On the way back from cycling over to Tenafly Racquet Club to interview Geoff Grant for my “Facing Hewitt” book – he beat Hewitt in straight sets at the Winnetka Challenger before winning the title – I saw a singles match being played at Argonne Park in Teaneck while I stopped to do a few sets of pull-ups.
It was clear they were good players which drew me over to get a closer look. The one guy, who I later found out was named Rob, had nicer strokes, the smooth, easy flow of an experienced player. Not the fleetest of foot, Rob had the elegance that only comes from many years of playing. Also, eye catching was that he was wearing black Chuck Taylors with blue sweat pants, a white/blue long sleeve baseball pitcher undershirt, and a Yankees cap – not your typical tennis attire.
When I got there I heard him say, “Set.” He won the first set, 7-5, over the other guy who hit the ball entirely differently.
Ed, also in his 50s, was a chopper and chipper, his strokes were all wrong. But somehow he’d get the ball back, with his awkward snaps and slaps. He didn’t move as well as Rob either. It seemed like a perfect set up for Rob, with his superior tennis skills, to pick apart the lesser player.
But my watchful presence on the bench seemed to affect Rob in the second set. A double fault here and there. A lucky flick back winner or two by Ed. Some tricky volleys by Ed. Ed hit the line a couple of times. Rob was made to run alley to alley.
Rob began to lose control of the match. He began to show signs of exasperation, frustration and worry.
“You weren’t supposed to make that shot,” he said.
“How did you make that shot?”
“You made that volley because of my racquet,” apparently Ed was using Rob’s orange Head. Ed agreed he felt better control with it.
“That ball was out, deep, wide and ugly.”
I was very surprised to see Ed turn the match around, as Rob was clearly the better player and could have coasted to a comfortable straight set win. But Ed gutted and scrapped it out. I think Rob was in even more shock. He became quiet and determined, the easy small talk comments disappeared.
Ed took a 4-l lead in the second set. Then I had to go.
Hope I can run into those guys again and find out the outcome.
Just watching this nutshell of a tennis match, I learned something. No matter if one player is clearly better than the other as long as you keep trying and fighting, victory or defeat are never assured. Victory is always possible.
3 comments
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Dan Markowitz · October 10, 2013 at 8:03 am
Scoop, you jinxed the guy by sitting down and watching them play. He was rolling and then you took out your notepad and started scribbling. That reminds me of being in the Cincy stadium back in 1995 late at night when only Agassi and BG were practicing and I was on the sidelines. Agassi was saying disparaging things about Chang and then Edberg and he saw me scribbling it down and he went all ballistic. Some guys get unnerved by that stuff.
Scoop Malinowski · October 10, 2013 at 8:16 am
You’re right Dan Rob lost his focus just a little bit and the other guy capitalized. It was kind of like that time President Clinton came to watch Agassi at the French Open and it was actually a turning point and Agassi just fell apart and lost to Grosjean. I remember being at Rios vs. Galimberti on Armstrong Stadium they split sets and then Donald Trump came to watch it and Rios just put on a show from that point on.
Dan Markowitz · October 10, 2013 at 8:34 am
Don’t bring up an Italian.I’m still mourning over Camilia Georgi’s loss yesterday in Asia. If only she and Bouchard can become co-No. 1’s.