a couple of racquets separating them. I lag behind in 4th or 5th place. It doesn’t matter which it is. I might go into a deep depression after this.
The new 4G string is very similar to Alu Power but holds tension much better. I am keen to try it out. Quite a few of the players are changing to it.
Tadashi shows me a new Kimony starting clamp. Kimony is a Japanese company which makes some fantastic stringing tools and accessories. The clamp looks fantastic but it costs $300!! I think I will be sticking with my clamps.
We have our stringers meeting late in the afternoon. Ron Rocchi (who runs the team) has organised for each of us to receive a personalised 2013 model BLX Blade 98. These racquets are not available anywhere in the world until January. Each racquet has the stringer’s name stencilled on just above the grip. This is a really cool gift.
The last bus leaves at 6pm so we all have to take the train home. We get stared at a lot on the train. We all have matching uniforms, bags and racquets.
I get to bed around 11.30pm. My fingers are going to be sore tomorrow.
Shane Mikic is the pro-shop manager for the Tennis Gear stores and their online store www.tennisgear.com.au in Brisbane. He has over 17 years racquet stringing experience and is currently part of the Wilson Global Stringing Team at the 2012 US Open. The following blog shares his experiences during his time in the Wilson Stringing room.
No comments:
Post a Comment