Work kept me busy until I left around 4:00. I knew from 2:30 to 4:00 he was playing his heart out. When I didn't hear anything between 4:30 and 5:00 I knew it was a dog fight. Finally at 5:25 Phil called.
They lost 7-5 in the third. My heart sank.
Phil and Tom won the first set 6-0. Always a sign of uh-oh. Rarely do good teams lose a set that bad and stay down. Larry and Neal came back to win the second set. The third set was a battle. Phil won a long service game that brought them to 5-5. They went up 30-0 on Larry's serve, but couldn't break. Down 5-6. Then were up 30-0 on Tom's serve and couldn't hold. Match over at 7-5 in the third.
I know Phil is disappointed. It will be a long drive home from St. Pete. He'll replay every point, and it will all stick with him for a day or so. Playing against Larry and Neal is always a sort of friendly, bitter rivalry. So this one will be particularly tough to swallow. Back to practicing, strengthening and planning the next event. Phil is such a competitor that he'll come back ready to fight again soon.
He'll be home in a couple of hours and I can give him a big hug and Ellie can give him puppy kisses. Hopefully that will erase some of the sting.
1 comment:
Losses are tough..... Neal? Was that Phil's partner at Sterling Oaks?
He'll be back at it and we're so proud.... finalist ain't that bad!!!! Debbie & David
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