Update 7-25-2011

Updating my posts. I played in the FTW Major Zone this weekend. We have been suffering in a really bad heat wave with no rain for a while now. I played my first round match - it ended up being a 3 hour marathon. I kept to my guns, kept the ball in play. We had not shade at all, extremely hot. I was energized with the pasta I had ate before my match. That gave me the energy to make it through. I was pretty tired, but I wore my opponent out. I won 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. Tough match. I had about 45 minutes rest before I had to play the #4 seed who had a bye in his first round. He was fresh and I was worn out. I lost the first set 6-1. I was up in the second set 5-4 with me serving, but just ran out of energy. I had my chances. I kept the ball in play and my opponent kept making mistakes, that is what kept me in the game. I ended losing the match 6-1, 7-5. Was done for the tournament and was in bad shape afterwards with heat exhaustion and sore muscles. Thank God, I did not have to work on Friday and I took the Monday following off. Still recouping, and getting ready for my next tournament. I need to stay away from 3 hour first round matches. That is what hurt me.

Update 5-9-11

I played my 2nd tournament of the year. I have a new injury now - shoulder. It has been getting better and I played the tournament. I was seeded #4. My first round opponent came to the match with 1 racquet and a towel. He did not have a record so he was an unknown. Fortunately for me, he was a player that did not know what he was getting into. Since he did not prepare properly - 1 racquet and a towel only, I knew going in that either he was very confident or just not a prepared player. It was the former. I won 6-0, 6-0. My second round match was tougher. I was down 4-1. I kept my cool, knowing that I could beat this guy because he made some mistakes. I finally got my act together and won 11 straight games. I won the 1st state 6-4 and 2nd set 6-1. My confidence continued to build. My semifinal match was even tougher. This guy had a huge forehand. He beat the #1 seed easily. The #1 seed talked to me and told me to stay away from his forehand. I tried, but it was difficult. Even his backhand was good. I lost the 1st set 6-4. In the 2nd set, I kept fighting and staying in the match. I noticed (in the 2nd set) he started to slow down. I asked him if he was ok, he said he was cramping up. He shouldn't have told me that. That gave me the opportunity to win the 2nd set and new life in this match. I won the 2nd set 7-5. In the 3rd set at 1-1, he took a medical timeout. He was hurting. After he told me he was cramping, I started to run him. I was serving 40-15 at 1-1 and he quit. He could not move. I found out later that he had to be carted out and stayed in the club house for about 1 1/2 hours before he was able to walk and go home.
In the finals, I came up against a brick wall. I lost 6-1, 6-0. This guy was no 3.5 player but a 4.0-4.5 player. He was smart and placed everything. I couldn't find a weakness in his game. I ran him from side to side, but he got to everything. Nothing I did worked. His game forced me to go for shots and I made alot of mistakes. After the match, his legs were hurting too. If I could have kept going, I probably would have hurt him to and possibly win the match.

Keep in mind - if you want to win matches, go prepared, stretch drink lots of fluids. Have the proper equipment. And go into the match thinking that you can win. This will increase your chances of winning - it builds your confidence and confidence is 1/2 the game. Once you win it builds confidence and confidence brings more wins.

Note, you will not win all the time, but having what I mentioned - equipment, being prepared, drink lots of fluids and having the confidence, you will win more matches and you will have more fun.

One more thing: If you get the chance, scout your opponents. This will give you an edge. You will notice their game and you can adjust - that is being prepared.

I will have more updates soon.

Update 4-1-11

Just an update on what is going on. Last weekend, I played in my first tournament of the year. Due to injury, I was hesitant to play, since my wrist is still bothering me. Fortunately, my wrist has been getting better. When I play, I wrap it up to prevent further injury.

The draw was small. I was even seeded #2. I haven't played a tournament since last year in the summer time. Anyway, I had my first match against a college kid who told me he played in high school. He was an unknown as there were only 3 in the tournament that had tournament play and I was one of them. I played ok, good enough to win. I won my first round match 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. I held in there and just kept the ball in play. After winning this match, it put me in the finals. (Again, it was a small draw). The #1 seed lost his match in 3 sets. I played the player who beat the #1 seed and won my match in 2 sets - 6-2, 6-4. My opponent was hitting the ball all over the place. What hurt him was his serve, very inconsistent. It kept me in the match. I just continued to keep the ball in play and made my opponent make the mistakes. That is how I won.

Hope to have further updates in the coming weeks.

Update 2-26-11

This is an update on what is going on. I haven't posted anything in a while now. I would like to keep you up to date on what is going on. Unfortunately for me, I have an injury. I hurt my wrist late last year and has not healed yet. I practiced some in January, but my wrist continues to hurt and I am not ready to play.

It is time for league play in tennis. Some tournaments coming up too. If you haven't signed up to be a USTA member, you need to do so before playing league or tournaments. Go to usta.com and find the links.

As I get older, it is more important to work out to prevent injury. Keep up with a workout plan. Focus on strengthening your core as well as strengthening muscles - legs, arms, shoulders, etc. Be ready, the year is just beginning.

Good luck.