Boy, was I ready to go yesterday morning. Bags packed, all stretched out and limber, strong after a great hitting session with Simon The Great the day before, I was all fired up for my first match at the SDDTC. The Jess was totally behind me, getting stuff together and psyching me up. Just before I went on court, she helped me think through my reminders for the match and sent me out there.
I got on the court yesterday morning at Balboa Park and felt pretty nervous, but I expected that. My opponent and I started warming up and I felt really good about my chances. I'm a slow starter and definitely a rhythm player, so it took me awhile to get on track. I was pretty tight and was rushing a bit, and before I knew it, I was down two breaks at 0-4. I knew the first set was getting away from me, but I knew that I would get settled into my first tourney match in 5 years.
I held serve and had a break point at 1-5 when I started feeling a twinge in my right gluteus muscle (basically my right butt, see the double entendre in the title?) I've pulled many a muscle, and was really starting to feel good about the match. I was putting pressure on my opponent and could tell he was starting to press, so even though the first set was over, I knew I was in prime position to really get rolling. I was getting the range on his serve and felt comfortable with mine after a few wobbly games, and best of all, he couldn't sniff my forehand.
I held serve easily to start the second set, but my right leg was really getting sore and I was having trouble pushing off it. I had two break points in the next game, but couldn't get on top of his serve. From there, the match really got away from me as my leg got more and more tender. My gluteus muscle had pretty well seized up, and my hip flexor was hurting as I tried to compensate. I had no explosiveness and couldn't push off my right leg, so my rhythm totally fell apart, and so did the match. By the last two games, I really couldn't run, but I stayed on court until the bitter end of a 6-1, 6-1 loss.
I knew when I got home and could barely put weight down that I had no business playing today, so after a hot shower, some ibuprofen, and a session with the heating pad brought no improvement, I called the tournament desk and withdrew from my second match.
I'm pretty disappointed about the outcome here because my preparation was solid and I was playing well. I've never had to withdraw from a match before and I hate backing down from a challenge, so things felt a bit strange. Overall though, I'm really happy about this whole process and am really excited about where my game is heading. There's good lessons to take away from the SDDTC, and in a few days, I'll be back out there building my game and confidence for the next time.
Showing posts with label SDDTC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SDDTC. Show all posts
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Tourney Time Just A Few Days Away!
I'm brimming with anticipation as I write this, having just gotten off the tennis court and realizing that I'm less than two days away from the San Diego District Tennis Championships. I looked up the draw yesterday and was surprised to learn that there are only three competitors in the 5.0 draw. The cool part here is that we're going to be playing a round robin format, not single elimination, so I'll be playing two matches this weekend, one on Saturday, one on Sunday.
I've been working as hard as my work schedule would allow to prepare myself, and am optimistic about the progress I've made. My fitness has improved quite dramatically and I've even dropped a bit of weight (dropping sweets has certainly played a role here), so my footwork and mobility have taken a jump up. My serve is really clicking and I'm feeling confident about being able to pressure opponents with it. I'm trying to stay positive on the court, and am taking time to ensure I enter each point with the right mindset.
The biggest stride made in the past few weeks has been rediscovering the fundamentals of the game, namely WATCHING THE BALL! I was playing with a friend the other day and was just spraying shots all over the court. As he could see my growing frustration, he mentioned in passing some video of Roger Federer he'd watched recently. My addled brain instantly snapped to the memory of seeing it for the first time. I provide it here via YouTube and ask that you study his eyes and the movement of his head at the point of contact.
Amazing how his eyes don't deviate from the ball and racket, and how his head doesn't move, even after the ball is gone. The point here is that he knows where the ball is going, having gotten his body into correct position, and thus has no call to alter his stroke as he studies the connection of racket and ball.
Of course that level of cranial discipline is something I'll likely not achieve, but the point is to always strive to get there. As I've placed that focus on the top of the list, my consistency has improved in kind. Pairing that with a liveliness of footwork and alertness of mind, I'm keen to see what will transpire on court this weekend. One final warmup tomorrow with Simon The Great, and a good night's sleep, then it's game time.
