46. JUNGLE TENNIS

So this week really has been a(nother) reality check about life on the tennis tour! After a fabulous week in Monterrey, Mexico for a WTA250, and a week in Boca Raton, Florida for an ITF W25, my player, her doubles partner and I travelled to Bogota, Colombia for an ITF W40 event in a small town called Anapoima.

The ITF Fact Sheet advised us that Anapoima is 95km from Bogota – not too bad we thought. We had arranged transport through the tournament organiser and were picked up at the agreed meeting place at the airport. So far so good.

The journey, in pelting rain, actually lasted over two hours and took us on a tortuous route across country, up and down steep mountain roads, which hadn’t seen a dose of new tarmac in decades. The journey wasn’t for the feint hearted and certainly wasn’t one for anyone who suffers from travel sickness.

On arrival in Anapoima (after dark), we were taken to our accommodation for the first night. Despite trying to arrange a booking one month earlier, both of the tournament hotels were reportedly full so we had been put in touch with a local lady who offered us accommodation in a villa. Sounded ok but what she failed to tell us when booking was that hot water wasn’t included in the price, nor was wifi, nor any food or clean drinking water, or (in my case) a room which had a door that closed, let alone locked. Needless to say, it wasn’t the best night and all three of us were beginning to regret our decision to come to this event.

We woke early, still tired and now very hungry, and took a ride to the tournament venue. Another 30 mins in a dilapidated taxi, with no seat belts, along pot hole ridden roads up the side of the mountain. In parts the road became a single lane – the other lane having collapsed and fallen down into the valley below. Things really weren’t getting any better. Both players were feeling pretty despondent – and the persistent jungle rain wasn’t helping at all.

Surprisingly, at the end of the journey, we arrived at a very pleasant Country Club – an oasis in the middle of the jungle. Lots of golf holes and clay tennis courts, located within an estate of large houses and a quality clubhouse. Quite a contrast to the town we had left in the morning. Language was an issue but fortunately Google Translate came into its’ own and we managed to get breakfast and arrange a practice court.

We are now mid way through the tournament. Lots of rain delays – I guess that’s why they call them Tropical Rainforests (or the jungle in my terms). We managed to get rooms in one of the tournament hotels for the second night (and beyond) – more comfortable and in a gated area so more secure but still a 25 minute drive down the mountain in a dilapidated bus, again with no seat belts and a driver who spent most of the journey on his phone – always a worry when the roads are not without pot holes and it’s a sheer drop on one side.

Life on the tour is far from easy at times. So if you or your player is going to give it a try then put the tennis aside and be prepared for all sorts of life experiences. The Netflix show (‘Break Point’), gives such a blinkered view as to what this life is really like. These past few few days have been eye opening to say the least – and it’s not the first time I have found myself in this position. I am just relieved that I decided to come with my player on this one. Have I felt safe? No. Have I felt fear? Yes. Have I enjoyed the week – in part yes, but in part no. Am I looking forward to going home? Yes. Do I like my player travelling to places like this – sometimes alone? No, definitely not. Does the ITF check these tournaments out fully before they let young players travel to them? I am not sure that they do. Should they? Yes, they most certainly should.

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