It is never too late to be what you might have been.
- George Elliot
Clearly, March was not a month for tennis blogging.
But it was a month for playing tennis. I've been playing more of it, that's for sure, even hitting the 6-hour+ mark during one week. And I'm close to deciding to sign up for USTA Team Tennis with a team that starts practicing at the end of the month.
Even weekends have been about tennis, thanks to a new program by my coach that offers indoor court time from 6 - 8 AM both Saturdays and Sundays for - get this - $20!!
Matches in my current league have been going well. I won last week's match 6-0, 5-0 (ran out of time for the last game), which puts me at 82 - 67 so far for the year.
As for the pro circuit, while I still don't have the coveted Tennis Channel, I do have the Internet (obviously...), so I've been following the latest on TENNIS.com.
Plus, the weather is getting warmer, which means that the monetary grip that indoor courts have had on me since the fall is slowly getting weaker and weaker.
Goal for end of April - 8+ hours of tennis per week and a serve to make my opponents doubt if I am or have ever been a 3.5-rated player.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
tennis in the winter
In tennis, the addict moves about a hard rectangle and seeks to ambush a fuzzy ball with a modified snowshoe.
- Elliot Chaze
It's been more than a month since I've last posted. In fact, the last post was right in the heat of the Australian Open (and my newfound appreciation for Fernando Verdasco, thanks to some of the best tennis I've ever watched...not to mention battling with Rafael Nadal in the longest match in the Grand Slam's history). Watching tennis matches live at 3 AM for a whole week probably wasn't the healthiest thing to do, so it's no surprise that I spent a good deal of February sick with flu-like symptoms. But not to worry, I somehow mustered up enough energy to play tennis the whole time, with some definitely mixed results.
The first match I played this season was horrid and inexcusable. It was so horrid, in fact, that I forget the exact score, but know that I didn't win more than three games in two sets (it's how those three were divided between the two sets that I can't remember).
The three matches after that were as follows: 6-0, 6-0; 6-4, 2-5; 6-4, 1-5
So to summarize...I lost the first match horribly, I won the second match without a fight, and then then the last two matches, I won the first sets in each, only to collapse in the second sets. What's up with that? Nerves? Skill? Lack of sleep? More nerves?
It's maddening. But to be honest, while I've been playing matches every week and taking group lessons (my writer's salary has officially put individual lessons with my coach on hold), I haven't been training the 4+ days a week I had promised myself.
So that's what I'm going to do. Training every day - running, exercising, sprinting, serving, hitting, reacting, calculating, adjusting, taking risks, watching, playing, breathing tennis.
If at the end of March I have not managed to do this, then maybe playing the sport on a tournament level is not for me. But if I have trained the way I'm envisioning, and I do improve exponentially, then we'll take it from there.
- Elliot Chaze
It's been more than a month since I've last posted. In fact, the last post was right in the heat of the Australian Open (and my newfound appreciation for Fernando Verdasco, thanks to some of the best tennis I've ever watched...not to mention battling with Rafael Nadal in the longest match in the Grand Slam's history). Watching tennis matches live at 3 AM for a whole week probably wasn't the healthiest thing to do, so it's no surprise that I spent a good deal of February sick with flu-like symptoms. But not to worry, I somehow mustered up enough energy to play tennis the whole time, with some definitely mixed results.
The first match I played this season was horrid and inexcusable. It was so horrid, in fact, that I forget the exact score, but know that I didn't win more than three games in two sets (it's how those three were divided between the two sets that I can't remember).
The three matches after that were as follows: 6-0, 6-0; 6-4, 2-5; 6-4, 1-5
So to summarize...I lost the first match horribly, I won the second match without a fight, and then then the last two matches, I won the first sets in each, only to collapse in the second sets. What's up with that? Nerves? Skill? Lack of sleep? More nerves?
It's maddening. But to be honest, while I've been playing matches every week and taking group lessons (my writer's salary has officially put individual lessons with my coach on hold), I haven't been training the 4+ days a week I had promised myself.
