The exact point at which my confidence rose is not clear to me.
And just like that I have 100 career wins on my LTA competition profile. It has taken some time in coming, when you consider that there are a very many losses as well. In fact this weekend just gone I added three singles wins to take my career total to 102 wins in total. The weekend rounded out with two doubles losses, but they were bit part players. Singles is the story.
It wasn’t perfect by any means. Three singles wins in a day is a good achievement though. In the second match at a set and 4-2 down it looked done. Oppo was holding serve with ease and a silky smooth topspin forehand was cutting me to ribbons. As I walked to the back of the court to pick up the balls for my service game, I realised that this was not going well. I was lacking confidence and was clearly second best in all departments. A little conversation along the lines of ….. “this is supposed to be enjoyable” and embracing the fact that I could lose, proved to be a turning point. Not that I knew it at the time.
Doubling down on everything, talking myself more confidently, telling myself to hit the ball and move. Relieved to sit down at 3-4. determination renewed. I don’t recall much of the next 3 games save for the fact that a weak backhand gave me the set for 6-4.
A quick dash to the loo for a wee and we are into the tie break. 6-2 to me all going well. Then 6-5, then 7-5, then 7-7, then 9-7, then 10-7 match to me. At some point late in the tie break pushed wide and deep in the ad court, I came up with a beautiful sliced backhand, probably not the percentage shot on reflection, but I was in the zone. The ball went deep with plenty of slice into opponents forehand corner, forcing him to turn back on himself and produce a weak shot into the net. I sensed some tiredness at the other end, confirmed in after match chat. I was credited with not giving up.
The exact point at which my confidence rose is not clear to me. More I think the concentration on each point was much improved and external noise subsided. A very good win. Attitude to turn it around was brilliant. Often this does not work, no matter how hard you try. Therefore when it works it is doubly satisfying. 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (7)
One hour break and into third singles match of the day. I think I could have called a halt and requested to resume next day. However, I was feeling good and accepted that if I lost it had been my decision to play. Another long match, eventually finishing in my favour 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (7).
It became apparent to me that I was making the play taking the initiative. I had not expected to be moon balled in this match. A realisation that I was causing problems. Maybe just maybe, should have got it done in 2 sets. There were too many unforced errors, not just bad execution but choosing the wrong shots, down the line when the percentage was clearly cross court. Improved return of serve as the match progressed and reduced the number of tame mid court balls, helped greatly. Gave away one very wasteful game to love, without putting a return into the court. That fortunately was not decisive on this occasion. Was it a momentary blip in concentration. Probably, and very relieved I was to still be in the match. Although I lost the second set I deliberately turned up the energy level, to be more animated keeping everything upbeat.
in the tie break, when the last point drifted wide and long it felt in one moment inevitable as well as relief. Strange how it is possible to hold two emotions at once. The pleasure at winning came sometime later.
Received several messages of well done, which was nice.
One day later. Reflecting not on the satisfaction of the wins but on the good fortune that my lapses in concentration did not cost me any of the matches. The serve began to feel smooth particularly wide to the ad court. The sliced backhand worked well, though the two handed topspin was intermittent. I ventured to the net on too few occasions, but generally chose my moments well. Improvements to make in anticipation of the next shot. Pre researched tactics, generally worked well throughout. The diligence to think through tactics in advance was helpful in reducing options and providing certainty in what I was trying to do. Except of course when my mind wandered and I switched off from the task in hand.
In my analysis I nearly forgot to add that the three wins delivered the over 60s singles title for the first time. Very satisfying.
Today in the doubles I wanted to kick on from yesterday. While I felt I could as there was plenty to improve, reality intervened and said, enough for one weekend. Reminding me, if ever I needed it that improvement is incremental and never to be taken for granted. I guess I have to settle for that and a pizza, some chocolate and a cold beer!
