An ace photo

I serve out not only doubles, aces too, from time to time but this photo is the first, because after change over, Cheri pointed to it and said it was a really good serve. Thanks coach! It means a lot.

We supposedly to repeat last week’s fun but Graham didn’t show up. We ended up playing Canadian. Hope and I won 1 game each and Cheri 2.

Have a big bowl of pasta – yummy yummy spaghettioooo

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Another training day

Look who did I run into – two herons.

One more practice day that begins at dark. I saw the pair at the last minutes. They stand still and looking back at me -:) … as if to say, you budge. this was my home …

Ok, back to serve … what serve?

… I think I’m getting a little better?

 

 

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Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium


4751 Main St,
Jupiter, FL 33458

… more pix & videos on Google Maps, TA

We’re here for the Mets vs Marlins game on March 20, 2024. We were here last year to visit but didn’t attend a game.

It’s the spring training camp for the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, with 6,871 seats. This arena looks and feels slightly different from Mets’ training ground at Clover Park @ Port St. Lucie: compact and in the center of the town, Jupiter, where Tiger Woods and many other golfers live or lived.

Although it’s only a few steps away from the garage to the stadium, but they provide buggies to ferry us around. Bathroom doesn’t seem to have air conditioning. But I like this small scale events better than the full blown ones. Intimate and closer to the action.

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Mets beat Marlins 6-3

Mets beat Marlins 6-3 @ Cardinals Roger Dean stadium in Jupiter.

They scored first, ends up with 2 runs in the 2nd inning.

Marlins is pretty busy to have summit meetings (on the mount). Mets has its summit meeting after the rookie pitcher gave up 8 balls, which resulted in two walks.

We left the game at top of 8th inning and finished watching it on tv at Coolinary.

… and the national anthem

 

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Miami Open 2024

We’re here again for the Open.

… more pix & videos on Google Maps

Last year we attended the regular game on day 1. This year we tried the qualifying round, which I like more – less people.

On serve: here are some slowmo of Venus, Caroline Wozniacki, Paula Badosa & Simona Halep

… since I’m in the process to overhaul my serve, I took many slow-motion serves of the female players:

Pre-paid parking is better than pay at entrance: $35 for SunPass and $40 for cash or credit card.

The projected quarter final; the pinky Santa Margherita Rosé Giardino garden and the Sunset Terrace arch.

Lacking corporate heavy hitters, such as Amex and Chase that are stables at US Open, La Roche-Posay passes out mini size suntan lotion here. At Amex corner at the US Open, they offered at least two different full sizes botles.

USTA offers qualifying rounds for free, but Miami charges a fee, which is fine.

Lockers. Clear bag policy. People do bring their own bottled water. The stadium provides free WiFi, with decent connectivity.

Bathrooms have no ac, if I remembered right. USTA do. The ground is nicely groomed and laid out. I enjoyed the different seating areas, bars and eateries.

One men and five women singles matches we watched, 99% trading baseline ground strokes, with 100% double hand backhand – out of the same cookie cutter, which is boring.

We watched the last three matches in full at the Grandstand:

  1. V Kopriva def J.J. Wolf (1998-): 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 @ Court 5
  2. Wang Xinyu (王欣瑜, 2001-) defeat Hailey Baptiste (2001-) 7-6, 6-3 Court Butch Buchholz
  3. Yue Yuan (袁悦, 1998-) defeat A. Blinkova 6-4, 6-2 @ Court 7
  4. Venus Williams lost to Diana Shnaider 3-6, 3-6 @ Grandstand
  5. Caroline Wozniacki def C. Burel 6-1, 6-4 @ Grandstand
  6. Paula Badosa def Simone Halep 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 @ Grandstand

A lot more Chinese women players are on tour now. Two or more decades behind the Russia.

The first 3 matches, we only watched the ending. The last 3 were all excellent. Especially seeing Venus.

I’m happy to see her but also sad at seeing her not able to return so many shots that used to be a cake walk for her. Venus lost to 19 years old Russian Diana Shnaider (2004-), 6-3, 6-3. The result is better than I anticipated: her opponent isn’t good. Love the sisters but at 43, many shots Venus used to brush aside with ease, now she couldn’t even get to it. It must be the love of the game that keeps her on tour. Seeing her play is A treat.

 

Caroline Wozniacki (1990-; Denmark) mom of two, defeat 22 years old French woman Clara Burel (2001-) 6-1, 6-4, an easy day at work.

They wear almost identical Adidas out fit – Caroline in one piece and the French in two. CW looks very fit after two children.

Their match was chair by Chinese chair umpire Jennifer Zhang Juan.

 

The last match: Paula Basosa beat Simona Halep 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
A lot of Romanian fans cheering for Halep. But the funny thing is, the blue color of the flags have different shades – this is a first. Did they buy from a discount store who cheated on color?

Surprisingly, she didn’t scream like her old self, like an animal. The level of grunt is acceptable; making watching her play not a bad experience.

Theirs is the last one on the Grand Stand. By then, the Open ground is basking under the setting sun. With very few people around, it’s very enjoyable.

Two Romania flags’ blue have different shades. Both their outfits, Simone in two pinkish blue Badosa in one, a black dress have different color neckline: blue has yellow and black with deep pink. Both are nice.

Miami Grand Prix is coming up shortly

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Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean

A short swim at Hollywood Beach @ Hollywood, FL. The water is emerald green.

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7-6, 7-6

The best two sets I’ve played in a year or two: serving out both sets. We inspired one another

雾天
7:10 进池
7:38 上场
练发球
8:00-10:00 热身, 二局

二位男娃7:50到 把俺准备练发球的计划剪短

球发的怎么样?
第一球 发了个ace
一个发球失误
然后 就真的没有然后了- 因为竞争激烈 俺只好重操旧业 回归旧的发球方法
赢了当然开心
但心在滴血 – 靠旧方法 [抓狂] 不光彩.
我们已经约好炮了 – 下星期六 不见不散

🍀 happy St Patty’s Day 🍀

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Ball hopper

… with two wheels, to practice serves.

 

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A sun visor, but not any wiser

My new sun visor feels good and looks good too. However, my serve still hasn’t improved 起早贪黑也没用. And my recent three matches are on the losing side:

  • Today 3.14: 3-5, 4-5, 2-5
  • Tue 3.12: 5-2, 5-1, 3-0 running out of time
  • Sat 3.09: 0-5, 3-5, 4-5

… from an fellow player, I used blue tape to fix my grip … so far, no visible improvement.

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Hand-pulled noodles

A real treat: hand-pulled noodle 手拉酱面

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