So that's what I'm going to do. Training every day - running, exercising, sprinting, serving, hitting, reacting, calculating, adjusting, taking risks, watching, playing, breathing tennis.
If at the end of March I have not managed to do this, then maybe playing the sport on a tournament level is not for me. But if I have trained the way I'm envisioning, and I do improve exponentially, then we'll take it from there.
Friday, January 23, 2009
lose some, win more
Though your game is hardly the best
You can fray your opponent’s nerves
By methodically bouncing the ball
At least ten times before your serves.
- Arnold J. Zarett
Last Tuesday I played my last match of the season, and it was...interesting. I dropped the first set 6-1 and won the second 6-2. My opponent was a woman who I was actually supposed to have played a couple of months ago but never got around to it. We had both been stood up, at separate times, by the players we were slated to play one week, and so we were told that we could get a free hour and a half of court time to play a match with each other on our own schedule. I never called her, and she never called me. So in perfect ironic fashion, I end up playing her the last day of the season. Better than me, she wasn't, but there was something awkward in the air. It wasn't a particularly friendly match. It wasn't unfriendly, it just didn't have a particularly amicable feel to it. Some calls were questioned, whether or not we had switched sides three games before was contested, what side a serve should've been taken from but wasn't was contested, the score was called out louder than usual to avoid any confusion, and so on. Uncomfortable, eh?
So in a way, the score made sense. I was fed up after the first set. Many of the games were spent with me worrying about whether or not my opponent was going to question something else or shoot over an irritated look. I even gave her a point after I called the shot out because I was nervous that she would get upset and, in turn, jeopardize calls on my shots - ridiculous! (...in retrospect.) Well, all of that nonsense stopped in the second set, and we ended the match with a handshake, I think. It wasn't all that memorable, so I don't even recall now if we did, but words of congratulations on both sides were definitely exchanged.
Well, a new season starts next week for me. The first match was actually this past Tuesday, but I was working in the city (yes, on the day of the inauguration, which I heard parts of over the radio...an homage to the past). And while I've put my private lessons on hold for some time, I have begun a weekly tennis class with my coach and three other women. We'll see how much it's helping my game come this Tuesday. Here's shooting for an undefeated record...
You can fray your opponent’s nerves
By methodically bouncing the ball
At least ten times before your serves.
- Arnold J. Zarett
Last Tuesday I played my last match of the season, and it was...interesting. I dropped the first set 6-1 and won the second 6-2. My opponent was a woman who I was actually supposed to have played a couple of months ago but never got around to it. We had both been stood up, at separate times, by the players we were slated to play one week, and so we were told that we could get a free hour and a half of court time to play a match with each other on our own schedule. I never called her, and she never called me. So in perfect ironic fashion, I end up playing her the last day of the season. Better than me, she wasn't, but there was something awkward in the air. It wasn't a particularly friendly match. It wasn't unfriendly, it just didn't have a particularly amicable feel to it. Some calls were questioned, whether or not we had switched sides three games before was contested, what side a serve should've been taken from but wasn't was contested, the score was called out louder than usual to avoid any confusion, and so on. Uncomfortable, eh?
So in a way, the score made sense. I was fed up after the first set. Many of the games were spent with me worrying about whether or not my opponent was going to question something else or shoot over an irritated look. I even gave her a point after I called the shot out because I was nervous that she would get upset and, in turn, jeopardize calls on my shots - ridiculous! (...in retrospect.) Well, all of that nonsense stopped in the second set, and we ended the match with a handshake, I think. It wasn't all that memorable, so I don't even recall now if we did, but words of congratulations on both sides were definitely exchanged.
Well, a new season starts next week for me. The first match was actually this past Tuesday, but I was working in the city (yes, on the day of the inauguration, which I heard parts of over the radio...an homage to the past). And while I've put my private lessons on hold for some time, I have begun a weekly tennis class with my coach and three other women. We'll see how much it's helping my game come this Tuesday. Here's shooting for an undefeated record...
