Lawn tennis in Eastbourne

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I just got back from a day at the Women's International Tennis Tournament at Eastbourne. This event has been staged by the Lawn Tennis association for over 30 years and is one of the highest ranking competitions in the world. As in previous years it is being held one week prior to the prestigious Wimbledon Championships, and gives the ladies a week of competing on grass in readiness for the Big One! All the best known names will be playing this week it what promises to be the biggest year for Eastbourne since the competition began.
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The excited babble of an expectant crowd.

Before them lush green grass criss crossed with lines of white.

A sudden hush descends

as two players enter the arena toss a coin then prepare to play.

A yellow ball thrown high in the sky then hurtles ‘cross the net

then back again before wildly choosing its own path.

Cries of fault, shouts of out, love fifteen, deuce, advantage

and game and set then match

I took about 200 photographs during the day, and thirty or so are published HERE. I also inadvertently set my little pocket camera to video whilst trying to take a picture of Amelie Mauresmo. The result is below, but don't bother curling up on the couch with a bucket of popcorn - it only lasts a few seconds!