[infelconi]

So, a little story that may or may not spark any discussion from other players. I played the best set of tennis in my life last night...and lost it 5-7. I was playing a 5.0 ranked player who is probably more of a 4.5 since playing less often but nonetheless he is super good. I have played him about 10 or 15 times and won precisely ZERO sets. The best I have done is 3 games (once) and usually it's a 6-1 or a 6-2 set. Some of these sets have been pretty damn good also, worthy of watching and everything but I am still a level outclassed. Last night, I was playing somewhat other worldly and went up in a second set 3-0, then 4-1. After having 4 or 5 game points at deuce I lost the next game and then 3 more to go down 5-4. During this time, many two set matches that started when we began the second set actually finished. People started piling up at the glass to watch as did guys next to our court. Games took forever, rallies took forever, backhand to backhand mostly with nobody willing to change direction or slice and charge the net. I stepped up here and there and hit some of the best winners off both wings, my personal highlight reel in one match. When I tied at 5-all I felt my body shaking with fatigue and was also losing it a bit mentally. Had a battle of a game at 5 all and then lost my serve AT LOVE at 5-6. Upon exiting the court later I had 3 different people say some nice things from "you should be very proud, that was a great and high level display and great fun to watch" and "you are so fast and hit some impressive winners etc." , "best we've seen anyone do against him" etc.

You know, I did feel proud in a sense but I was SO spent (it was a second set) that I wanted to cry. Now, I am not a cryer....ever. I was not sad to have lost, even with an initial lead, but I was surprised how much I had to hold back from just laying in the locker room and weeping. My body is still sore now but I did sleep well. The experience just made me marvel even more at how physically AND mentally demanding a sport tennis is and increases my respect for mental toughness in a player. I hope someday to get better at it and be less a wimp like last night. Even clicking a mouse I can feel elbow pain I just told myself, imagine how Alex Corretja felt, or Lindsay at Wimbledon....but then I wake up and realize the checks they still cashed while I went out and paid for this abuse