So comes the final day of Wimbledon qualifying. Slept reasonably well but the body is still very fatigued, truth be told I considered leaving early but I decided to stay the course. I checked out of the hostel as the tight buggers charged me for a locker for my bag and coat. Similar routine to the other mornings but this time I do have a Costa at Putney, a black coffee and tuna panini, I sat outside, it was very windy so I moved inside again, another fascinating tale. It is still very warm today yet overcast. There is a huge queue for the coffee when I arrive at the tennis, I join it but leave again because I want to watch Raluka Serban. Although she represents Cyprus, Raluka is still Romanian so she has support from PP and myself. It is an excellent start where she confidently goes up an early break, a few games in I have to leave for an arranged meeting.

I am meeting Leonie Kung, she arrives with her team and we have a lovely chat about tennis; Sinner and Alcaraz, coaching rules, all sorts before I run through my planned interview with her. We try a few locations before settling by the practice courts, it’s a good shout as it is a really nice background for the interview. Leonie interviews very well and gives lovely answers. I nearly forget to ask her for the traditional PP picture, I grab the photo and I say goodbye, wishing her good luck for her next tournament in America.

I return to Raluka’s match, she has won the first set and battles hard in a tight second. At 5-6 deuce it starts to rain and play is suspended. I carry my pained legs to the shelter of the marquee tent which everyone else is running towards. In the tent it is quite noisy but soon clear to me my interview with Leonie does not have very good sound quality unfortunately and may not be suitable for immediate upload but no point in panicking I just need to think of something. This time I do get a coffee and return to Raluka’s match. She survives the service hold on resumption of play after a few scares but loses a really tight tiebreak. She is broken early and then broken later again, her attitude is spot on throughout the whole Match however she just loses a little energy near the end but a great week for her.

After Raluka I watch the last of the Swiss Players, Celine Naef, who is a set down to Taylor Townsend. Celine has her moments but the American is too strong especially at the net. The straight sets defeat means none of the Romanians or Swiss players have made it, so much for Postivity Penguin!

I have a vegan duck wrap, and contemplate my next steps, there’s still a few matches on but I elected to return back. I have returned to Russell Square with no Tube dramas and now having a coffee and writing my Penguin Diary before I need to get my bag and return to Victoria.

Although I am not fully fit it has been a good week, and 15 pound a day for some decent grass court tennis is a bargain – I highly recommend Roehampton 😊🎾