This weekend was the first tennis tournament of 2011. I entered the 4.0 Women's Singles Draw and the 4.0 Women's Doubles Draw. My first singles match was scheduled for late on Friday night. Unfortunately for me, the tournament was running behind and instead of starting my match at 9:30 PM as we were supposed to, I went onto the court at 10:30 PM. After a long week of work, I wasn't quite prepared to be playing tennis so late...this was past my normal bed time! I got my bootie kicked...so much so that I don't even want to post my scores. All I can say was that I was extremely frustrated and went to bed very angry.
Well, Saturday was a new day and I had two doubles matches and I hoped to play better. My partner, Vicki, and I played really good and beat our first opponents and then we played our second match really late (10 PM) and made some errors and couldn't dig ourselves out of the hole. We lost.
On Sunday, we had our last doubles match and won, which placed us narrowly in first place. We got a trophy!! Woo hoo! I also got to play my consolation singles match against a good friend. We both hit the crap out of the ball, had some great rallies, but I came up a little short and I lost.
It was a good weekend in that I got a lot of good tennis, but I was disappointed in my singles game and a good reminder that I need to get in better shape, need to improve my endurance, and need to improve my consistency/reduce my errors. If I do, I think I will be pretty decent at singles. I enjoy singles because it is a better workout and a good challenge, but I lose A LOT and it has been very frustrating. Tennis is a mental game and I hope I can improve my inner-dialogue this season into more postive rather than negative.
Showing posts with label tennis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tennis. Show all posts
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Monday, February 15, 2010
Valentine's Day Weekend
My parents surprised us and drove up on Saturday morning. They came to visit with their favorite granddog, Lucy, and also to cheer me on in my first USTA league match. On Saturday, we all drove out to Bremerton Athletic Club, where my first tennis match of the regular women's season was taking place. I was a bit nervous because this season I was bumped up to 4.0 level and was playing singles almost entirely. I got off to a good start and won the first set 6-2. Then I started making some errors and my opponent stepped up her game and I lost the second set 4-6. We went to a third set tiebreak, which I was determined to win and I did win.
It was very cool to have my parents there to cheer me on. It kind of felt like I was back in high school with my parents there cheering me on at all my sporting events. We went home where some yummy homemade crockpot chili was awaiting us. Then Clark and I headed out to a friend's birthday party. Lucky for us, we had a dogsitter for Lucy all lined up - my parents - and they were beyond thrilled to watch her.
The next day, Sunday, was Valentine's Day and after having breakfast at Paddy Coyne's, my parents headed back home to Portland (of course stopping at Cabela's on the way home). Meanwhile, Clark brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a card, which told me that I had an appointment at the spa for a facial, massage, manicure, and pedicure. I was so surprised and so excited. So off to the spa I went. It was wonderfully relaxing. When I got home 4 hours later, I had my own Valentine's Day surprises for Clark. I made him homemade Italian meatloaf and homemade macaroni and cheese (made with Cougar gold cheese!). Lucy also got a special Valentine's Day dinner of rice, chicken, salmon, and green beans. For dessert, Clark got a homemade chocolate chip cookie in the shape of a heart as well as personalized Sweetheart cakes. As if that wasn't enough, I treated him with a gift certificate to Puetz Golf to purchase a new golf club that he had been wanting.
It was a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with tennis, family, home-cooked food, and lots of love. I feel so blessed.
Me and Clark at Alki Beach in West Seattle
The pretty bouquet of flowers Clark got me (my favorites are calla lillies and tulips)
Personalized Sweetheart Cakes
("My Sweet Baboo" is what Sally calls her love, Linus)
The homemade, heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie
It was very cool to have my parents there to cheer me on. It kind of felt like I was back in high school with my parents there cheering me on at all my sporting events. We went home where some yummy homemade crockpot chili was awaiting us. Then Clark and I headed out to a friend's birthday party. Lucky for us, we had a dogsitter for Lucy all lined up - my parents - and they were beyond thrilled to watch her.
The next day, Sunday, was Valentine's Day and after having breakfast at Paddy Coyne's, my parents headed back home to Portland (of course stopping at Cabela's on the way home). Meanwhile, Clark brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a card, which told me that I had an appointment at the spa for a facial, massage, manicure, and pedicure. I was so surprised and so excited. So off to the spa I went. It was wonderfully relaxing. When I got home 4 hours later, I had my own Valentine's Day surprises for Clark. I made him homemade Italian meatloaf and homemade macaroni and cheese (made with Cougar gold cheese!). Lucy also got a special Valentine's Day dinner of rice, chicken, salmon, and green beans. For dessert, Clark got a homemade chocolate chip cookie in the shape of a heart as well as personalized Sweetheart cakes. As if that wasn't enough, I treated him with a gift certificate to Puetz Golf to purchase a new golf club that he had been wanting.
It was a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with tennis, family, home-cooked food, and lots of love. I feel so blessed.
The day after Valetine's Day we went to Seattle - a long walk along Alki Beach in West Seattle, some fish and chips at Duke's Chowder House, and golf club shopping
Me and Clark at Alki Beach in West Seattle
The pretty bouquet of flowers Clark got me (my favorites are calla lillies and tulips)
Personalized Sweetheart Cakes("My Sweet Baboo" is what Sally calls her love, Linus)
The homemade, heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Tennis
I took up tennis five years ago as a way to take up a fun sport and get in shape. Along the way, I have met some incredible people and made some life-long friendships.
