ON Sunday afternoon I was (like most Tennis Fans) sat in front of a Computer Live Feed - watching the Tie of my Choice. My choice was the dead rubber day for Cze & Arg (OK OK so I was bench watching! - and watching two pretty damm good matches too!) - while following the DC Live Blog, and Facebook and Sky News (just to keep up with other things in the world) and YouTube and - well basically I spent the afternoon surfing and multitasking - and making a Steak & Cheese Wrap (disclaimer! - Lucas was at Auntie Mandy's having a wonderful day!) - it was so nice and peaceful.
A tweet appeared in Twitterland...
Davis Cup @DavisCup We have an amazing opportunity for #DavisCup fans in London! Email competition@daviscup.com for your chance to come to Wednesday's draw!
I thought - Hmmm - I can be in London on Wednesday.... - and fired off a quick please enter me into your competition email - (as you do!) and then thought nothing of it.
That was Sunday...
Tuesday lunch time - Marcus and I were dashing off somewhere quick while Lucas was at school - before we left - I did the quick email check - and up popped a "Congratulations!!! - you have won - you have been invited to attend the Davis Cup Draw Ceremony Tomorrow - please follow the attached instructions - Dress Code is Smart Casual! - see you tomorrow morning at 10:30
OMG
I did a quick ring round to see if anyone could come with me - due to the short notice (surprise surprise) noone could - so I was really brave and I went on my own.
Please note. from 2000-2008 I WAS a really confident, Tennis Fan that was not shy, and could ask anybody things (within reason) and take photos for friends etc - I WAS that person, but with the exception of 2 amazing days in 2012 (Olympics Wimbledon and The 02 in November) for the last 5-7 years I have turned into a very shy scared parent who is now only very good at shouting (politely) to persons of authority relating to Lucas' upbringing - I am NOT an active Tennis Fan anymore - I DO hope that this is changing - today was definitely a step in the right direction.
I did think about saying I couldn't make it - but then the little gremlin on my shoulder said - GO! - SO... I did.
Smart Casual.... HELP! - I think I scrubbed up ok.
9:35 - I'm on the train.... thinking what am I doing!
10:20 - I am in the Street standing next to the building.. OK - NOW I have to go through that door.
10:30 I have a badge! - with my name on it! - cool! - I did have a quick look on the table at the other badges laid out - and I saw the 2 main people in charge (whose names were on the invitation) had not picked their badges up yet - so I wasn't late! - what a relief.
I was escorted up to the room. Smart Casual??????? Everyone was in suits! - but it was ok, I think I looked smart. During escort up I was hoping there were more competition winners (praying!) I hate being made centre of attention - I like hiding behind trees.
In the room. Would you like a pin? Yes please! - I collect pins!
I find the group of other Competition Winners - YAY! there are 4 of us! - so we immediately bonded! There was a huge media prescence. Then I remembered the Live Feed was going to take place. I was instantly terrified my phone would ring - I tried turning it off and silencing it - but was not completely satisfied it was definitely on silent and switched off - so, I took it to pieces. It made sense to me at the time!
Once I knew my phone was dead - I relaxed and while chatting to the others I switched from Parent to Tennis Fan - and then started to have fun. We bonded, and started discussing the weekend ties, asking the inevitable - who are your favourite players & teams questions. Our Answers: Pico, Rafa, Spain and Argentina - and Andy Murray :) - and of course we were all happy that GB were back in the World Group too.
THEN Andrew Castle comes over to us to say hello - that was nice of him.
He then explains what is going to happen, and seems really nervous about the Live Feed - I found this a bit of a surprise - as he is a TV Presenter on Daytime TV Every Day (note to self... maybe he could do an exchange programme with another Tennis Player Daytime TV Presenter).
All systems go.... The Live Feed is ON - and we are live to millions all round the world.
Team GB Captain was there and was interviewed and congratulated for getting GB into the World Groups - and was asked which team he fancied being drawn against - he gave a list of choices he didn't fancy.... Nadal on Clay for example :) - it was a very lighthearted interview.
The Heads of Tennis Federations - or extremely important Tennis People for Great Britain, Argentina and Spain are the three men then did all the drawing.
The Draw takes place for the lower division groups first. Slip goes into Ball, Balls go into Cup (THE CUP - that big thing on the big wooden shelves) - Balls come out - and Slips get read out - and the draw gets drawn. Umpire Enrico (who also had a chat) catches each ball - and places into the bucket next to him.
Another man instantly called out which country would be the host - within 10 seconds! (impressive!) and various other draws also take place for choice of grounds (if required) and exceptions to rules are read out and actioned upon.
A very well oiled machine.
THEN we come to the World Group Draw. I was secretly hoping for GB v Argentina because I knew this tie would have to take place in GB - easy for me to get to - haha - failing that I was thinking Italy would be good.
The Draw starts taking place. Czechs up the top - Serbia at the bottom. Then Spain, Argentina, France, Canada, Kazakstan, USA were drawn out to choose their lines in the draw. Argentina got slot 12 - NO Czech Semi Final!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!- YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then one of the exception to the rules was read out. Germany and Argentina had already met twice in the first round. Its the RULES they can't meet for a 3rd time. So, Germany got their slot drawn in the top half - and won SPAIN :-)
Czech Rep v Netherlands
Japan v Canada
Germany v Spain
France v Australia
USA v GB
Argentina v Italy
Kazachstan v Belgium
Serbia v Switzerland
So.... GB got USA in USA
then Argentina were drawn against Italy - at home - a good draw for them.
Switzerland got Serbia! - interesting!!!! Will both Roger and Novak play that one??
The Draw was completed, and the Live Feed switched off - and THEN all the men in suits breathed sighs of relief :-)
The Press then started doing their interviews. One of the other Competition winners explained she had done a charity auction with some memorabilia donated by The GB Captain, she said she'd really like to see if she could say thank you to him. At this point he was being mobbed by official press people. I said I'd stay with her if she wanted company - she was very happy for the moral support :-)
While we were waiting we were near the draw table, with all the slips of paper and draw balls. We politely asked one of the Host Ladies what would be happening to them, and (long story short) my new friend had the Great Britain Draw Ball and I now have the Argentina Draw Ball.
Then she got her meet and greet - he was very nice and easy to chat to. She asked lots of questions and got lots of interesting answers. Of course, I then provided her with 2 photos of her and the GB Captain. THEN it dawned on me she was the same girl I took a really blurry picture with Andy Murray at Queens. I checked with her - and yes it was - I have been feeling really bad about this - haha - but I definitely made up for it today :).
SO, we left the room with memorabilia, pin and the Official 100 years of DC 2012 Book each - this will be used as signing material by me in 2014 - I have the pages marked out ready :)
We then went down for Canapes - and felt much happier chatting with the waiting staff - all in all the 4 of us had a great, surreal morning.
Thank you Davis Cup for this opportunity - from 4 of your Fans that appreciate the work that goes into organising this year long event.
Today was a great experience for me - I definitely felt that after such a long time - I was BACK IN THE GAME :-)
feeling angry.