Track 13

Track 13

Candidate: I’d like to talk about the most exciting tennis match I’ve ever seen. It was about six years ago just outside Bordeaux in France, and it was the boys’ final of a junior championship. My favourite player, a rising star, had got to the final so I wanted to see him.

At the time, I didn’t know anyone else who was interested in tennis - all my friends preferred football - so I went on my own. I set off really early to make sure got there on time, but I ended up being too early and I had to wait for two hours for the match to start. It didn ‘t matter, though, because this meant I got one of the best seats, right at the front in the middle of the court - I was delighted about that.

Other people gradually started arriving, the seats filled up, and we waited expectantly for the players. When the match started, it soon became clear that I was practically the only person supporting Jean Martin. Most people were there to support the other guy who had won the previous two years and was the favourite to win this year, too. Every time Paul Fernandez won a point, the crowd erupted into applause but I sat silently, getting more and more anxious.

Martin lost the first set, but then there was a dramatic turnaround. He suddenly seemed to find some self-belief and he started to win. That’s what I love about tennis - it’s a battle of the mind _ as much as the body. I find it interesting to see how some players may be highly skilled but don’t have the mental strength to win. Martin obviously did have this strength, and Fernandez was slowly falling apart.

The atmosphere was electric. Martin showed off his amazing skills, hitting ball after ball straight down the line. Martin served for the match - you could have heard a pin drop. When he served an ace, the crowd went wild! Although they had begun by supporting his opponent, they had grown to respect him for his cool head and control of the ball. When he was presented with the trophy, he cried with joy.

Examiner: Do you play tennis yourself?

Candidate: Yes, I’m a keen tennis player. I joined a club about two years ago and play all the time.