I've been working as hard as my work schedule would allow to prepare myself, and am optimistic about the progress I've made. My fitness has improved quite dramatically and I've even dropped a bit of weight (dropping sweets has certainly played a role here), so my footwork and mobility have taken a jump up. My serve is really clicking and I'm feeling confident about being able to pressure opponents with it. I'm trying to stay positive on the court, and am taking time to ensure I enter each point with the right mindset.
The biggest stride made in the past few weeks has been rediscovering the fundamentals of the game, namely WATCHING THE BALL! I was playing with a friend the other day and was just spraying shots all over the court. As he could see my growing frustration, he mentioned in passing some video of Roger Federer he'd watched recently. My addled brain instantly snapped to the memory of seeing it for the first time. I provide it here via YouTube and ask that you study his eyes and the movement of his head at the point of contact.
Amazing how his eyes don't deviate from the ball and racket, and how his head doesn't move, even after the ball is gone. The point here is that he knows where the ball is going, having gotten his body into correct position, and thus has no call to alter his stroke as he studies the connection of racket and ball.
Of course that level of cranial discipline is something I'll likely not achieve, but the point is to always strive to get there. As I've placed that focus on the top of the list, my consistency has improved in kind. Pairing that with a liveliness of footwork and alertness of mind, I'm keen to see what will transpire on court this weekend. One final warmup tomorrow with Simon The Great, and a good night's sleep, then it's game time.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Lots Of Promise, Plenty To Work On
Sunday afternoon tennis in San Diego, let me explain how wonderful this is. Blue skies with a few clouds, warm but not roasting. A sea breeze rolling back and forth in time with our shots, and even a few gulls flying overhead as I toss the ball to serve.
This is why playing tennis is heaven.
I just got off the court after playing a match in my quest to get ready for the San Diego District Championships. I lost 6-2, 6-2 to a really good player, but as I dissect how I'm playing in my head, there's plenty of positivity as well as weaknesses identified.
On the positive side:
-I'm serving really well; a heavy, flat first serve I can put into both corners, or a solid kicker out wide. My second serve has good movement and is coming in quite deep. Best part was only two double faults.
-The fitness is definitely better and the knee feels good
-When I'm focused on my movement and taking the ball early, my forehand is pretty damn strong
To work on:
-I'm a slow starter. In both sets I was down 0-4 before getting on the board. That's tough, because I started to get a bit frustrated
-Too many gifts. The guy I played was good, but not that much better than me. The biggest issue was, as Brad Gilbert puts it, too many gift points. Too many backhands dumped in the net or second serve returns sailing long. When we got into rallies, I was right there with him. As Simon the Great always tells me and I have to remember, nothing in the net.
-Not serving first. I need to give myself a game to get settled, so if I win the toss, I'm gonna elect to return from now on
-No pagers on the court. This is an easy fix, but damn, that thing was distracting
-Taking my time after a tough game. I broke him to get to 2-4 in the first set and he was frustrated. I was a bit winded after two tough points, but instead of taking a beat, catching my breath and getting focused, I just cruised to the service line. 3 unforced errors later, and I'm down 0-40. There was an opening there, I just need to find a way to keep the pressure on.
Lots to build on and lots to take away. Best part was still Sunday afternoon tennis in San Diego.
This is why playing tennis is heaven.
I just got off the court after playing a match in my quest to get ready for the San Diego District Championships. I lost 6-2, 6-2 to a really good player, but as I dissect how I'm playing in my head, there's plenty of positivity as well as weaknesses identified.
On the positive side:
-I'm serving really well; a heavy, flat first serve I can put into both corners, or a solid kicker out wide. My second serve has good movement and is coming in quite deep. Best part was only two double faults.
-The fitness is definitely better and the knee feels good
-When I'm focused on my movement and taking the ball early, my forehand is pretty damn strong
To work on:
-I'm a slow starter. In both sets I was down 0-4 before getting on the board. That's tough, because I started to get a bit frustrated
-Too many gifts. The guy I played was good, but not that much better than me. The biggest issue was, as Brad Gilbert puts it, too many gift points. Too many backhands dumped in the net or second serve returns sailing long. When we got into rallies, I was right there with him. As Simon the Great always tells me and I have to remember, nothing in the net.
