What a Day!

Today is a day in my playing career that I won't soon forget. I've actually played longer matches, but my four and a half hour match with Susan today was one of the most mentally grueling matches ever. The match started as scheduled at nine this morning. It was warm early and also very windy. One side was definitely the easier side to win points on because of the strong winds. I had a game plan in mind. My main goal was to not wear myself by over working during a point. She just bunts the ball back, so there is no reason to over hit or over play the point. Patience and calm aggression was all I needed. I lost the first set 6-4, then won the second 7-5. In the third set I lost the first game then went up 4-1. The points were long, but I managed to win enough of them to go up 5-2. I didn't let down, but I just couldn't win enough points to put the match away. I may have had two match points at 5-4. We ended up at 6-6 and playing a tiebreaker to decide the match. I won the first point on a net cord that fell over. I played a few more good points and was up 3-1. True to form, I then lost the next three to go down 4-3. I won the next two points and we changed sides with me up 5-4, and serving with the wind. I served a great serve, she hit a weak return, then I hit a perfect backhand drop shot and was up 6-4. I served another good first serve, she hit a weak return, I move to hit an inside out forehand, it tipped the net and dribbled over on her side for the win! I stood there in disbelief! Staying focused for that long is incredibly hard, not to mention the physical angst of being on the court returning moon balls. This match was important to me on so many different levels. I can't even begin to explain the satisfaction I feel with this victory. As great as that win was, my day was hardly over.....Pam and I had to play Susan and Fran in doubles. We started at five o'clock this afternoon, and of course it wasn't an easy match...at all. Three and a half hours later we lost in the third set. We were all four just exhausted. It was a fun match to play, and a hard won to lose. Now Pam and I play for third and fourth place tomorrow at 3. My singles final with Fran will be on Saturday. I'm so looking forward to a day off of singles tomorrow. Poor Marilyn didn't know what she was signing up for when she decided to make this trip with me! She's been great, and I'm so glad she's here.