14th Match with Marty
5/31/09 Sunday 10:00A.M.
Chico Racquet Club
Score: 6-3, 6-4

Today I was a 4.0 player. This is really the first time in my development process that I have felt that way. I played very well for about three quarters of this match. I did many things right and in so doing won with relative ease over a very good 3.5 player.

The Highlights:

1. I stepped up on Marty’s second serve to hit winners or put him on the defensive.
2. I hit overhead smashes that landed in the court to win the point.
3. I hit a beautiful backhand topspin lob for a winner.
4. I stepped forward into the court to take a couple of short, high balls and hit deep penetrating forehand shots that my opponent took late, returning out of the court.
5. I hit a beautiful defensive slice forehand on the run that barely cleared the net for a sharply angled crosscourt winner.
6. I moved forward into the court and came up to the net appropriately numerous times to finish points.
7. I kept the ball in play throughout much of this match. It wasn’t until I was trying to close out the 2nd set at 5-1 that I started to commit a few unforced errors.
8. I served very well only double-faulting once or twice.
9. I hit a deep ball, moved forward into the court, received a short ball and drove it into Marty’s backhand corner staying down through my shot, got a high forehand volley in return and put it away into the open court. I put it all together here!

***Number 9 above was the culminating point in this match for me. I was so happy after this point that I shouted with glee. I had finally put everything together that I had been working on in practice! After this point I really didn’t care if I won the match or not. I had achieved one of my goals both technically, stroke wise and tactically, strategy wise.