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
winning in the new year
Let no one say that I have said nothing new . . . the arrangement of the subject is new. When we play tennis, we both play with the same ball, but one of us places it better.
- Blaise Pascal
Today's match was awesome...perhaps the best one I've played all season. The longest first set I've played, the longest rallies, the quickest to make me break a set, the most exciting from point to point.
The first set took about an hour, and since points in the league are determined on games won, we skipped a tiebreak and went straight to the second set. I took the first set, 6-5.
We had about 10 minutes to start the next set. Score: 2-1, my opponent.
So yes, technically, we broke even, no better or worse in our rankings than when we had started.
But that's not what mattered. I felt like I had played well, really well. I was hitting the ball with power, with confidence, with intent. After one point that lasted for what seemed like several minutes, I had to ask out loud if we were playing for money. I ran to every ball and got to a lot of them. We each had some great winners and some say-a-prayer-and-close-your-eyes shots that were nothing short of awesome. Even a coach in the next court over had to comment on what was happening on our court. It was pretty cool.
Oh, and it was the first time all season that I think I kind of hurt my ankle...and my wrist.
So a win (kind of), some war wounds, and a really good feeling contributed to a very nice tennis start to my new year.
Now if only someone could help me with the money I need to sign up for the spring league...
- Blaise Pascal
Today's match was awesome...perhaps the best one I've played all season. The longest first set I've played, the longest rallies, the quickest to make me break a set, the most exciting from point to point.
The first set took about an hour, and since points in the league are determined on games won, we skipped a tiebreak and went straight to the second set. I took the first set, 6-5.
We had about 10 minutes to start the next set. Score: 2-1, my opponent.
So yes, technically, we broke even, no better or worse in our rankings than when we had started.
But that's not what mattered. I felt like I had played well, really well. I was hitting the ball with power, with confidence, with intent. After one point that lasted for what seemed like several minutes, I had to ask out loud if we were playing for money. I ran to every ball and got to a lot of them. We each had some great winners and some say-a-prayer-and-close-your-eyes shots that were nothing short of awesome. Even a coach in the next court over had to comment on what was happening on our court. It was pretty cool.
Oh, and it was the first time all season that I think I kind of hurt my ankle...and my wrist.
So a win (kind of), some war wounds, and a really good feeling contributed to a very nice tennis start to my new year.
Now if only someone could help me with the money I need to sign up for the spring league...
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
a christmas win
When I was 40, my doctor advised me that a man in his 40s shouldn't play tennis. I heeded his advice carefully and could hardly wait until I reached 50 to start again.
- Hugo Black
The opponent I was scheduled to play today in the league didn't show up. And to be honest, I was kind of relieved. It's been a busy month, maybe I could consider this an early Christmas gift in disguise from the tennis gods.
But the awesome people at the training center quickly called upon their resources to get me someone to play against. So I figured the gift gone, sat down with a cup of hot chocolate, and waited for my new opponent to arrive.
About half an hour later, she did, and was perhaps the nicest player I've played all season.
Not to mention, I won 6-1, 6-0 and got off the court with time to spare.
A Christmas gift well received, indeed.
On a side note, we took a short break after the first set to record the score, and when we were done, I sprinted back out onto the court with my pen...and no racquet. I realized it when I got to the baseline. Clearly, a writer and anxious tennis player all rolled into one.
I wouldn't have it any other way =)
- Hugo Black
The opponent I was scheduled to play today in the league didn't show up. And to be honest, I was kind of relieved. It's been a busy month, maybe I could consider this an early Christmas gift in disguise from the tennis gods.
But the awesome people at the training center quickly called upon their resources to get me someone to play against. So I figured the gift gone, sat down with a cup of hot chocolate, and waited for my new opponent to arrive.
About half an hour later, she did, and was perhaps the nicest player I've played all season.
Not to mention, I won 6-1, 6-0 and got off the court with time to spare.
A Christmas gift well received, indeed.
