tennis, life and a few things in between

Oh well, it’s back to work weekend.

We played three sets, first to 5, no ad; partnering with each player:

• w/ Todd, 5-4: we came back from 0-4
• w/ Joe, 5-2
• w/ Sally, 5-1

I served first, but lost it immediately; however, we were able to comeback from dead.

The 3rd set, we were leading 3-0 when Joe held his serve. We then took the next two games.

… all were good, except the waiter’s tray.

This Bulgarian player (1991-; 2007, $31,727,833) now lives in Monte Carlo, after leading 5-3 in the third set, lost the match in a tiebreak @ Miami Open.

He’s one of the very few players to play single-handed backhand, and won the 2017 Tour Finals that propelled him to world #3. Other notables are that he dated Maria Sharapova from late 2012 to the end of 2015,

Miami Open in 2026: rained out. 

… more pix; ground & fashion

~ Raphael Collignon def Grigor Dimitrov

This year we have planned quite a few tennis events to attend. Miami would have been the second after the tennis cruise, which got cancelled by the organizer, unfortunately.

Another unfortunate is the MO’s session 3 and 4 on Wednesday, March 18 rained out.

On this trip, we found a lovely hotel, the Biltmore, that is connected with the city court, where serious tennis players go to work -:). We get to play: the first hour is free to hotel guests.

… unfortunately, Amanda Amisimova lost to Belinda Bencic in the round of 16, on March 23.

Two of the women were practicing early on

1150 Anastasia Ave,
Coral Gables, FL 33134

William H. Kerdyk Sr. Biltmore Tennis Center,

Or

Coral Gables city courts: decent fancility with hard surface. Hotel guest gets the first hour free.

It felt a bit funny with the hard court, that the ball bounces so high and quickly. We managed an hour play on Court 5: 6-5 on serve when time ran out.

• the first game, won
• the 3rd game, lost
• the 3rd recording
• the 4th recording
• the last game
• the future stars

All around us, players are serious, both young and old. The father and son who came after us, said he is no longer his son’s coach because he couldn’t beat him any more. The boy is 15 and dreams of playing the junior circuit.

William H. Kerdyk Sr. (1946-2007) served as a Coral Gables City Commissioner for 28 years.

One of us isn’t available, so Matt filled in. We won 6-1, 6-3 over Sandi and Cheri, who’s going to be a first time grandma in August.

I went in 30 minutes before the match and practiced … serve … and still couldn’t get rid of waiter’s tray.

In the match, my serve was really good, I’d say 80% or even 90% first serve in. And one of the reasons was I kept racket drop low.

The Wed am gang‘s game was a split.

Matt & I won the first set 6-2.
Joe and Sandy won the 2nd set 7-6 ^7-4

Matt was serving at 5-4, 40-0.

The next game, we were leading 0-40, but squandering it again.

In the 7 point tiebreak, we were down 0-6.

My right upper arm is in pain.

I was tired.

^{… more on serve below ⇓}

warm-up

Lost a 4-1 lead set.

I started the match, won my serve, and broke Mr. G.

2-0.

At 3-1, I served again. Needed several dueces to close the game (4-1), but it was really taxing.

Then, everything went south from there.

On serve, getting rid of waiter’s tray: throw the edge of the racket up to the ball OR throw the racket like a football.

1. L frame is good:
   1. √ racket edge is leading  (vs string facing the sky)
   2. √ continental-stlye path (racket is traveling on edge)
   3. √ fully extended arm (helps shoulder tilt & power)
2. R frame still has tray
   1. elbow drop behind the body (√ elbow out→edge up→pronate later)
   2. racket face opens too early string→ball (√ edge→ball)

4-1领先的情况下被逆转。
比赛开始，我先发球，拿下自己的发球局，然后破发G先生，2-0领先。
3-1时，我再次发球。虽然打了好几个平分才以4-1拿下这盘，但过程非常艰难。
之后，一切都开始走下坡路了。

糟心的早上
我们领先4-1
然后就没然后了
白浴血奋战一翻
家属和搭档最终6-4 赢

然后家属关心的问
Are you ok?
I am NOT

俺说 今天没晚饭
另外一老公 马上问他有木必胜客的电话

我对他搭档说 ‘电话你媳妇 让她今晚就卖了你换瓶酒 ’

大妈也是简直了
歇菜

隔壁场的四男也七嘴八舌
其一 “年轻时带个跳舞的女伴回家… 昨晚踢个没完没了 就没有停过…”

周末快乐

日子还得继续过下去呀

^{Is this two-finger or 3 fingers kind of grip/serve?}

With three partners; but my serves were ok:

~ w/ Matt 2-5
~ w/ Tammy 4-5
~ w/ Sandi 2-5

Okay, on serve

… still waiter’s tray?

A warm up: turning on forehand, at least

I served well: drop low is the tip from the coach so far!

This is our Wednesday gang‘s 2nd match: Joe & I won 6-4, 1-6, 10-8 ^{super tiebreak.} 

I’ve no double fault, one ace, and lost one serve game in the second set, when we fell asleep.

Sally was late because of her late-night chat with a friend from half a century ago: they talked for over 3+ hours.

第二盘睡着了; 花里胡哨的

A mourning dove is around and circling the court, probably looking for a place to build its nest.

• warm up

A good win: Matt & I def Edwin & Nina.

On serve: dropped the racket low works well; FB.

1. Make a box
2. R arm pull away
   1. elbow out: trophy position
3. Toss high
   1. bring in right leg – shifting
4. Drop the racket low
5. NOoOo waiter’s tray
6. Pronate
7. Step in

… the birds are all over me -:)

• 3 serves fm B
• 3 serves fm L
• warm up
• 3 angles

I started the game, winning it love, then broke her serve at love too. Matt won his in two deuces, after being 0-40 down. However, after we’ve 4-0, I lost my next serve.

3 serves

The second set: Matt was serving at 5-2 but was unable to close. Serving at 5-4, 40-0, I was thinking happily that I should close it out with a love game. Then someone netted the ball. Luckily, I was able to close it out at 40-30.

… with birds

A long while ago, Nina asked me to play singles, and because we couldn’t align time, that was it. I see her practice all the time: low and deep forehand. Today, it’s my first time playing her: weak serve and doesn’t move, which isn’t an advantage in a singles game.

… serves fm B – pronate?

… from 3 angles

今天发球不错: 记着球拍要drop low低.

我开局就轻松拿下第一局 at love, 然后又以love game破掉了她的发球局. 下一局需要二个平分赢 0-40. 第四局也轻松赢. 然而,在我们4-0领先之后，我的下一个发球局就被破掉.

第二盘: 我们5-2领先但没能拿下. 我在5-4, 40-0领发球时, 高兴地想着能以love game结束这一盘多好 前后呼应. 结果有人回球下网了. 还好,我最终还是在40-30时赢 拿下第二盘.

很久以前,妮邀请我打单打.因为我们时间不合适;没下文.我经常看到她练习:正手击球又低又深.今天是我第一次和她交手: 发球很弱,而且不动–这在单赛中可不是什么优势.