"Practise makes perfect" at World Tour Tennis Finals part 2

Talking fashion, way too many players wearing yellow and neon colours on practise courts, like the bad lights and fences don't create enough photography problems.

Wawrinka in some fetching yellow

Stan Wawrinka, O2 Practise at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 07/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka, O2 Practise at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 07/11 2013

Leander Paes in a pinkish/red bright outfit

Leander Paes

Fernando 'day glo' Verdasco

Soares likes the 'day glo' look too.

                                    

At least Soares' doubles partner Alex Peya has a more soothing shirt on...appreciated by my tired eyes.

The bright colours made their way into Centre Court too, this tournament is a far cry from the all-whites of a certain other London tournament.

On court Peya obliges Soares in his quest to make them noticed.

David Ferrer opts for neon green

David Ferrer, RR Loss to Berdych at ATP Tennis World Tour Finals London, 6/11 2013

Marrero/Verdasco and their colourful Adidas gear.

Last but not least, some more yellow for Melo and Dodig. At least Melo has the Brazilian national team colour as a good reason.

Anyway back to the practise courts where I finally

found the perfect angle on the fence on Practise Court 1 Saturday when it was all frankly a bit late (hence some of these terrible practise photos, sorry). Some photos of Gasquet's first warmup after splitting with long time coach Piatti. Luckily his mood was surprisingly ok, laughing with Grosjean a bit and of course he went on to play a nice final match vs Djokovic that night.

Richard Gasquet, O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 09/11 2013

Richard Gasquet, O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 09/11 2013

Richard Gasquet, O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 09/11 2013

Richard Gasquet, O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 09/11 2013

Richard Gasquet, O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 09/11 2013

Richard Gasquet, O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 09/11 2013

Practise Court 2 seemed to be the place to watch Stan Wawrinka on his non-match days, which I did, then did again just for good measure. Must thank Stan for wearing different colour shirts everyday so I can tell these pictures apart since you know, live tennis 'following' can get tiring/confusing at times.

Stan's O2 Home on Court 2.

Stan Wawrinka, O2 Practise at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 07/11 2013

Hello Yellow Thursday!

Stan Wawrinka, O2 Practise at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 07/11 2013

All-Black Friday on Centre

Stan Wawrinka warms up before facing Ferrer at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 08/11 2013

Black Saturday

Stan Wawrinka, O2 Practise at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 09/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka, O2 Practise at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 09/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka, O2 Practise at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 09/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka, O2 Practise at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 09/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka, O2 Practise at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 09/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka, O2 Practise at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 09/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka, O2 Practise at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 09/11 2013

Semi Final Sunday

To Centre Court for proper warmup photographer friendly access style. This is how true great competitors and rivals meet and greet a couple of hours before they are due to meet in the Semi Finals. In case there was any doubt that Novak Djokovic likes to butter up his tougher matchups in order to soften them before the kill (well this was proven in Sunday's Semi Final). Be less cuddly next time. Well at least the Bercy Masters greeting of 'butt pat' from Novak was absent! 

I can almost forgive the match quality because of this...

Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic prepare for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic prepare for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic prepare for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Stan and his phone are never parted...amazed he finds time to hold his racquet between checking his Twitter and messages. Yes, I did witness him even posing for some Twitter updates during practise. Oh well, as a fan, I can't really complain that we always know what he's up to. 

Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic prepare for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

I have more Stan and phone pictures from his other practises and down by the boat but I think you get the idea.

Stan's actual warmup...this is Red Sunday, not Stan's lucky colour.

Stan Wawrinka warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Stan Wawrinka warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Novak warming up...have enough of these to make a book. Didn't see enough of Novak this week so when I did finally see him, let's say I made the most of it!

Novak Djokovic warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Novak Djokovic warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Novak Djokovic warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Novak Djokovic warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Novak Djokovic warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Novak Djokovic warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Novak Djokovic warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Novak Djokovic warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Novak Djokovic warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

Novak Djokovic warming up for Semi Final at O2 London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, 10/11 2013

"Practise makes perfect" at the World Tour Finals 2013 part 1

During my week at the O2 I managed to watch many players practising and preparing for their matches mostly in the Fanzone but sometimes on Centre Court. This gave me plenty of time to take many photos but due to the annoying camera unfriendly Practise Court fences (I realise they do it on purpose especially after seeing the size of some amateurs camera gear walking around). Yes I frequently get lens envy! Anyway the "practise makes perfect" seems accurate for how many pictures I took to get the occasional non blurry ones. Though much fun was had watching many players perfect their games in the meantime.

I make no apologies for how random and unordered this post will likely turn out to be.

The O2 Arena during London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 2013

It's good to start I think with giving those of you who have never attended the WTF a mini tour of the venue and in particular the Fanzone, which is a hive of activity and is a great place to spend all day when you don't have any tickets for the actual tennis. Spent many a day in the last few years running around here and down to the boat deck for player arrivals, especially the glorious year when I went to University next to the O2 (many an extended lunch watching Roddick, Djokovic, Murray and all with sparse crowds). That was the year when you could set your watch to Nadal's practises, 4pm on Practise Court 1. Good times. Anyway, I digress.

Inside the O2 Arena during London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 2013

Inside the O2 Arena during London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 2013

Centre Court- inside the O2 Arena during London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals 2013

                          Practise Court 1 (this court is separate and is by the Sponsors Village)

Practise Court 2 and 3 are together in the Fanzone. Here are the Bryans warming up.

Filip Peliwo acting as hitting partner this week... here warming up Tomas Berdych on PC2.

This year they started recording a new live show in the Fanzone called 'Holding Court', which was recorded in the Fanzone twice daily before each tennis session. This was interesting to watch as they would discuss the daily proceedings on and off court, I particularly enjoyed seeing Tennis player impersonater Josh Berry make an appearance.

B is for Berdych.....thanks for that Tomas.

As R is for Roger Federer....(ahem)

When you wait patiently for 45 minutes in a front row spot for Roger Federer's warmup and he picks the far end...cue looking over heads and that damn fence blurriness. Retro Federer backwards cap style noted.

Roger Federer, O2 Practise before facing Del Potro  at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, Saturday 09/11 2013

Roger Federer, O2 Practise before facing Del Potro  at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, Saturday 09/11 2013

Roger Federer, O2 Practise before facing Del Potro  at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, Saturday 09/11 2013

Roger Federer, O2 Practise before facing Del Potro  at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, Saturday 09/11 2013

Roger Federer, O2 Practise before facing Del Potro  at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, Saturday 09/11 2013

Roger Federer, O2 Practise before facing Del Potro  at London ATP Tennis World Tour Finals, Saturday 09/11 2013

This visit to the Practise Courts to be continued...