Match won — now it’s time to get married
Arina Rodionova and Ty Vickery will be married today.Herald-Sun
19 December 2015VICTORIAN tennis player Arina Rodionova couldn’t have asked for a more appropriate wedding present for herself.
She will be restricted to a few celebratory drinks after her marriage to Richmond forward Ty Vickery later today as she has a shot at an Australian Open singles berth tomorrow.
Rodionova had to labour for more than two hours in 36 degrees heat to outlast West Australian left-hander Storm Sanders 1-6 6-4 7-5 in their brutal wildcard playoff semi-final at Melbourne Park.
“I’ve got a few hours now to get ready to marry the most amazing guy ever and I’m so looking forward to it,’’ Rodionova said.
“It’s going to be an amazing day. I have no idea how I won this match, I didn’t play well, but I just fought to the end and I guess that’s when it counts.
“Right now, I’m just so excited to get married in a few more hours.
“Getting married to Ty is like a fairytale for me and so this is just a little bonus. It’s a good day all around.’’
Arina Rodionova will compete for a berth in the Australian Open singles tomorrow.
Dressed in a long-sleeve white top, white skirt and wearing a white cap, Rodionova twice had to pull back from service breaks against her in the third set to book a place in the final.
“I don’t think he would want to see me in this white dress, but I wore white because it’s 40 degrees outside. And yes, because of the wedding. I’m a bride today, so I might as well (wear a white tennis outfit),’’ the Russian-born player said.
“I’m rushing home to get ready, take a few photos and go to the gardens and, hopefully, say I do.
“I might put some photos on social media. I really love my dress, my family does too and, hopefully, Ty will as well.’’
She seemed distracted as she lost the first five games of the match, trailed 0-2 in the third set and had to scramble to stay alive when Sanders served for the match with a 5-3 lead.
“It was really tough to play today because obviously the wedding was on my mind and I was thinking ‘what am I doing here?’ I’m just so happy I got through today.,’’ Rodionova said.
“It has been a crazy few weeks and there’s so many things on my mind. I didn’t play my best game because it was so tough to focus.’’
Naturally, Vickery, her boyfriend of three years, didn’t have his usual courtside seat to watch her play.
“No, he’s not allowed to see me today before the wedding. Traditional, eh. I don’t think he would have even watched it (live streaming), he would be too nervous,’’ she said.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tennis/arina-rodionova-has-ticked-off-one-important-thing-on-todays-todo-list/news-story/60f7b8a4bb2a0cfd3b19d08a3414a457
