tennis, life and a few things in between

Today is the first day of qualifying round, of the last slam of 2025.

I watch it a lot on TV: from plays to controversies to fashion.

A few heartbreaking: Ben Shelton, Taylor Townsend, …

A few controversies, Jelena Ostapenko told Taylor Townsend that she has no educaton, no class, after losing 5 and 1 in the 2nd round. What a sour loser. She apologized later, but the damage has done, to herself.

After losing to Elena Rybakina 1 and 2 in the 3rd round, Emma Raducanu said in her press conference that top players raise their game when they play her. WHAT A JOKE! She’s no Serena, posing no threat to anyone. So dilutional. I bet she’s a one slamer.

A few players from countries that we normally don’t see often:

• Hong Kong: Coleman Wong (2004-; ? $590,724)
• Andorra: Victoria Kasintseva (2005-; 2020, $641,136)
• Indunesia: Janice Tjen (2002-; 2018, $82,632)
• Estonia: Mark Lajal (2003-; ? $465,198)
• Zhang Shuai (1989-; 2003, $11,095,562) starts from the qualying round

Today’s qualifying round:

• Christopher Eubanks (1996-; 2017, $3,659,441) lost to Marco Trungelliti (1990-; 2008, $1,990,862)
• Gao Xinyu (高馨妤 1997-; 2014, $419,709) lost to Petra Marcinko
• Bernarde Pera (1994-; 2014, $4,992,540) lost to Emerson Jones
• YH Hsu (许育修, 1999-; ? $695,165) lost to Frncesco Passaro

Eubanks is pretty exciting to watch: a single-handed backhand who charges the net. Wish him all the luck, and hopefully see him soon.

• Day 1 & 2, Mboko
• the 1st Sunday, Pegula, Fritz

Two days in a row, a pair of sandhill cranes is by the pond @ sunrise.

Played regular two sets,  with Deb 2-6 and Pun 2-6; Cheri has to go, so no third set.

I felt pretty flat, probably back to back tennis isn’t for me anymore.

…hmmm… one serve

Sunrise. A pair of sandhill cranes 沙丘鹤 by the pond.

I played well, till someone retired.

~ w/ Matt 5-1
~ w/ Brad 2-5
~ w/ Mike 2-3 on serve

Michael doesn’t play often.

I served first and played a very clean game.

• 1st serve
• receiving
• another serve game
• a few shots

My left arm looks useless in my singlehand backhand.

After heavy rain, the fences look like having screen or barrier, impeding visibility. The tables and chairs have poddles as well.

It’s a slow day, playing with Bob (5-0), Larry (5-1) and Chris (3-5). 

The morning moon looks pretty: 竹篮打水 or 水中捞月 – catching the moon from the water?

… and more 

… a few serves and drops 

A good game w/ Pete, Ed and Greg W: 4-5, 5-0, 5-1 (1 is my error …)

My left arm was in pain yesterday, so I almost asked for a sub … but arm pain is less tormenting than heartache.

I was prepared to serve underhand. Once there, couldn’t help but serve normally. And there’s little pain. The joy on the court can erase any pain.

One doublehand backhand and one double, the rest were single hand backhand, forehand and drop shots. Greg felt trying to get to one of my drop shots. Pete joked (or was he?), “if you keep playing like a girl, we won’t invite you anymore.” 😂

So, to sneakers.

Adidas Barricade that is. I find Adidas still makes Barricade, although not as sleek. Geee … my impression was the manifacturers always come out with new models, so when I see some good ones, I buy more. For Barricade, I bought three additional pairs, one white two grey. Gosh, IF I knew they keep making it, I would not have bought so many. This old grey one is the last of the four pairs.

4-5, 5-0, 5-1 … 1是我的失误😂

独臂婆 挺开心的
昨天小臂还痛的想找替代
心痛阻止 所以上阵. 预备下发球
照发; 一个发球失误, 一个双反, 其余都是单反, 正手, 小球 🥰 开心

So sneakers
因鞋商通常都革新 所以见到喜欢的就多买一些
Adidas Barricade是特别喜欢的 所以加买了一白二灰 共四双. 现在最后一双. 左看右瞅都漂亮😻 比最近买的二双都漂亮
那为啥买呀?
… 买时没有多想
也觉得Adidas 不会继续出
大错特错
现在心里有阴影了😂

啥时穿坏这二双 等不及
(新人生观 少买!)