The Longest Day

I was excited about the upcoming day, getting to play the #2 seed. Noon couldn't get here fast enough for me. I warmed up twice yesterday, once in the morning and again right before I went on. I knew this girl hit big shots, but would get on a roll of missing too. She started banging winners, but I hung in and didn't get discouraged. She broke and won the first set 6-4. The second set I found a better groove, started mixing some balls around, some topspin, some slice. She also started missing a few more. I was able to get a break and win the second set 6-3. I was really pumped up through the whole match. The USA players are really good at watching and supporting each other when they're not playing. Marianna, my roomie and doubles partner was cheering me on, as was my new friend from the men's 55's team, Phil Landauer from Ohio. The third set was so close and so tight. The points were unbelievable. I moved well and kept telling myself that "I had to believe"! I knew this was my chance. I got off to an early break in the first game, then she broke me back. She then went up 3-1. I broke back to get to 3-3. She held to go up 4-3. We had a long hard game on my serve and she broke me to go up 5-3. I broke back to get to 4-5. I had an add to even it up to 5-5 but couldn't convert. After holding off 2 match points she won 6-4 in the third. I'd be lying to say I wasn't disappointed about the loss, but on the other hand I know I left it all out on the court and have no regrets about the way I played. I made it to the quarters of my first Worlds. I say first, because now I plan to return and do even better. I can compete with the worlds best players in my age group! After my 3 hour singles match, I had to get phyched for doubles. Marianna and I were playing two tough girls from Great Britain and Germany. After being up a break in the first set, we dropped the set in a tiebreaker, 7-5. We fought back and won the second set 6-3. Once again I faced another must win third set. Our points were fun, fast action doubles points throughout the entire match. We battled to the bitter end and come up short, losing 6-4 in the third. It was an exhausting day. I felt a little let down because the tennis was over for me. I was playing so well, I wanted to keep going. It only makes me hungry to return and do better next time. My training on and off the court has paid huge dividends for me. Now I can relax, watch some great tennis, and maybe catch an ancient ruin or two before heading off to Greece on Monday.