New Friends

Let's get the match details out of the way...Phil won tonight 6-1, 6-2. Easy match, and good way to get the tournament started. Waiting all day to play, and having to play under the lights is never easy, but all done. Phil has three matches to play tomorrow. Our mixed is the last to be played, around 3:30.

Now to the new friends.

Getting housed is never one of our favorite things to do, but Phil's doubles partner set us up with his friends Marvin and Marie Henderson. We instantly become friends with them. Tennis players and very gracious hosts.

Since we arrived yesterday, the weather has been iffy at best. Cloudy, extremely humid with high rain chances through the weekend. Marvin arranged for us practice indoors on hard courts yesterday and today. Hitting on hard courts is such a different feel. Once I adjusted to the indoor lighting, and speed of the court I felt like I hit really well.

In our short time here, not only have we added the Henderson's to our tennis tennis friends, but also the great Dennis Ralston and his wife Linda. They are friends of Marvin and Marie. We all had dinner together last night and what fun that was! Phil being the tennis historian (junkie) that he is, was just so enthralled with Dennis, and all the great stories he had from his many years of playing. Dennis won 5 majors, and in the finals of 11 more. The stories were fascinating. We're talking about the all time greats of American tennis...Ralston, Ashe, McKinley and many more. Dennis has had a tough road road these past few years and overcome some very difficult obstacles.

Dennis came to the courts today and watched us hit. He worked with me on a few different things and it was awe inspiring. I could feel myself getting more motivated by the minute. I would love to have the opportunity to work with him more as I navigate my way back to the playing court. That's a new goal of mine...to work with Dennis Ralston again.

I have a slight (maybe more than slight) left hip issue. I was dealing with it before we left Naples, but hoped it would just go away. It flared intensely today while serving. I'm hoping Tylenol and stretching will help me get through the weekend. I'll do the best I can.

In the meantime we'll enjoy our time in Austin, with our new friends.

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