Game 25 : 25th February

4-0

3-4

4-2


Rating: unexpectedly amazing 


Venue: usual venue (centre court)


Report

What a treat!

Work game with players of different experience but sharing the same enthusiasm.

Just an absolute fantastic game from start to finish.

Only time for 3 mini sets (switching partners each time) as the rallies and games were long. There were no games that went to a ridiculous Deuce (X4+) but most games were pretty close and everyone got a chance to shine.

My goal going in was to continue the no lob, flat return policy but also to be more patient. Had a thought that maybe it's not about me being crap at finishing a point but that I am finishing points too soon, leading to unfinished points or unforced errors. 

So it was a case of playing one more shot rather than trying to kill it too quickly. Not sure it worked 100% but it made for a better game!

First set was a quick execution, me and the most experienced player ran through it in record time

Second set, my opponent was unplayable, just hitting winners from everywhere. Backed up my the other experienced guy resetting where required, they soon raced into a 3-0 lead. Luckily me and my partner managed to dig deep and drag it back to 3-3 but we couldn't break the vicious serve of the experienced player and they saw it out.

Third set we switched up again and I got broken first game. Two exceptional returns from decent serves meant we were love -30 down. An unforced error by me  of a terrible bandeja into the wall made it love -40 and even though we got a couple of points back, we lost it.

We broke back and my partner held their serve with some great shots from all. Dropshots from the opposition, bulleted backhand Bajadas from my partner and my first ever big boy flat smash that didn't clear the net but got back there without a chance of being returned.

The hour flew by, the score was almost incidental and everyone had a great time. What a way to spend a lunch hour and a GREAT way to mark me being 25% of my 100 games target.

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