FoolishOne.Com

the upcoming Napa Valley Classic is a Grand Slam event. This means that winners receive double the standard Grand Prix points. This is exciting because I am entered into 3.0 Men’s Singles & 3.0 Mixed Doubles (with Robin Olson). A win in either will put in the running for a Grand Prix slot, provided I continue to play that level and win, otherwise 2000 points won’t be worth diddly in October.

It’s going to be quite the weekend. Nick & Danielle are coming to stay with us Friday, Saturday & Sunday night. We have a huge birthday party on Saturday and let’s not forget that I know a large chunk of the players in this tournament, so I want to root them on and see them win!

I’m also hoping to borrow Nancy’s camera so i can get some exciting action shots. I hope someone takes some of me, I’d like to post something other than that shot from Florida with my gut hanging out, ugh! Thanks Steve! hee he hee!

I haven’t played since last Thursday, it was a bad night so I’ve kinda lost that loving feeling but I’m hoping to rally with V tonight, maybe work on return of serve. I need to get that forward momentum going at that serve and so I need to work on timing. I think that motion, as poorly described as I did, would help V’s game too but if the serve is coming at you that fast and you’re moving forward, that is gonna take a lot of timing!

the weekend of June 26th was to be quite the time! I was going to Yuba City to play in a 2.5 match and hang out with Nick & Danielle. The wife was off to Gilroy for a 4.5 tournament with the Wong’s. Simple enough…

The coordinator of the Yuba City tournament wasn’t willing to play 2, 2.5 players and wanted us to play up. My opponent said yes while I was not having it. I only split from my group (v & the wongs) because this would affect my 2.5  GP points. I was quite surprised to find a tournament coordinator requesting 2.5’s play up, the last one I dealt with was happy to help new players get into their tournament. anyways, that refund is pending!

Now, Gilroy is closed but I email the coordinator about that. he replies stating it’s past the date and they are already working on the schedule. I wasn’t excited by his respone, adding one more 3.0 wouldn’t be a problem for anyone else, but accepted it. Looks like no tournament for me, that sucked.

The draws come out less than 48 hours to the tournament and the coordinator has V & Blain playing at 6pm on a friday afternoon. It takes us 3 hours to get there, give or take basedon traffic. of course V& Blain drag their feet in contacting the coordinators but since there isn’t a 4.5 match again till Sunday, they justify it.

Emailing back n forth with the coordinator shows that he is not only lazy (as he showed to my request) but that he is unwilling to help players. Granted, it clearly states on the website that if you cannot play on Friday, please advise. It also clearly states that due to the format you may only enter 1 singles and 1 doubles and at the same NTRP level. V&B’s opponents were each in 2 doubles event and the woman was playing at 2 NTRP levels. They even asked to start later, V and I would have to set land speed records to make it, but he refused stating he would have to staff that time period and other such lamesauce. BUT WAIT he had people playing at 8pm that night at that location so his story was BULL SHIT! The only reason, that we could find, for such blatant disreguard was that Blain had beaten this guy in a Grand Prix and so he may be holding a grudge, but even that was a bit far fetched.

Nancy finally got to play on Sunday, lost at singles to her Doubles partner. They won the doubles, YAY, so I guess that balances out. Back to Yuba City, nick lost 3-0 in Men’s singles, Danielle went 2 sets and tie break to lose 10-7 in Singles. Fortunatly they won doubles, but by no means destroying thier opponents… more to come on this in the next post

To start off our trip to Reno I had forgotten to get a Sub for Thursday night tennis and so we had to stay in town till 9pm. We lost that night so it sucked even more! Onto Reno at around 9pm, arriving at almost 1am. no big deal, we didn’t play early anyways.

My Singles went well, I lost 4 & 4. The guy i played had very few shots of any mentioning, however, he did have a crap ball and an ungly under spin return of my serve that was not only aggrivating but will prevent him from reaching any higher than 3.5. You really need to hit strong shots to move up as many of the folks in this area have yet to learn. It’s a goodthing I constantly compare my play vs my wife, the Wong’s and the strong players at la canterra or I would be content to be mediocre like many of the players in my area.

The mixed doubles was interesting. I finally met Linda, an excentric type lady with a consistant game. She lobbed a lot and when the opponents were tired of that, they would rip it right to me for an easy point. Unfortunatly Linda & I would make more unforced errors than our opponents and lose. it was fun but further shows how I need to improve my game and the importance of a regular partner.

Veronica & Blain won the 4.5 Mixed doubles again! I say again because they won the 4.0 mixed last year at this tournament. They played great minus a bit of tension in match 1 and then demolished their opponents on match 2 for a dominating win over all.

Nancy had a bowling tournament to finish and had to forfeit her Friday 4.5 women’s singles. She then followed it up with 2 wins, which apperently everyone had, so no trophy for her. She did get Grand Prix points though, so that is nice!

Well, 1 year has come and gone and so far, it’s becming more fun and I’m opening up to more friends to play with… who knows what will happen next year at Lakeridge… can’t wait to find out…

This friday starts a weekend long tournament. This tournament will be held in Reno, Nv. at Lakreridge Tennis Club. This tournament will mark my 1 year of playing tennis. I can still remember how excited yet apprehensive I was last year. This year I am still excited, placing high expectations upon myself which will create those same apprehensive fears. My first opponent, based on his performance vs a common player, will be a great challenge for round 1 but if I manage a win, I’ll be playing my very first opponent in USTA tennis. He’s played for more than I have and is very consistant. Can I stay calm enough to play my game? Will I keep from choking? I’m so excited!

Let’s add on the fact that I’m playing 3.0 Mixed with an older lady I’ve never met. I say “older” because by looking at her record I can see that she has been on a Senior team. I’ll have to keep my energy levels high and be ready to run at a moments notice, not something I’m good at really. This past couple of days my legs have been pretty stiff and unwilling to move. My performance during a real match is different but I dont’ want to have to force my movements. I have played for a year and I should recognize that a lob behind my partner should be a great reason to start running my ass off!

I get off work at 12:30 this thursday and then I jump on my bike to drive to the wong’s for the long ride to Reno. My wonderful wife is probably going to stay behind and work, finances being as they are, and the Wong’s most likely won’t be around for my match either. I’m even more excited to face this challenge distraction free, to be completely honest. I have played this game for a year, will I be able to show progress? Last years losses were 6-0 6-0, 6-4 6-2, 6-1 (time penalty) 6-0 in a round robin. What will happen this year?

I hope I have learned enough to progress through the 11 man 3.0 singles? I’m confident, yet still a bit apprehesive, that I can make it past my first oppoent. Can I beat Daniel Saldana, seeded #1? Beating him could mean I could win. Losing to him could mean my 3.0 Mixed round robin will get my full attention but do i want that? No matter what happens during these single matches, I know I’ve improved a lot. More towards the Doubles side of the game, but my individual improvements will not be lacking either.

I will do what I know to play the game and I will do my best to make my wife and friends proud. This is my first tournament, this is my second try at this tournament and I will make my mark in either Singles or Mixed Doubles but hopefully both! I want to be the one people are cheering for, I want to be the one who makes the great shots and I want the one who brings home a trophy and is recognized for a lot of effort over this last year.