I have been playing at the 3.0 level the last few years and it was my goal to get bumped up to 3.5. After a year of hard work and many matches, I was achieved my goal - I was bumped up to 3.5! This year I am playing both singles and doubles. I play doubles with Jodi or Teri. Both are great partners and we've had success in tournaments. Teri and I won a 3.5 women's doubles tournament last summer and Jodi and I came VERY close to winning the 3.5 women's doubles championship at the Vivala tournament earlier this year. I don't have as much confidence playing singles, but I enjoy it because it is a challenge and a harder workout.
So far this season, I am 4-0. So far this season, I have played two doubles and two singles matches. I hope to keep it up and maybe try to win a tournament. Hopefully I can get my USTA rating bumped up to 4.0! At least I will have fun trying...most weeks I play 3-4 times a week, which I know sounds pretty insane, but it is a good alternative to other forms of exercise.
Jackie and Jodi
Tennis Lovebirds - Ann and Bill
DJ and Ann
Teri and Shauna
Andrea and Barb
I have been playing at the 3.0 level the last few years and it was my goal to get bumped up to 3.5. After a year of hard work and many matches, I was achieved my goal - I was bumped up to 3.5! This year I am playing both singles and doubles. I play doubles with Jodi or Teri. Both are great partners and we've had success in tournaments. Teri and I won a 3.5 women's doubles tournament last summer and Jodi and I came VERY close to winning the 3.5 women's doubles championship at the Vivala tournament earlier this year. I don't have as much confidence playing singles, but I enjoy it because it is a challenge and a harder workout.
So far this season, I am 4-0. So far this season, I have played two doubles and two singles matches. I hope to keep it up and maybe try to win a tournament. Hopefully I can get my USTA rating bumped up to 4.0! At least I will have fun trying...most weeks I play 3-4 times a week, which I know sounds pretty insane, but it is a good alternative to other forms of exercise.
My 3.5 tennis team after winning a tough match
(From L to R: me, Barb, Teri, Shauna, DJ, Ann, Jackie, Jodi)
(From L to R: me, Barb, Teri, Shauna, DJ, Ann, Jackie, Jodi)
Jackie and Jodi
Tennis Lovebirds - Ann and Bill
DJ and Ann
Teri and Shauna
Andrea and Barb
Monday, February 16, 2009
Vivala Tennis Tournament
I entered in a tennis tournament over President's Day weekend with Jodi, one of my teammates from my Women's 3.5 Tennis Team. We have never played together in any USTA league matches or tournaments, but have practiced and played together in recreational and fun matches. I thought we were going to be a pretty strong team because our skills really complimented each other. I have a strong serve and really good at volleys, overheads, and net play. Jodi has an amazing drop shot and fantastic groundstrokes with great top spin. We cover the court really well together.
This tournament was at Valley Athletic Club in Tumwater, WA. Our first match was Saturday, Feb. 14th at 3 PM. There were 28 women's doubles teams in the 3.5 draw. Our first match was in the Round of 32 and we won 6-4, 2-6, 10-4. Our second match was later that evening at 6 PM in the Round of 16. We won 3-6, 6-1, 10-3. Our third match was the next day on Sunday, Feb. 15th at 12:30 PM in the Quarterfinals. We won 3-6, 6-3, 10-5. Our fourth match was later that night at 8 PM in the Semifinals and we won 7-5, 6-7, 10-8. Our fifth and FINAL match was the next day on Monday, Feb. 16th at 3 PM. Though we had such success in winning 3rd set tiebreakers this tournament, we barely lost in the final match...6-2, 6-7, 10-5. It was a very hard loss to swallow considering we had the chance to win the match in the 2nd set tiebreaker...we were up 6-2 in the 2nd set tiebreaker and had 4 match points, but just couldn't pull it off. Then going into the 3rd set 10-point tiebreaker, we were mentally shaken and our opponents really stepped it up and made some amazing shots.
All in all, it was a good tournament and I am proud of how far we made it. However, I am really competitive and winning it all was SOOO close, so the loss took me a few days to get over it. But with that said, it just motivates me to improve, especially when the match is close and we have a chance to close out the match.
This tournament was at Valley Athletic Club in Tumwater, WA. Our first match was Saturday, Feb. 14th at 3 PM. There were 28 women's doubles teams in the 3.5 draw. Our first match was in the Round of 32 and we won 6-4, 2-6, 10-4. Our second match was later that evening at 6 PM in the Round of 16. We won 3-6, 6-1, 10-3. Our third match was the next day on Sunday, Feb. 15th at 12:30 PM in the Quarterfinals. We won 3-6, 6-3, 10-5. Our fourth match was later that night at 8 PM in the Semifinals and we won 7-5, 6-7, 10-8. Our fifth and FINAL match was the next day on Monday, Feb. 16th at 3 PM. Though we had such success in winning 3rd set tiebreakers this tournament, we barely lost in the final match...6-2, 6-7, 10-5. It was a very hard loss to swallow considering we had the chance to win the match in the 2nd set tiebreaker...we were up 6-2 in the 2nd set tiebreaker and had 4 match points, but just couldn't pull it off. Then going into the 3rd set 10-point tiebreaker, we were mentally shaken and our opponents really stepped it up and made some amazing shots.
All in all, it was a good tournament and I am proud of how far we made it. However, I am really competitive and winning it all was SOOO close, so the loss took me a few days to get over it. But with that said, it just motivates me to improve, especially when the match is close and we have a chance to close out the match.
Jodi and I after winning our Semifinal match - exhausted, but excited to play in the finals!
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