Bound for the ATP Finals at the O2 and remembrance

Maria arrived in London ahead of her commitments at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals being held at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, starting this coming Sunday.

“I like to come ahead of time if I can, to get settled and prepare,” she told her website. “It’s also my home from home so its a chance to catch up with friends.”

This year she has a new friend in London, who has arrived at her hosts’ home – a Scottish Terrier puppy called Nelson.

“He is lovely!” Maria laughs. “Just five months old and full of beans, but his baby teeth are pretty scary – like tiny needles – and if you aren’t careful he ‘sharks’ you!

“It’s great fun seeing him learn and explore. The other day he was astonished to see his reflection in the kitchen bin and kept barking and barking!”

Maria, who has always loved animals and had many of her own, has been helping out by walking Nelson and sitting with him from time to time.

“They [animals] fill up the house and bring a home alive so he is definitely a great addition to the family!

“He was fascinated by all the callers on Halloween night, who rang the bell tricking or treating.

He couldn’t understand it all and wanted the treats! We are hoping he doesn’t get too bothered by fireworks night.”

Remember, remember the 5th November

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain.

Its history began with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords.

Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot’s failure.

Poppy Field of Remembrance

Maria is very interested in history and is particularly moved by the amazing Poppy Field created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins [with setting by stage designer Tom Piper] of 888,246 ceramic poppies filling the Tower of London’s famous moat.

The major art installation called ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ is now complete with poppies encircling the iconic landmark, creating not only a spectacular display visible from all around the Tower but also a location for personal reflection.

The scale of the installation reflects and marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War through powerful visual commemoration.

“It is spectacular and very moving,” says Maria. “Each poppy has been sold to aid the six service charities supporting war veterans and their families from the first World War until today.

“We tried to buy one those ceramic poppies online but they have all gone so, instead, I got a beautiful poppy brooch, which I am proud to wear.”

During the First World War (1914–1918) much of the fighting took place in Western Europe where  the previously beautiful countryside was blasted, bombed and fought over, again and again, turning the landscape into bleak fields of mud in which little or nothing could grow.

Bright red Flanders poppies (Papaver rhoeas), however, were delicate but resilient flowers and grew in their thousands, flourishing even in the middle of chaos and destruction.

In the spring of 1915, shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, a Canadian doctor, Lt Col John McCrae was inspired by the sight of poppies to write a now famous poem called ‘In Flanders Fields’ that later inspired the use of the poppy as a fund-raising act of remembrance.

Armistice Day marks the end of World War 1 at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month [11am on 11 November 1911], when a Two Minute Silence is observed.

This year, Remembrance Sunday is on the 9th November when a National Service of Remembrance is held at the Cenotaph in Whitehall as a unique expression of national homage devoted to the remembrance of those who have given their lives in war across the land.

It was originally conceived as a commemoration of the war dead of the First World War but after the Second World War the scope of the ceremony was extended to focus on the nation’s dead of both World Wars and, in 1980, was widened once again to extend the remembrance to all who have suffered and died in conflict in the service of their country, as well as all those who mourn them.

“They take it very seriously over here in the UK,” added Maria. “You can’t help getting caught up in it all, which is why I will wear the poppy.”

Taking to the courts

Meanwhile, Maria has also taken the opportunity to spend some time at her favourite London clubs.

“I’ve been having some great hits with Martin Guntrip indoors at Wimbledon,” she said. “Over the summer I am usually so busy that I don’t get to spend much time there except over The Championships, so it is very nice to have a chance to really enjoy the club.

“Martin is the Club Secretary and is very busy looking after all the members. He likes to spend his lunch hour hitting tennis balls, which suits me fine, and we have been having some great hits together.”

“I’ve also made it over to Queen’s Club, Beckenham and Woodfield Grove [tennis clubs] and am set to play at David Lloyd Beckenham over the weekend.

“I like to play every other day so having good hitting partners at all my clubs, where I am so fortunate to be a member, is a great help in keeping me fit.”

Both Beckenham and Woodfield Grove have had their outdoor courts re-surfaced and are looking in good shape, even if they are playing a bit slow for Maria’s liking as a result.

“They will speed up after a while but right now the ball tends to stick a bit so its hard to generate any pace. They look lovely though.”

At Queen’s Club, she hit with Head Pro Lee Childs, a former British Davis Cup player who has been at the club for several years now, and with former Chairman, Toby Foxcroft.

“We had a really good hit, I must say,” said Maria. “They both said it was a privilege but actually it was wonderful for me because we hit on one of the original courts at Queen’s, which still has the old wood court underneath so was nice and fast.

“It brought back so many memories for me as I used to hit on those courts all the time before my matches at Wimbledon.

“It was really nice to see some of the players competing at the ATP Finals practising indoors too. Roger [Federer] was working on his volleying with two practice partners and his reactions were truly amazing, while alongside [Andy] Murray was hitting with [Marin] Cilic.

“Interestingly, they were all keeping a close eye on each other, while the coaches – Stefan Edberg, Amelie Mauresmo and Goran Ivanisevic were all there on hand offering encouragement and advice.

“It was so very different to my day when we practiced alone. I usually hit with the likes of Emmo [Roy Emerson] or Newk [John Newcombe] before my matches but we didn’t have any coaches with us. Once we finished we all went off to lunch together.”

Strictly…

After her hit, Maria met up with Judy Murray, who was at Queen’s with her dance partner Anton du Beke filming ahead of next Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing competition on the BBC.

“Judy was in high spirits,” said Maria. “She introduced me to Anton and I wished her luck with her next dance! They then went off to have lunch with Andy.”

Others at Queen’s were Kei Nishikori with his coach, Michael Chang.

“I remember Chang coming to a clinic that I ran at Walt Disney World in Florida as part of the Sport Goofy World Championships when he was probably around 12 years old,” Maria recalled.
“It all seems like just yesterday but so much has happened in between!”

Starting work

There’s also been some preparatory work for Maria to do ahead of the O2 on Sunday. On Tuesday, a crew from TV Globo arrived at the house to film some advance features on the London finals.

“We were so lucky with the weather as it was a lovely afternoon, if a bit cold for us Brazilians, and we filmed outside in the garden,” said Maria. “But as soon as it was all done and the crew left, it started raining!

“I did a prelim for the ATP Finals, talking about the two groups of players and the order of play, as well as providing some promotional pieces.

“SporTV, TV Globo’s cable channel, are covering all the matches live from the O2 this year for the first time, which will be really good as the team can get a much better feel for the atmosphere and what is going on than when you are sitting commentating on matches from Rio.

“I’m looking forward to a great week of tennis here in London!”