With the weather cooperating, we kicked off the 2008 Tennis season on Thursday (03 Apr). It is still cold as the temperature is probably around 50 with some wind chill. There was slight breeze which changed the flight and path of the ball.
After brief warm up (besides tinkering with Nets as they weren’t installed in some courts) we started off. I won the toss and elected to receive – no real reason. My serve takes a hit when the weather is cold and I wanted to warm up some more. I broke Jack twice and held my serve to quickly go up 4-0. Jack then held his serve twice and I finally served out the set for 6-2. I had trouble in the last game when I faced a break point. A good body serves and a kick serve into the back hand corner of the deuce court saw me pull through.
There wasn’t enough time for a complete second set but we played 6 tight games anyway. We stopped with me leading 4-2 having just broken Jack. We also broke each others serve in the first two games. He is much crisper and sharper in the second set and I could see the set heading to a tight finish. He hit some of the best serves including 3-4 aces (all of them wide to forehand corner on deuce court). I hung in there mostly by moving Jack side to side with some top spinners.
Overall a good start for the season. I liked my forehand and my movement. My serve is off but I am not too concerned. I did hit some good backhands to force the point. I didn’t feel any nerves or signs of fatigue (despite playing badminton on Wednesday night). Just to ice it off, I went home and did my normal workout minus weights. I need to be more Consistent but given this is the first game of the season –it is to be expected.
I may play on Sunday depending on availability of a fellow pro.
A quick word on Badminton. Finally after 3 weeks of really bad frustrating performance, I came up with better Badminton show this Wednesday (April 02). No, I wasn’t in a zone or something nor I won all my matches. I won most of my matches and I lost a few. However my performance all night has been steady and controlled. Before I started the evening I thought to myself? What changed so much that my game is downhill. I decided to use the ‘over the head’ forehand smash that made me popular in the early 2000’s.
For the past few weeks opponents have been pounding onto my backhand and reaping benefits as my tennis like one handed backhand was found wanting. However I stuck playing backhands as really that’s one of the few ways for me to learn it. Yesterday I hit several backhands back into play and some for winners. I think I got my forehand smash back and hit several winners.
There is probably 3-4 badminton sessions left before we call it a season. I won’t be playing next Wednesday as I have to stay home.
I am also planning on visiting my colleague’s race their Kayak’s at the Hockennum river this Sunday. It should be a fun event.
I don’t have any updates on ball machine. Nothing at the price I am willing to pay.
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