tennis, life and a few things in between

Chinese Acupuncture and Herbs Center
10333 Seminole Blvd.
Largo, fl 33778

TCM, the traditional Chinese medicine has been important part of my active life, after I settled down in USA. For my generation, we look down on it in China, or at least while I was living in Beijing before 1979.

I wasn’t athletic at all in Beijing but become one in the USA -:), and discover the magic touch of the TCM: acupuncture 针灸, tuina 推拿, position the bones 正骨 … they’re most effective when I sprained some part of my body.

My last suffering came in September 2022, a few days before our trip to Iceland and Arctic. When only 1.5 days left and I was still hurt, I rushed to see my dear Dr. Shi who fixed me up in two sessions, the 2nd session was only few hours before our flight.

So this time around, I asked Dr. Shi for referral and Dr. Tian came to my rescue.

The office on Seminole Boulevard is stale without any support staff, a truly one man office. But I’ve to wait because there is steady stream of patients, either it’s usual or because it was the first day after the long weekend. Two patients came after me but were seen before me: they’ve appointments, which I think it’s fair – good practice.

The noisy little Chinese girl (5’5″) won the NCAA championship at USTA in Orlando.

She’s from Beijing, Yuxin school in Changping District.

UCLA career highlights

• NCAA singles champion (2023)
• Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year (2023)
• All-Pac-12 honoree (First Team – 2023)
• Pac-12 Player of the Week (April 18, 2023)
• Career-high ITA singles ranking: 14 (twice, last May 4, 2023)

Personal

Daughter of FangJin and TianSong … has one younger brother, Fang Tianyi … decided to attend UCLA because it upholds high academic standards and offers the chance to achieve high levels of athletic success … describes her greatest athletic thrill to date as representing home country China at the 2019 Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals in Orlando, Fla. … admires Simona Halep … hobbies and interests include reading and ice skating … aspires to be professional athlete … undeclared major.

We sure do have many body parts lol … Can’t play but have to play, so it looks funny.

As it turned out, the pain stayed for a few weeks, till June 10, women’s final at French Open.

Back to USTA league era, the party organizers liked to invite this cartoon artist Dale Gladstone to do drawings. He came with a printer, so we could receive our portraits immediately. 

I had many made but apparently only kept two. On the back of 2011 print, he had Your Ad Here but non on 2013’s. Did he get enough business by then? I just remember he was a very calm man, without any expression. 

I win my points mostly rely on my backhand and serve – don’t really have a forehand. Now, my forehand is working and backhand is retreating: it seems I can’t have both. In any case, how’s my forehand? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

TIA

… and a few pix

I’d a bad fall on 3.31. After getting over it, I decided to overhaul my game, starting from the serve. Here is my progress:

• elbows drop
• face the wall
• drop your arm 
• lovey dovey #2 
• 8-6, 3-2
• hair bang
• Gary and the no shows 
• Brad, the new guy
• … very tired
• coach’s showing me his red & my blue sneakers 
• waiter’s tray, still
• coach’s pointers
• left arm out
• feel good, Golfer 
• no ball; dove IV
• practice & sets; dove III  
• singles tourney doves II
• mourning doves, warm up 
• feels good: grips 
• 6-4, 6-0
• ace pic
• two herons 
• a new visor 
• my shoulder needs to turn
• 2nd lesson: waiter’s tray! 
• 3-6, 3-6 w/ golfer
• Overgrip all wrong
• 6-2, 6-2
• no double 
• why fix it if it ain’t broke? 1 ace & 2 doubles  
• the grip, per Cheri; waiter’s tray; 4 doubles   
• leg work … Cheri
• David & Edwin
• Jay: Look up
• New motion is somewhat working
• evening session, arm up
• arm up

I practiced serve before the match today at VL, the match went  

5-0
2-5
4-5

Served up a double that ultimately cost us the game. However, my forehand holds up just fine…

Most suggestions on my serve is grip (continental), toss (in more).  So I went out and tried two days later (Thursday). Have I changed anything?

… and a few pix on Thursday, May 18. 

A beautiful day playing at VL