Game, Set and Match.

The final tennis match in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open was played by Rafael Nadal and Nikolay Davydenko.  It was a fine, clear night and the stands were full of expectant spectators.  After the first set, it looked like a push over for Nadal as he wrapped it up 6-0.   The fans around us weren't terribly happy, shouting their objections with "wake up" and "we came to watch a tennis competition not a love affair".

In the end Davydenko rose to the occasion, and ended up winning the next two sets 7-6 and 6-4 to take the title.  In my inexpert opinion, I think they both played really well.  They produced a serious game, using a lot of energy to return the ball each time, and we saw some great serves and rallies from both men (unlike the female tennis we had seen in November, when it looked like the two sisters had played a game of paper, scissors and rock prior to the game to decide on a winner).

What stood out for us?  That the majority of spectators were ex-pats, that sitting in the open stands on a winter evening in Doha is not the same as winter anywhere else, and that you need to get there early or you will park 2 and 3 kilometres down the road.   What was strange?  The winner only won $183,000 - how come Venus Williams got $1.5 million?   And real strange?  Who builds a first row of seats that when you sit down you can't see over the wall in front of you?

What fascinated me? The ritual behaviours that the players engage in before they serve the ball - Nadal's dance being the most obvious - pick up three balls and inspect before discarding one, stick one ball in pocket, bounce chosen ball three times catching it in right hand, transfer ball to left hand with tennis racket, grab at shorts wedged in butt, bend over again and bounce ball between five and nine times under racket, depending on how lucky he felt I guess, then throw ball up in air, swing racket round, hit and grunt.  Second serve, same again.

A thoroughly enjoyable evening.  It has been a long while since I have watched a serious game of tennis between champions.  It was a great game and I would go again.