The Joy of winning a USTA tourney in Tampa

“I want to thank my training team George Jack Ashoke who got me ready for this tournament. I want to thank Beverly Perez for the energy powder packets which allowed me to play four tough matches in two days. To beat the no 2 ranked player in the Florida USTA 4.5 division 60 40 in the quarterfinals was beyond expectations. Also had to play the semifinal at 8 am the next morning against a hard hitting player who I had lost both previous meetings with in USTA league matches a few years ago – both were split sets decided by super death breakers which he won both but this time I won 62 46 10-3 including winning the first six points of the super death breaker. Not to forget that I woke up Sunday morning before this match at 2 am and couldn’t fall asleep before leaving at 6:30 am for the over hour long drive to Temple Terrace courts in Tampa. Then the final was just as tough if not tougher. It was against a guy who cruised through the draw easily and boy did he hit the ball well. He looked out of shape and dressed like a novice and is 57 but boy what a battle. This guy played like a former top 200 player belting heavy balls all over the court especially to my backhand. I had to hit dozens of backhand slices that were over my shoulders and also take dozens of backhands off the rise which he looped high and heavy just inside the baseline. Plus he competed with such focus and intensity. I still can’t believe this guy was this formidable and still can’t believe how many incredible shots I had to hit to finally beat this very deceptive warrior. Finally I prevailed 63 61 after he missed a forehand half volley off a nasty backhand slice from outside the alley but honestly if it was ten degrees hotter than the 75 it was or I was feeling fatigued from all the running I did in the semi no way do I win this match. So thanks everyone for this tournament win at a USTA 4.5 Designated in Tampa. Four matches in 30 hours. All four matches were different challenges with different adversities. Even the first round I was up 62 02 with another break point against and he was at net and I had to unleash a desperate backhand up the line which he volleyed wide by two or three centimeters – thank goodness fresh Har Tru leaves marks or I’d have been down 0-3 and who knows what happens then. Who knows how much more energy I would have expended with three more matches to go. I won six straight games after that barely missed volley and won 62 62. So Novak Djokovic and Angelique Kerber aren’t the only players to feel the huge joy of winning a hard fought tournament this weekend. Thank you for reading my stream of consciousness tennis prose about the experience 🙂

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