Friday: hitting with Igor

20 June, 2008 | 17:06

By now you'll probably have seen the draw for Wimby - Santoro in the first round.

Andy was on court whilst the draw was being made this morning. We'll bring you his reaction when we can but he's been constantly on the move today. So much so in fact that as I write, he's jumping around a grass court at Roehampton attached to a bungy.

More on that later...

Starting point today was Aorangi - the practice courts behind Henman Hill, (or as I head Nicolas Mahut describe to a friend today, 'Murray Montagne').

The guys hit for an hour, came in - digested the draw and some food - before scampering off to a distant court eleven.

I say distant only because all the players are on deadlines - deadlines to meet hastily arranged hitting partners: not good form to turn up five minutes late when practice sessions on the match courts are so rare.

So, already warmed up, Andy stepped out on the lush grass to play a set against world No. 78 Igor Kunitsyn.

Watched by Jez Green (foreground) and Miles Maclagan (background)...

Igor's a solid player. Like a lot of the Russian guys he likes the baseline..

Unfortunately, one man and his dog couldn't make it along today, but the builders stepped in to fill the breach.

Gripped by the action obviously...

Jez and Matt finding time for a chinwag...

One thing of note for today: different footwear.

The guys called it a day with Andy 7-5 to the good. Covered in sweat and grass cuttings, Igor legged it to his next hit at the other end of the tournament site. Poor guy.

Slightly more leisurely walk back to the locker room for Andy - pausing for a picture or two on the way.

The snapper (a seasoned pro) knew Fred Perry well back in the day, so they had a little chat between poses...

Talking of Fred Perry, lucky old Kings Club. Looks like you'll be getting this sooner or later.

Just time to get Andy's player pass (with Fabrice Santoro gliding by at the same time), before they were out of the door and in Matt's car headed back to Roehampton.

Straight out on the grass for some more contrast training...