Club Championships begin
I've given Provincial level tennis a break the last month and a half. A good part of that was a lack of tournaments scheduled and the realization that my ranking has actually been improving despite me not playing. I now sit in 6th place. The legend grows.
At the local level though, I've been gearing up for the annual club championships. I lost my top rank days before the draw was made when a local kid upset me in a 3-set marathon, dropping me to 4th place. I broke a string on my main racquet at 5-4 in the final set, and by the time I adjusted to the reserve, it was over 6-4. Serves me right for not finishing him off when I had the chance. I was one point away from being up 4-1 earlier in that set. The kid's father had even given up on any hope of a comeback and left him for dead, chosing instead to walk home in shame and not watch the end of the match. He wore the kind of look we all do when our offspring disappoint us publically. I wish I could have been there though when his son walked in with the great news, prompting the father to put away his whipping stick and put on a smile instead. Thata boy! This father son moment was brought to you by your local Father Son Institute...a.k.a. me...I am a true humanitarian.
Anyway, I challenged the 19 y/o days later and beat him. The championship draw had already been made hours earlier, so it didn't effect my ranking, but the kid's confidence suffered a bit while I reassured myself of still being the big fish! Plus, being the 4th seed, maybe I can fly in under the radar and finally win this thing. The only unfortunate part is that the best player in the competition is in my section of the draw, while the kid will have a fairly easy walk into the finals from his side. See you there punk!
I completed my 1st round singles match last night, winning in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. Yes, the second set was a lot closer than the first. You see, my opponent decided to try a new strategy against me that worked reasonably well...horrible line calling! According to his religious beliefs one cannot serve an ace on a second serve, or a first serve for that matter, and so, despite what your eyes tell you, you must call those shots out. And so he did...calling multiple great shots of mine, OUT! I didn't argue, I just started blasting them that much harder...right at him...until he lost. Old punk!
Next up, my friend and doubles partner. This should be interesting. Historically, I have the edge having beaten him the only other time we faced-off in club championships, but he's under the impression that he's somehow surpassed me since. I think he was dropped a lot as a baby...but I digress. It should be a good match. We could both use one, seeing how we both played against clowns in our opening matches. Of course he'll argue that his opponent was clownier than mine. Wearing torn jean shorts and black socks on a tennis court, looking like Bill Gates' long lost Asian twin...very faux pas...so, I'll agree.
At the local level though, I've been gearing up for the annual club championships. I lost my top rank days before the draw was made when a local kid upset me in a 3-set marathon, dropping me to 4th place. I broke a string on my main racquet at 5-4 in the final set, and by the time I adjusted to the reserve, it was over 6-4. Serves me right for not finishing him off when I had the chance. I was one point away from being up 4-1 earlier in that set. The kid's father had even given up on any hope of a comeback and left him for dead, chosing instead to walk home in shame and not watch the end of the match. He wore the kind of look we all do when our offspring disappoint us publically. I wish I could have been there though when his son walked in with the great news, prompting the father to put away his whipping stick and put on a smile instead. Thata boy! This father son moment was brought to you by your local Father Son Institute...a.k.a. me...I am a true humanitarian.
Anyway, I challenged the 19 y/o days later and beat him. The championship draw had already been made hours earlier, so it didn't effect my ranking, but the kid's confidence suffered a bit while I reassured myself of still being the big fish! Plus, being the 4th seed, maybe I can fly in under the radar and finally win this thing. The only unfortunate part is that the best player in the competition is in my section of the draw, while the kid will have a fairly easy walk into the finals from his side. See you there punk!
I completed my 1st round singles match last night, winning in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. Yes, the second set was a lot closer than the first. You see, my opponent decided to try a new strategy against me that worked reasonably well...horrible line calling! According to his religious beliefs one cannot serve an ace on a second serve, or a first serve for that matter, and so, despite what your eyes tell you, you must call those shots out. And so he did...calling multiple great shots of mine, OUT! I didn't argue, I just started blasting them that much harder...right at him...until he lost. Old punk!
Next up, my friend and doubles partner. This should be interesting. Historically, I have the edge having beaten him the only other time we faced-off in club championships, but he's under the impression that he's somehow surpassed me since. I think he was dropped a lot as a baby...but I digress. It should be a good match. We could both use one, seeing how we both played against clowns in our opening matches. Of course he'll argue that his opponent was clownier than mine. Wearing torn jean shorts and black socks on a tennis court, looking like Bill Gates' long lost Asian twin...very faux pas...so, I'll agree.
posted by Desiderius1979 at 6:39 AM
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