On a side note, we took a short break after the first set to record the score, and when we were done, I sprinted back out onto the court with my pen...and no racquet. I realized it when I got to the baseline. Clearly, a writer and anxious tennis player all rolled into one.
I wouldn't have it any other way =)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
rematch...kind of
The fifth set is not about tennis, it's about nerves.
- Boris Becker
Today's match was definitely an interesting one.
For starters, I got very little sleep last night. Writing and working, I was up until about 3 AM. So sleepy, in fact, was I when I finally got to bed, I forgot to remove my contact lenses. So when I woke up at 8 AM this morning, my eyes were not pleased in the least. They were dry, and my vision was annoyingly blurry. But after about 30 minutes, things began to look up, and at 8:45 I headed off to the courts.
I got there just on time, and when I went to look at who my opponent was, it was none other than the woman I first played in the league months ago. Awesome, right? Kind of. I was slightly nervous. Here I was, operating on little sleep and less than eager to go out and play tennis for an extended period of time, and I was about to face off with a player who would act as a gauge, in my head, of how far I've come in the league. Have I gotten better? Have I gotten worse? What has changed? What can I change? One match, as I saw it, was about to answer all those questions.
Wonderful.
So we got out on the court, and surprise, surprise, the first set was a bit of a flop. She took it 6-3. But even with the sleepiness and blurred vision, my game should've improved enough by this point to have taken the first set, right? Well, apparently not.
But it was what happened in the second set that salvaged the whole thing for me. I got angry (on the inside, of course). Frustrated, annoyed, and no longer tired, I realized I: 1. was playing with a brand new racquet; 2. had been training for several months now; and 3. was not about to let a lost first set lead to a similar result in the second. And I was definitely not about to let head games and tentative shots, the bane of my tennis existence, prevail - not again.
So I didn't. And I won the set 6-1. So there.
- Boris Becker
Today's match was definitely an interesting one.
For starters, I got very little sleep last night. Writing and working, I was up until about 3 AM. So sleepy, in fact, was I when I finally got to bed, I forgot to remove my contact lenses. So when I woke up at 8 AM this morning, my eyes were not pleased in the least. They were dry, and my vision was annoyingly blurry. But after about 30 minutes, things began to look up, and at 8:45 I headed off to the courts.
I got there just on time, and when I went to look at who my opponent was, it was none other than the woman I first played in the league months ago. Awesome, right? Kind of. I was slightly nervous. Here I was, operating on little sleep and less than eager to go out and play tennis for an extended period of time, and I was about to face off with a player who would act as a gauge, in my head, of how far I've come in the league. Have I gotten better? Have I gotten worse? What has changed? What can I change? One match, as I saw it, was about to answer all those questions.
Wonderful.
So we got out on the court, and surprise, surprise, the first set was a bit of a flop. She took it 6-3. But even with the sleepiness and blurred vision, my game should've improved enough by this point to have taken the first set, right? Well, apparently not.
But it was what happened in the second set that salvaged the whole thing for me. I got angry (on the inside, of course). Frustrated, annoyed, and no longer tired, I realized I: 1. was playing with a brand new racquet; 2. had been training for several months now; and 3. was not about to let a lost first set lead to a similar result in the second. And I was definitely not about to let head games and tentative shots, the bane of my tennis existence, prevail - not again.
So I didn't. And I won the set 6-1. So there.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
racquet wanted
It's shocking how little there is to do with tennis when you're just thinking about nothing except winning every point
- Andre Agassi
The match is over when you shake hands. Never before.
I was up 5-1 in the first set this morning against a player who I was actually feeling bad about beating so handily. And then it was 5-2, then 5-3, then 5-4. Fortunately, I was so annoyed at myself that sheer adrenaline helped me eek out the sixth game I needed to close it out. But even so, I had wasted so much time losing games in the first set, we didn't even get to finish the second set (league play runs for 1.5 hours, so whatever the score is at the end of that time is what counts...players move up in the ranks based on how many games they win overall, not necessarily how many sets).
