Friday was another glorious day of sunshine and another wonderful day of tennis at the Tradition Nottingham Masters.
The day started with Cedric Pioline (FRA) beating Barry Cowan (GBR) 6-5, 6-4. After a tight first set, and at 3-4 in the second Barry decided that he needed something to stimulate his flagging energy. Instead of reaching for the Robinsons' Barley Water he called for one of hospitality girls to bring overt a glass of Pimms. It didn't help his game much, as he lost the second set 6-4, his second defeat of the tournament.
The next match was eagerly anticipated by British tennis fans and 15-year-old Laura Robson walked on court to face Olga Savchuk.
The Ukrainian is ranked 313 places ahead of the Brit in the WTA standings, so this was a tough test for the reigning Wimbledon Girls' Champion. But it wasn't to be an easy ride for the more experienced Olga. The first set went to a tie-break, and the Laura stormed to a 6-2 victory in the second to set-up a 10-point deciding super tie-break.
Unfortunately for Robson it didn't start well, and at 0-4 she double faulted. Despite being urged on with calls of; '"Come on Laura", she was unable to answer back to Savchuk's powerful tennis and eventually bowed out 2-10. The result set's up an intriguing re-match tomorrow.
Younes El Aynaoui (MAR) and Mats Wilander (SWE) were next up and this one went to a super tie-break third set also, with Aynaoui emerging victorious 7-6, 2-6, 10-5.
Mansour Bahrami (IRN) and Cedric Pioline (FRA) teamed-up for the Legends Doubles match against Peter McNamara (AUS) and Ilie Nastase (ROU). It was yet another entertaining performance with Bahrami the ring-master, keeping the crowd in stitches of laughter throughout his 8-6 victory.
The final two matches of the day saw Richard Krajicek (NED) beat Mikael Pernfors (SWE) 6-2, 6-1. Whilst in the last match Greg Rusedski (GBR), cheered on by many members of his G-Force fan club, beat Anders Jarryd (SWE) 6-3, 7-5.