Just in Time

The morning started with sun and clouds, and rain scattered all around us. The air was heavy with very humid conditions. Morning play started on time and my match scheduled for noon went on just a few minutes late. I warmed up with Susan this morning and felt like I was ready to play. I knew I had a tough match ahead of me. The weather continued to hold with what seemed like clearing skies, but more humidity. I finally went on and felt good from the start. I stayed focused on every point. Susie (Brown) held serve, then broke me right off after a long serving game where I had numerous adds that I couldn't convert. I broke back quickly. Susie was serving and volleying, just as I had expected. My returns were good and my passing shots were better. I seemed to be on top of every ball. I knew she was going to hit winners. I just needed patience and focus. I held and we went back and forth until I got a break and went on to win the first set 6-4. Susie seemed to be feeling the heat and humidity more than me. She took a bathroom break after the first set, which left me sitting and waiting. She broke early again and went up 4-1 in the second. I continued to stay focused, never thinking of what the score was. I knew if I kept winning points, the games would come. The skies started to darken behind us with rumbles of thunder. I certainly didn't want this match to go 3 sets and have a possible rain delay. On the other hand I didn't want to think ahead and try to rush to avoid a rain delay. I held, then broke to get the score to 3-4. She broke me to go up 5-3. Most points in the match were made with winners rather than unforced errors. I held for 4-5. Susie went up 40-15 on her serve which gave her two set points. I played very focused and was able to fight off the set points and break her. I could see she was fading with the heat. The wind really picked up and you could feel the rain was imminent. I had an easy hold, to go up 6-5 then was able to break her to win the set 7-5. Susie is a great competitor and even better friend. She and I played on the Florida Intersectional team together. After shaking hands and collecting our gear, the rain began. We finished just in time! Susan and I were scheduled to play doubles this afternoon against Susie and her partner Mary Johnson. The matches that were in progress when the rains hit were moved indoors on a carpet surface. Thank goodness we finished! Our doubles has been rescheduled for tomorrow at 11. My semifinal match against Susan (my partner) is scheduled for Friday at 10. That means only one match of doubles tomorrow. I like my chances!
More pictures below!