The Next Level

"EHHH.  You play like my grandmother okayyyyy???"

Coaches here throw us that line whenever they see sub-standard play.  When we're moving too slowly, or when our strokes turn sloppy.  It's meant to be an insult, a verbal sling in the face to get us to wake up.  Or, as PCK would say, Wake up your idea!!

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Today, I practiced for five hours, played two sets, and took my play to a whole new level.  Instead of playing like a grandmother, I redefined things and played like my dead grandmother.

I threw away a 4-1, then 6-3 lead, to lose a nine-game match 8-9 (3-7) in tie break.  Confounding?  Yes.  Frustrating?  Indefinitely. 

For the past five practice matches, I've been having problems focusing on capitalizing on my leads.  Leading comes so easily---but once I reach the helm, my Duracell mysteriously drains.

Feeling for my forehand vanishes--starting first with the serves.  Double faulting to a 0-40 trail, or giving the game away on a silver platter.  This abnormality becomes a normality---a common, disturbing trend.  My mind relaxes, foolishly thinks it has time, and before I know it, my footwork, strokes, and worse of all, my thinking turns sloppy.

It really is just all about focus, isn't it?

*Snort.

Once I turn sloppy, it takes so much effort to bounce back.  I can be going through my routine---adjusting my strings in between points, focusing on my breathing, doing small foot shuffles between points.  But if I'm not thinking right, staying determined,... then...as I have learnt.

Everything assuredly falls to naught.

So I try.  I will try again tomorrow.