tennis, life and a few things in between

^{How you like my matching blue nail polish?}

I played the second round REALLY well… but lost to Joe and Tiffany, coming in second.

Don’t know who has offended the weather god, but our tournaments are often affected by bad weather. This time is scheduled on Thursday, with the final on Friday.

Thursday was a nasty day: rainy, windy, and cold. … and Sandy’s girls are leaving on Saturday morning. (Thanks to Sandy, her friends enabled us to have a true mixed doubles tourney.) So, 11 teams in all, first to 10 pro set. Dave L and I are one of three byes.

1. v. Joel & Christine: 10-2
2. v. Felix & Julie: 10-5
3. v. Joe & Tiffany: 5-10

One of our first-round opponents decided on an hour break, which is unheard of. We never explicitly state the time between rounds, with the understanding that recovery time is no more than 10 minutes. In short, we started late. But they were easy to deal with. At 7-0, he called a on-the-line shot out, which gave them a game. Oh well.

The second set was a real competition. I was the weakest link, getting all the shots. For once, I held my own. It was a tight, thrilling game until 5-5.

In the third round, which is the final, we lost clearly. Tiffany is definitely at a higher level: good 10 years younger, and doesn’t miss anything … They had two byes and watched us battle in the second round.

… no improvement in serving

亚军🥈
混双
10-2
10-5
5-10
第二盘俺打得非常好
搭档也棒
因俺最弱所以啥球都是俺的事儿 [偷笑]

第三盘 大妈已经半残
对手女漂亮+球技好
我们打第二盘时他们一直在看 (第一对奇葩 要回家一小时 所以我们开始的晚.)
不是找借口 只是打的不够好
和教练说 下次要把休息时间写清楚 最多15分钟. 没写是大家都很合作. 虽然是亡羊补牢 但奇葩/不法会令到规章制度更健全 [好的]

周末快乐

^{All three courts done first set at the same time}

8:46 call for the 9am league game because one of the mates on Line 4 is in urgent care (she’s fine). I said yes only because I knew the captain’s pain.

Lisa and I won 3 and 2. We got our first serve games at love. Then I lost my next serve… Lisa has been playing tennis for 15 years and is excellent at net.

This morning I was luckily, because the opponents came from far and were late by a good 30 minutes.

During the set, the three of them went to the bathroom. Looking around the 3 court (we’re on Court 3), the other two are done at about the same time: we were all up a set.

I need constantly coaching, otherwise I’d be playing with old bad habbits.

Tony pulled out this morning, so I filled in. Sandi and I lost to Jay and Golf 4-6.

So, I’m still working on my serve. Jay said that I’m too stiff, not bending my knees.

Bend your knees when tossing, he says.

AI says, pros typically do not bend their knees at the exact moment they begin to toss the ball, but rather start the knee bend as the ball is released. The legs remain relatively straight during the initial upward movement of the tossing arm, with the,,knee bend occurring simultaneously with the toss release and the racket moving toward the tophy position.

• warm-up
• forehand
• volley
• serve -pathetic

6-0, 6-7, 6-3 in 3 hours for Line 3: my first league play in over a decade, and after steadfastly refusing for 3 years with this group and the coach, now I’m playing as a sub. AND there’s extra pressure.

~ #2 on Feb 4

The reasons are

1. don’t want to play in a league due to pressure … I feel like a mercenary: got to win.
2. they’re not the usta league
3. they like to start late, like 9am or 10am: it’s too late for this early bird.

I couldn’t do wrong the first, and couldn’t do right the third set with so many double faults. Unbelievable, doing chip and charge … just to hit the damn ball! What was wrong with me? The second set we were leading 4-1! I reminded myself to focus before the match, especially after winning the first set. Oh well.

Questionable line calls:

1. They refused a ball on court, saying it had to be from them.
2. An out ball they played, and we lost the point.
3. A lob to the ad court, as I was serving for the match. They both asked if I was sure and where the ball mark was. My partner said it was too far for her to see it.

This team in the ALOT league is at the bottom level C (3 levels).

Afterward, we all went to lunch with the coach, which is really a new and wonderful experience: listen and learn.

Lunch at the bistro was ok – a fruit fly or gnat was in my Chardonnay.