Ugh, to say the least. What happened? Was it nerves? Was it over-confidence? Whatever it was, it was unnecessary.
One thing that didn't help, but that I can't fully attribute all the blame to, was my overworked racquet in desperate need of restringing. You're supposed to restring your racquet something like every six months. Ha - I think the last time I restrung mine was 2+ years ago. And for some reason, or so I thought, I was feeling the effects of it more than ever in this match.
Fast forward to my two-hour lesson, I'm playing against my tennis partner with our coach watching and critiquing from the side. Just thinking about how much I need to buy a player's racquet, or at least restring the one I have, is hindering my concentration. It's getting the best of me, and my game is feeling the frustration.
Then *pop*. The ball goes dead after making contact with my racquet, and I turn it over to look. I popped the strings. Craziness!! It was a dorky, first-time-I've-ever-done-that moment. My thoughts went to Pete Sampras, who used to do it frequently during his matches because of how tight his racquets were strung.
Of course, the reason his strings popped were not the same as why it happened to my racquet. It turns out it hadn't been in my head after all. The strings on my racquet were making their last stand, and I was fortunate to have even gotten through the morning's league match.
What to do then - I was on the court with no racquet. Turns out God does work in mysterious ways. My friend went over to her bag and pulled out the Wilson K Factor racquet she bought a month ago. She's taking a break from the game for a bit, plus, isn't too crazy about the racquet because it has way more control than the power she needs. So here, Melissa, you have it for the next three months.
So yeah, now I have a new racquet - kind of, for a little bit =) When I got home, I looked up the racquet. It is, indeed, all about control, and it was, how cool, Justine Henin's weapon of choice.
Let's see what I do with it...
- Andre Agassi
The match is over when you shake hands. Never before.
I was up 5-1 in the first set this morning against a player who I was actually feeling bad about beating so handily. And then it was 5-2, then 5-3, then 5-4. Fortunately, I was so annoyed at myself that sheer adrenaline helped me eek out the sixth game I needed to close it out. But even so, I had wasted so much time losing games in the first set, we didn't even get to finish the second set (league play runs for 1.5 hours, so whatever the score is at the end of that time is what counts...players move up in the ranks based on how many games they win overall, not necessarily how many sets).
Ugh, to say the least. What happened? Was it nerves? Was it over-confidence? Whatever it was, it was unnecessary.
One thing that didn't help, but that I can't fully attribute all the blame to, was my overworked racquet in desperate need of restringing. You're supposed to restring your racquet something like every six months. Ha - I think the last time I restrung mine was 2+ years ago. And for some reason, or so I thought, I was feeling the effects of it more than ever in this match.
Fast forward to my two-hour lesson, I'm playing against my tennis partner with our coach watching and critiquing from the side. Just thinking about how much I need to buy a player's racquet, or at least restring the one I have, is hindering my concentration. It's getting the best of me, and my game is feeling the frustration.
Then *pop*. The ball goes dead after making contact with my racquet, and I turn it over to look. I popped the strings. Craziness!! It was a dorky, first-time-I've-ever-done-that moment. My thoughts went to Pete Sampras, who used to do it frequently during his matches because of how tight his racquets were strung.
Of course, the reason his strings popped were not the same as why it happened to my racquet. It turns out it hadn't been in my head after all. The strings on my racquet were making their last stand, and I was fortunate to have even gotten through the morning's league match.
What to do then - I was on the court with no racquet. Turns out God does work in mysterious ways. My friend went over to her bag and pulled out the Wilson K Factor racquet she bought a month ago. She's taking a break from the game for a bit, plus, isn't too crazy about the racquet because it has way more control than the power she needs. So here, Melissa, you have it for the next three months.
So yeah, now I have a new racquet - kind of, for a little bit =) When I got home, I looked up the racquet. It is, indeed, all about control, and it was, how cool, Justine Henin's weapon of choice.
Let's see what I do with it...
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