-Not serving first. I need to give myself a game to get settled, so if I win the toss, I'm gonna elect to return from now on
-No pagers on the court. This is an easy fix, but damn, that thing was distracting
-Taking my time after a tough game. I broke him to get to 2-4 in the first set and he was frustrated. I was a bit winded after two tough points, but instead of taking a beat, catching my breath and getting focused, I just cruised to the service line. 3 unforced errors later, and I'm down 0-40. There was an opening there, I just need to find a way to keep the pressure on.
Lots to build on and lots to take away. Best part was still Sunday afternoon tennis in San Diego.
Friday, August 1, 2008
A Changing Of The Tennis Guards
As I write this post, Rafael Nadal is serving for the match at the Cincinnati Masters against Nicolas Lapennti. Why does this Friday evening clash deserve special mention? If Nadal closes things out, he will be the new number one player in the world, ending Roger Federer's 4.5 year reign.
We could see this coming after Wimbledon, but the last few weeks have shown serious chinks in Federer's armor, losing his first round match in Toronto and his second match in Cincy. Rafa meanwhile carried his Wimbledon...
I pause because Rafa is now the number one ranked tennis player in the world. Good for him!
...momentum and won the Toronto tourney and is now rolling towards the finals of Cincy.
There can be no debate on whether Rafa deserves to be number one in the world; last year he began closing the gap, this year he has flown into the limelight with his incredible wins at the French Open and Wimbledon. He is clearly playing incredible tennis and it will be great fun to see how long his time on top will last.
For Federer, there is obviously much mental turmoil going on. No doubt the Wimbledon defeat is still on his mind and now after losing matches to Gilles Simon and Ivo Karlovic, it will be a massive challenge for him to regain his top form. He absolutely has the game to do it, but as I've preached here from the beginning, tennis is mostly played above the shoulders. Right now, Roger's head is clearly fogged up with negativity and self-doubt.
On the women's side, there is just ridiculous turbulence as no one seems to want to take the number one mantle. Yesterday it was Jelena Jankovic losing a match that would have given her the top spot. Today, Ana Ivanovic gakked away her shot.
Worse yet, Maria Sharapova announced that her ever-balky right shoulder will keep her out of both the Olympics and the US Open. There is no bigger draw or brighter star on the women's side, especially in New York, and this is a huge loss.
This year continues to gather momentum as one of the most fascinating in tennis memory; we've got an ascendant number one, a legend on the ropes, and a women's game where no one seems to want to take charge. If there has ever been a tennis summer with more riding on it, I'm not aware.
Oh yeah, my tourney is 3 weeks away and I'm trying to get ready. Played really well on Monday evening, have been working really hard the last few days and the rackets have stayed in the closet. Next week should feature much training, and I'm looking forward to it.
We could see this coming after Wimbledon, but the last few weeks have shown serious chinks in Federer's armor, losing his first round match in Toronto and his second match in Cincy. Rafa meanwhile carried his Wimbledon...
I pause because Rafa is now the number one ranked tennis player in the world. Good for him!
...momentum and won the Toronto tourney and is now rolling towards the finals of Cincy.
There can be no debate on whether Rafa deserves to be number one in the world; last year he began closing the gap, this year he has flown into the limelight with his incredible wins at the French Open and Wimbledon. He is clearly playing incredible tennis and it will be great fun to see how long his time on top will last.
For Federer, there is obviously much mental turmoil going on. No doubt the Wimbledon defeat is still on his mind and now after losing matches to Gilles Simon and Ivo Karlovic, it will be a massive challenge for him to regain his top form. He absolutely has the game to do it, but as I've preached here from the beginning, tennis is mostly played above the shoulders. Right now, Roger's head is clearly fogged up with negativity and self-doubt.
On the women's side, there is just ridiculous turbulence as no one seems to want to take the number one mantle. Yesterday it was Jelena Jankovic losing a match that would have given her the top spot. Today, Ana Ivanovic gakked away her shot.
