During the upcoming weekend, countless individuals will witness with admiration as the champions of the Australian Open fall to their knees in triumph.
In my opinion, that is not authentic tennis; it is more of a spectacle. True tennis is played in places far from Melbourne Park, on worn-out, red courts in suburban neighborhoods where young, old, and midweek women compete in intense matches. Community tennis, with its aging facilities and devoted players, is the core of the sport.
Trust me, I understand. My time playing low-level tennis not only resulted in plastic trophies and a photo frame, but also provided me with two decades of happiness and valuable life lessons.
, but it can represent a lot of things.
Your age is simply a numerical value, but it has the potential to symbolize many aspects of your life.
In the sport of community tennis, players of all ages participate. When I was in my early 20s, I believed that defeating older opponents would be easy. However, I was mistaken. Many of these “older players” had decades more experience than me, and they utilized it effectively. Their clever drop shots, difficult angles, and consistent play could often frustrate me to the point of a McEnroe-like outburst. Yet, after the match, they would be friendly and offer homemade scones.
I had the opportunity to compete against younger players. During one season, there were rumors that my next opponent, Destanee Aiava, was a strong competitor. However, despite being only 10 years old while I was 30, I proved that experience can outweigh youth. Yet, on the cold Saturday morning we faced each other, she dominated and defeated me. Perhaps, I can take some credit for teaching Aiava, who is now ranked 208 on the world tour, what not to do in a match.
Lightning rarely strikes twice, unless on rare occasions.
Participating in doubles requires sharing both the joys and struggles of the game. Like in any partnership, challenges can create tension. One moment you may be celebrating like the Jensen brothers, and the next you may be missing shots and receiving encouraging words from your partner through clenched teeth.
During a match, I was crouched at the net while my partner served. However, the ball did not make it over the net because my head was in its way. She ended up serving straight into the back of my head at around 60 kilometers per hour. Despite being shocked and concussed, I laughed it off and got back into position.
Do you believe that lightning never strikes twice? Well, in tennis it certainly does. BOOM! Another powerful shot hit the back of my head.
Double fault.
Our work partnership never fully recuperated.
Eventually, the wind will shift.
A coach once reminded me that the wind affects both sides of the court equally, similar to the saying “a bad craftsman blames his tools.”
When experiencing a loss, it is common to look for something to blame, such as the intensity of the sun, the pesky flies, or the excessive wind. However, these factors only seem to affect your side of the court.
It can be difficult to break out of a downward spiral, but sometimes all you have to do is persevere. The insects will eventually move on to someone else, the circumstances will shift, and before you know it, your opponent will be the one frustrated and angry.
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Remember to always inquire about the catering service.
Following our games, we would convene at the club house for a relaxing afternoon tea. The upscale clubs had their own chefs who would prepare triangular sandwiches and party pies. The more rugged clubs relied on whatever snacks the players could quickly grab from Woolworths before the game.
I noticed that the men’s teams would typically place four packets of Tim Tams on the table, while the women’s teams would spread out tablecloths and offer a variety of sweet and savory snacks. I do not believe in reinforcing gender stereotypes, but this was my observation.
Tennis involves physical contact between players.
Tennis may appear traditional with its polo shirts and refreshments, but at the grassroots level, it is far from it. Here, players frequently respond to losing a point with outbursts of profanity, smashing their rackets, and even resorting to physical altercations.
While I remained mostly controlled, I have witnessed several instances of instability. One player even jumped over the net to tackle their opponent, and on another occasion, a physical altercation began on the court and spilled out into the parking lot.
They did not pause for Tim Tams.
Making mistakes is a natural part of being human, but forgiveness can often be a lengthy process.
In the 1990 D-grade mixed doubles grand final, Barry and I were in a difficult situation. If our opponents scored the next point, they would win the match.
A lofty lob was approaching us. Barry, positioned at the net, attempted to smash it. “I got it!” I exclaimed. It was my shot – a relatively easy forehand. However, Barry ended up hitting it into the net.
The game has ended. “It’s alright,” I said through gritted teeth.
I am almost done dealing with it – 32 years later – and Barry has nearly forgiven me. You can’t always be successful. In my situation, hardly ever. But that’s alright.
Source: theguardian.com
