Indonesia Open: After Draining Night, a Dawn
It is possible that, months down the line, even Rasmus Gemke will struggle to recall the significance of his brief sojourn at the KAPAL API Indonesia Open 2024.
· DEV SUKUMAR
Gemke had shocked himself on Wednesday, when, coming on court after spending the night mostly in the toilet with an upset stomach, he’d beaten Kodai Naraoka. His energy had so depleted that when he arrived at the training hall in the morning he lay down and slept for a while.
But these things are not uncommon in professional sport, and after Gemke gave another good account of his resolve, in a well-fought defeat to Toma Junior Popov in the second round, the episode of the upset stomach had somewhat receded in his mind. Something similar had happened a few months back at another tournament, and it’s now just a memory.
Yet, to have turned up on court and produced a high-quality performance against top opposition was admirable in itself, and Gemke could give himself credit.