Worse yet, Maria Sharapova announced that her ever-balky right shoulder will keep her out of both the Olympics and the US Open. There is no bigger draw or brighter star on the women's side, especially in New York, and this is a huge loss.
This year continues to gather momentum as one of the most fascinating in tennis memory; we've got an ascendant number one, a legend on the ropes, and a women's game where no one seems to want to take charge. If there has ever been a tennis summer with more riding on it, I'm not aware.
Oh yeah, my tourney is 3 weeks away and I'm trying to get ready. Played really well on Monday evening, have been working really hard the last few days and the rackets have stayed in the closet. Next week should feature much training, and I'm looking forward to it.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
San Diego District Tennis Championships
A goodly portion of my sports-related free time is, as you have probably guessed, devoted to tennis. Watching, reading, writing, and most of all playing the game are just about the best ways I can think of to have some fun and get exercise. Over the past few years, I've been playing more and more, and have decided to throw my hat (or racket, as it were) into the competitive ring next month.
The 80th annual San Diego District Tennis Championships kick off August 22 at Balboa Park, and I just submitted my entry to play in the NTRP 5.0 singles tourney. This is a single-elimination format, USTA sanctioned event, and should be quite a challenge.
I spent my early teen years playing in local and USTA tournament, and despite always having a steadily improving game, never had the most auspicious results. The game was there, but the performance in the crunch was frustratingly missing. Time after time I'd over-think the big points, doubt my abilities, think negative thoughts, and time after time, those thoughts would come true. My old coach always told me that my problem was my head, that I was too smart to be a tennis player, that you have to be dumb on the tennis court and trust your ability.
Despite that comment always really annoying me, there is a vein of truth in it. I disagree that a good player should be dumb on the tennis court; this is a game that requires active stratigizing and problems-solving, but at some point, you have to release the negativity and self-doubt and just play.
I always loved the preparation for tournaments and the atmosphere on the day. That feeling of nervous anticipation, meeting a new player, getting a free t-shirt, the coaches all milling about, just a fantastic feeling. When I would get on the court; however, I would have progressively less and less fun as I got more and more nervous, frustrated and doubtful. I would even experience the dreaded "choking". The double fault on set point, the flubbed volley into the open court, surrendering the big lead in a tiebreak. Oh my God, so frustrating!
My tourney play slowed down after a knee surgery when I was 17, and I stuck with high school tennis, which was fun for the camaraderie and the fact that our team was awesome, but our coach was a pain who liked to set up conflict and anger between members of the team. In college and beyond, the game was purely recreational, and as my knee started troubling me again, faded into the background.
I tried to come back strong after a second knee surgery and effective rehab, but found the old mental goblins still up to their old tricks when I played in the Fallbrook Open 3 years ago. Truth be told, I had no business being in that tournament, I wasn't match fit and it was 110 degrees on the court. I got out there anyway, only to face the most irritatingly effective opponent in tennis, the player known as "the backboard." This dude got to everything. EVERYTHING! No pace, no winners, but tireless running and hardly any unforced errors. For a player like me who thrives on pace and had issues staying focused, he was an absolute nightmare to play.
Oh yeah, and I double-faulted on my only set point in the second set and lost 6-4, 7-5. Sucked.
Worse, my knee was really hurting afterwards and I had to shut things down for several months afterward. A disheartening return to tournament tennis, that's for sure.
Having put aside tournament tennis again, and having started taking lessons from Simon the Great at Pacific Beach Tennis Club (if anyone reading this has any interest in taking lessons, Simon is your man. Doesn't matter your level, he is just a fantastic coach. Let me know and I'll give you his info) tennis has been more fun than ever over the past years. I still battle old demons when I play competitively, though, and am determined to find a way through it.
Thus my entry into the SDDTC next month, and this time I'm trying a new approach. Of course I want to train hard and play lots of tennis to get ready, but now I want to start putting to rest these doubts and nerves that have plagued my game for so long. Easy? No. This is stuff that pervades the game, with numerous bestsellers written and gurus giving lectures designed to help players work through the mental game of tennis.
