tennis, life and a few things in between

Happy to report, keep my left arm up after tossing works pretty good for me lately.

Is this butterfly injured? I was in a rush – late to tennis, didn’t investigate … Hope the butterfly all is well.

I played really well today, giving out two bagels: 5-0, 5-0, 2-5, no ad.

On the second bagel, it was ‘deuce’ which is one point decide. My first serve went long and the second serve was an ace to the ally. I was very happy.

A friend gave me a box of her homemade dumping last night – perhaps the dumplings exchanged for two bagels … ha ha ha.

An orange colored bug was spotted on the table during our play. Is it straddling the Bosphorus? Last Sunday, I saw a grayish one … bugs are everywhere, all kinds …

Played back to back: last night and this morning – haven’t done this in a long while.

Still trying to work on my forehand and serve, while my backhand is kaput, totally undependable. … and my lower back is in mild pain.

… the blurry video shows: my left arm stays up longer … but my torso doesn’t turn much …

US Open 2023, the first night. Chair umpire, Marijana Veljovic sits over the first round match between Coco Gauff  her German opponent, Laura Siegemund.

• multiple time violations
• sitting down when it isn’t allowed

Coco’s situation brings up Zhang Shuai’s last month and Serena’s in 2004 where and when USTA apologized – wasn’t that a little TOO late?

Coco Gauff expressed her frustration to the chair umpire after she thought her opponent, Laura Siegemund, was slow to get ready for her serves several times. pic.twitter.com/WjXz4bskkt

— ESPN (@espn) August 29, 2023

This is so wrong and unfair. The chair empire should be dismissed and shouldn’t be used again. This reminded me of Mariana Alves in 2004 on Serena’s due to horrible line calls.

The fact the chair empire has an absolute sway/power on such high stake marches is just unbelievable. There has to be a better way for such unthinkable behavior of the empires.

Fire her.

Never use her again.

I actually watched German’s post match interview: she’s a good actor and dreadful player.

Here is 2004 New York Times coverage on Serena’s match

A few players have pointed out that my tossing arm should stay up till I hit the ball, when serving. I tried but it isn’t working for me

…

🎾 9-7. One set. 1.5 hours. One ace to the T, and three deuce court baseline lobs. I’m the last one to serve, and everyone holds their serve, except the last one – so I def face a little pressure.

AM is def better time to play than the afternoons.

今天是高球日 三球同一位置: 笨人偶尔也有好运气🍀 👍 俺是最后一个发球的…鸭梨山大

^{Rosé: Summer in a Bottle 2022 Côtes de Provence from Wōlffer Estate vineyard in Bridgehampton – Sagaponack, LI, New York.} 

It’s also a good day for the Americans at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati – Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. It started in 1899 – a long time ago -:). One of the warm up tourneys before the US Open.

Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula all advanced.

I definitely play better in the morning than the afternoon or early evening.

The last few matches played at 6:30pm weren’t enjoyable – I was tired, didn’t move and mis-hit a lot … overall not a good match.

Feeling good and played well.

On my first time serve, I won a love game on my first serves – four great first serves.

Do people get guilt, sometimes? A little embarrassed for overwhelming others? I sure did. And I think champions never do, otherwise they won’t be at the top, winning all the time.

Mental toughness is also part of every job/thing we do.

It’s a wonderful game for all, I’d say. But toward end of the third set, one of the new guy displayed discontent and I let it go.