Tuesday, February 10, 2009

My USTA Debut : Loser

So in an effort to stop going to gyms but still get some kind of exercise, I decided to start playing tennis again. I played since I was about 11 until I finished high school, and had a great time on the Lutcher Bulldogs Tennis Team, finished ranked third on the team and finished my high school career with a .667 winning percentage, even though in 3 regional doubles tournaments I was 0-3.
So for Christmas, my lovely wife gave me a new Head Ti S6 racquet and a sweet Wilson bag, and I registered for some advanced beginner lesson at Ida Lee Park here in Leesburg, which features a top notch indoor tennis facility. I hadn't played in 15 years, yet it's amazing how quickly your strokes come back. After a few weeks and a few nights mixing it up with the club pros at some hitting classes, I was invited to join a USTA mixed doubles team. So I joined up and played my first match Sunday.

Despite having a cool British partner, the lovely Judith Slowey-Brown (great tennis name!), we were destroyed 6-2, 6-0. We were 2-2 at one point, then dropped 10 straight games before we knew what hit us. I didn't hold serve once and generally played like crap. I played tight defensive tennis and got creamed for it.

0-1. It sucks. Next game in 3 weeks, I think. And I can't wait.