So here's my approach:
-when I play, try to keep the negative comments out
-practice focusing during matches with the oldest trick in the books, looking at my strings between points. Watch any match and you'll see nearly every player do this. It's not that I don't, it's that I don't do it consistently and my mind starts to wander
-try to get a bit more fitness under my belt
-look towards the progress I'm making, instead of the match result
-match play, match play, match play
I'm really excited about this and am hopeful this will introduce a new phase of enjoyment in my game. I'm one month away, so here we go!
The 80th annual San Diego District Tennis Championships kick off August 22 at Balboa Park, and I just submitted my entry to play in the NTRP 5.0 singles tourney. This is a single-elimination format, USTA sanctioned event, and should be quite a challenge.
I spent my early teen years playing in local and USTA tournament, and despite always having a steadily improving game, never had the most auspicious results. The game was there, but the performance in the crunch was frustratingly missing. Time after time I'd over-think the big points, doubt my abilities, think negative thoughts, and time after time, those thoughts would come true. My old coach always told me that my problem was my head, that I was too smart to be a tennis player, that you have to be dumb on the tennis court and trust your ability.
Despite that comment always really annoying me, there is a vein of truth in it. I disagree that a good player should be dumb on the tennis court; this is a game that requires active stratigizing and problems-solving, but at some point, you have to release the negativity and self-doubt and just play.
I always loved the preparation for tournaments and the atmosphere on the day. That feeling of nervous anticipation, meeting a new player, getting a free t-shirt, the coaches all milling about, just a fantastic feeling. When I would get on the court; however, I would have progressively less and less fun as I got more and more nervous, frustrated and doubtful. I would even experience the dreaded "choking". The double fault on set point, the flubbed volley into the open court, surrendering the big lead in a tiebreak. Oh my God, so frustrating!
My tourney play slowed down after a knee surgery when I was 17, and I stuck with high school tennis, which was fun for the camaraderie and the fact that our team was awesome, but our coach was a pain who liked to set up conflict and anger between members of the team. In college and beyond, the game was purely recreational, and as my knee started troubling me again, faded into the background.
I tried to come back strong after a second knee surgery and effective rehab, but found the old mental goblins still up to their old tricks when I played in the Fallbrook Open 3 years ago. Truth be told, I had no business being in that tournament, I wasn't match fit and it was 110 degrees on the court. I got out there anyway, only to face the most irritatingly effective opponent in tennis, the player known as "the backboard." This dude got to everything. EVERYTHING! No pace, no winners, but tireless running and hardly any unforced errors. For a player like me who thrives on pace and had issues staying focused, he was an absolute nightmare to play.
Oh yeah, and I double-faulted on my only set point in the second set and lost 6-4, 7-5. Sucked.
Worse, my knee was really hurting afterwards and I had to shut things down for several months afterward. A disheartening return to tournament tennis, that's for sure.
Having put aside tournament tennis again, and having started taking lessons from Simon the Great at Pacific Beach Tennis Club (if anyone reading this has any interest in taking lessons, Simon is your man. Doesn't matter your level, he is just a fantastic coach. Let me know and I'll give you his info) tennis has been more fun than ever over the past years. I still battle old demons when I play competitively, though, and am determined to find a way through it.
Thus my entry into the SDDTC next month, and this time I'm trying a new approach. Of course I want to train hard and play lots of tennis to get ready, but now I want to start putting to rest these doubts and nerves that have plagued my game for so long. Easy? No. This is stuff that pervades the game, with numerous bestsellers written and gurus giving lectures designed to help players work through the mental game of tennis.
So here's my approach:
-when I play, try to keep the negative comments out
-practice focusing during matches with the oldest trick in the books, looking at my strings between points. Watch any match and you'll see nearly every player do this. It's not that I don't, it's that I don't do it consistently and my mind starts to wander
-try to get a bit more fitness under my belt
-look towards the progress I'm making, instead of the match result
-match play, match play, match play
I'm really excited about this and am hopeful this will introduce a new phase of enjoyment in my game. I'm one month away, so here we go!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
