tennis, life and a few things in between

An iffy drizzling weather turned into a nice morning: cool but a bit breezy.

Joe and I lost to Matt & Sally 4-6

Matt & I gave a bagel: 6-0

Sally and I won a 10-point tiebreak: 10-8

I served first and instantly went to 0-40, then eventually lost after three duces.

On serve: I felt pretty good, making sure I was shifting weight, tossing, hoisting, and looking up.

Today, the Alot league (10/1/0) is battling the #2 team (9/2/0), which is only 2 courts behind, with 3 matches (including today’s) to go each. They’ve been keen to get me to sub, but I declined: no travel is my baseline.

This year’s Open is at IMG, which is a far better venue than the past two years.

The weather forecast is for a rainy week ahead, so we decided to go today, which is the qualifying rounds.

The quality of tennis is decisively low (duh): plenty of double faults and unforced errors. I don’t even make these many doubles in a match. It’s tennis nevertheless, but a different kind to spectate: more relatable, more human, more circumspect -:) 网球比赛的质量显然不高(这还用说吗): 双误和非受迫性失误层出不穷. 就连我在比赛中,都不会出现这么多的双误. 但这终究还是网球,只不过是一种别样的观赛体验: 它显得更加贴近生活, 更具人情味, 也更加耐人寻味.

The four matches:

1. Ryan Colby def Theodore Winegar 6-4, 6-3
2. Ronit Karki def Felix Corwin 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. Strong Kirchheimer def Ben Kitten 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
4. Draxl def Davidov, 6-4, 6-1

Ran into Kei Nishikori (錦織 圭, 1989-; 2007, US$26,087,810), who’s playing on Tuesday, April 7, Round of 32. He had a few surgeries and is slowly rebuilding his career. It’s funny to see the courts named after him.

The last match of today on Bollettieri Court is between last year’s runner-up, Canadian Liam Draxl (2001-; 2023, US$583,572) and 15-year-old Teodor Davidov (his site; no wiki page yet). The Canadian won 4 and 1.

During one match, the female chair umpire warns a group of Chinese who are talking loudly,

During the Kirchheimer & Kitten match, the electronic decided to take a break. It was the second set, 4-4, and Kirchheimer had the advantage when his shot was clearly out. No call came. So he got the game, 5-4. During the changeover and or the next game, did they realize the problem. But the umpire / supervisor didn’t agree to replay the last game, unfortunately. Kitten lost the 3rd set at 2.

Dinner at Pesto is good.

Focuing on serve: shifting weigh and hoisting.

We’ve been using cards to forge partnerships and form games lately. Today I drew the diamond K, partner with Joel vs Stan & Dennis. At 5-0, Dennis has to quit due to a left knee injury that’s going under the knife in a week.

Coach takes over and gets a game. So it was 6-1. The second set they won 6-2. His comment on my forehand (ok) and serve: bend the knees.

The mourning doves have been bombing /flying over us throughout the match: guess they’re looking for their nest spot. Pretty sad.

Matt and I def Sally & Joe 6-2
Sally and I lost 3-6, despite leading 3-0: I was tired, really.

On serve, I focus on hoisting, and am doing a little of that.

BUT

… my tossing is too late, or I hoist my arm too early.

So far, one motion/step that consistently working is drop low.

Something interesting: what weather or nature does to the Score Keepers: only one side (happens to be green color) gets green moss.

上面的朝东 下面的朝西 青苔只生在一边

大自然的鬼斧神工

Beautoful sunrise at the courts

… the warmup

.

Like with racket drops low, shifting weight, or transferring weight hits me today and works out well. I think it solves my tossing too early problem as well.

Monday mixer: Hope and I lost to Tammy & Matt 4-6, & 3-3: Hope has to retire after 90 minutes of play to nurse his chronic injury or long existing. It was a great match, with many long rallies, and my forehand works well.

… the warm-up

_{the bird and me}

Today, I concentrate on hoisting.

Sally, who can run and runs fast, and I won 2 and 1 over Rebecca and Lisa: they’re preparing for the upcoming battle.

Lisa asked me, when it was over, for suggestions. Seriously, asking me? I knew nothing about tennis 🙂

• hoisting not so much: more practice!
• warm-up w/ Lisa
• a bird mourning dove is looking

With Lori playing Line #1 against Lucille & Kelly: 6-1 & 7-5; team won 3-2.

… the standing

We were leading 5-2 in the second set but I lost my serve, and allowed them to win next 3 games. I was not looking-forward to the tiebrek nor the 3rd set. Thanks heaven, we found a way to close the match. There were many long rallies, Kelly’s serve motion is great.

During lunch, they’re talking about four remaining games and possible upgrade to B Level for the next season. Only #1 team gets upgrade to the next level, the bottom one gets down grade.

It’s Lori and Linda’s birthday, some mates brought banner and two bottles of white wine. The league’s banquent is on May 14. Some of the mates have played in this Alot league for a decade.

6-1, 7-5
有人睡着了😹 领先5-2 结果对手连赢三盘… 还好 及时止损 many long rallies [强] 对手之一的发球漂亮

雇佣兵的第五战

队伍3-2. 她们已经打完8场 暂时第一. 还剩4场比赛, 包括和小二. 二队相差无几.

俺的正手信心不足[捂脸]

^{the forever tray}

Saturday’s comeback didn’t work today: I got bagel’ed.

• w/ Tammy, 0-6
• w/ Hope 4-6

Didn’t get to play with Matt: a little tired.

On serve: one person said, hoist your arm, no funny business, just hoists it up.

• Apr 4
• is this a hoisting?
• a little hoist?
• serve: hoist