{"id":3146,"date":"2016-11-05T14:24:18","date_gmt":"2016-11-05T14:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/indextemp.php\/?p=3146"},"modified":"2016-11-08T16:31:51","modified_gmt":"2016-11-08T16:31:51","slug":"commuting-to-rio-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/indextemp.php\/commuting-to-rio-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Commuting to Rio again"},"content":{"rendered":"

A win for Harmonia<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"snip20161028_1\"<\/a>

Mauro Menezes, Harmonia\u2019s Head Pro, with Maria Esther Bueno<\/p><\/div>\n

Maria Esther Bueno spent a happy weekend at the Rio de Janeiro Country Club recently, watching her home club of Sociedade Harmonia de Tenis taking on the hosts in the annual return match of the Ta\u00e7a da Amizade, which was eventually won by Harmonia, 13-11.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are lots of matches with players of all ages and it is very competitive,\u201d said Maria Esther.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey played all day Saturday and until lunchtime on the Sunday, so everyone could then enjoy an afternoon at the beach, and it was very close but the club edged it out!<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Country Club is celebrating 100 years and they hosted a fantastic dinner on Friday evening, with a magician and really delicious food, which we all enjoyed very much. They are wonderful hosts!\u201d<\/p>\n

The team was led by Mauro Menezes, Harmonia\u2019s Head Pro, who is a former Brazilian professional tennis player.<\/p>\n

Mauro enjoyed most of his tennis success playing doubles, winning an ATP title in Itaparica, Brazil, in 1990, after achieving his career-high doubles ranking of World No 62 in 1989.<\/p>\n

He and Maria Esther hit together several times a week, something Mauro relishes: \u201cFor me it is an honour to train with her because she hits the ball so very well.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be on the court with such a legend is such a pleasure and a privilege!\u201d<\/p>\n

Although neither Mauro or Maria Esther played in any of the matches, they did play together in Rio.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is always great to hit with Mauro,\u201d she said. \u201cWe get a great rhythm going and hardly miss a ball! It\u2019s fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

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