• warm-up, #2 & #3

6-0, 6-7, 6-3 in 3 hours 酣战三小时 有点累

啥人呀
第一局 随心所欲 不知道怎么输
第二局 我们领先4-1 别提了 真虞
第三局不知道怎么赢 连发球都忘记了. 最后能赢6-3 多亏搭档力挽狂澜.

我已经十多年没参加过联赛了; 之前三年一直拒绝加入这支球队 教练游说也没用…现在经不住她们的群殴, 我暂时打二场 替补队员身份. 不想参加是不想有压力 结果压力更大了: 感觉自己像个雇佣兵 – 必须赢.
另外她们9点或者10 才开始. 俺喜欢早. 有7:30 或者8点开始的绝对是我的首选. 俺职业人 不想浪费青春

五对 我们胜了三场=>赢

这个队目前是垫底的
她们希望能晋升到B组. 教练鼓励说 努力 一定能够

之后,和教练一起吃午饭. 这经验不错 [偷笑]七嘴八舌 没完没了. 俺撤了. 一瘸一拐的回家. 开开心心的
教练是个话痨子. 记得第一次碰到他 滔滔不绝了20多分钟 …

I’m still a 3.5 [捂脸]

今天午饭时 无意间看到联赛表
她们没有问过我 就把我定在3.5 搭档也是3.5
看我们的对手二位都是3.0
和不合理是另外一回事儿
1️⃣ 纸上谈兵 7.0 理所应当赢6.0 但我们赢的很辛苦
2️⃣ 二个对手不是3.0 应该是3.5
3️⃣ … 打联盟 聪明队长都找些球技好 等级分数低的

这也许是她们垫底的原因之一吧 过高评估自己
… 相比之下 对手的队就比较有经验 至少我们的二对手 3.0 is a good deal. I’d be a good deal too if they rate me at 3.0 [调皮]

2️⃣ 这娃有点过 有那么冷吗

Due to cold weather, our morning game is cancelled.

By 3pm, temp rose to 59°, so we went out there to sling: returning, serving and returning serves.

The serve: the waiter’s tray isn’t improving.

Returning serves: a good practice.

• mixed
• a few serves
• returning serves

For a moment, I feel good and confident about my serve, even still have the waiter’s tray. One step at time. One tweak at time.

On my way to the court, saw this couple – a pair of sandyhill cranes was taking their morning stroll.

Continuing from yesterday, I sling first, then practiced serve.

• warm-up
• fore & back
• 2 serves

A busy morning: warmup, sling, a heavy-duty serve session on Court 1, then played a set with the coach, winning 6-1 over Dave L and Aaron on Court 2. The only ame we lost was from my overhead, when the coach called “don’t touch” but I still hit it: totally my fault!

Dave / coach won over Edwin / Aaron 1 and love. On a trip to my court to pick up a ball, C said, “Why don’t you play? They complained that I’m too good, can’t they be appreciative that I’m trying to make them better?” I knew C won’t go all out when he plays with us, and I always value the time playing with or against him: it’s the best time to learn.

During a changeover, the coach showed me again how to serve, and I think this time it worked a little for me – thanks.

… pretty happy with my toss

记得北京有个心里美萝卜 (不知是北京生还是它地种运北京 – 不重要) 俺这两天也是心里美🤓(虽还是waiter’s tray – got to give me some time 😂😹)
正误其次 心里高兴是正道
昨天 教练和三男队友在隔壁打 6-0 6-1
教主吐苦 “我是就着他们打的 但他们还说不公平…”
他第一次要我过去打 我没接茬儿
第二次是因为一男离开
他和俺 … 6-1
… 那个1 是俺输的
一高球 教主说 别碰 … 俺偏偏打: 说不清是俺蠢 还是不想给他们鸡蛋

其实和教练打是难得的机会
人各有志

• warm-up
• returning – forehand & backhand

https://youtu.be/2wMkco8DnQI

Another good win, w/ Dave L who has textbook forms, v. Dennis & Aaron.

I thought my serve is decent but still with waiter’s tray. I held all my serve, except one when I set up the phone. The oppenonts joked, ‘keep the camera rolling’ -:)

The underhand 2nd serve