From the bench.
It’s national tennis month, and I’m inside. Okay, partially because it’s rained every day for the last… who knows how long. But also because I’ve once again hurt myself playing too much tennis.
l know I can’t play 4 days in a row. The last time I did this, back in 2022, I was playing USTA & T2 concurrently, and going to practice. I played 4 times in a week and pulled my Achilles in a T2 match with Collier at Tolleson Park.
Now, I’m back on the bench after what was possibly my best tennis match to date.
I overdid it. Again.
I was riding the high of a mixed-doubles win with Wilson Friday night, which caused our opponent to storm off the court after the final point in a full tantrum. No handshakes, no pleasantries, just stomping to the bench to grab his bag, and off he went.
Winning that match 6-2, 6-0 after starting down 0-2 will probably go down as one of my best matches ever. AND IT WAS FUN. Usually, playing men like that is why I don’t enjoy mixed doubles. He was targeting me at the net on HIS SERVE. Or, maybe he was just so frustrated that he accidentally nearly hit me 3x when Wilson was receiving. Either way, his attitude was anything but sunshine and butterflies. Luckily, his partner was super kind and fun, as was mine.
Not only was it the last match of our new team’s first mixed season, but we knocked the opponent’s team out of first place, and it’s always satisfying to knock a jerk down a peg.
On the heels of that match, I excitedly registered for a Saturday morning Hazlo clinic the next day to catch up with the gals and regale them with the tales of the prior evening. The highlight of the weekend being that I got some really fun photos from the Hazlo clinic. (Thanks, guys!)
Then, Sunday? Singles ladder match.
Monday? Singles ladder match.
Game 6. Standing in the backcourt, awaiting a serve from Christine, I felt it. That twinge in my heel that says “Something’s not quite right.”
I knew my shoes were worn out, but I figured I could squeeze just one more match out of them. I went down, tanking a 3-6, 3-6 loss.
The next day, I couldn’t put any weight on my right foot. It feels like my Achilles injury all over again. Now, if I’d been responsible, I think I’d be back on the court by now. But instead, I travelled to San Jose for work and logged ~10,000 steps per day out there, commuting between the hotel and the office, and exploring San Jose’s restaurant scene on my lunch break & after work. I probably should have just asked work for accommodations, but I didn’t.
So, here we are, on May 27th, exactly one month later. Still on the bench.
Did I learn my lesson? I hope so. But I also play winter USTA and think “never again”. I end up skipping the next winter only to sign up again the winter after because I miss playing, and I forget how miserable it was the time before.
So, I’ve spent all of May so far with my foot up, and I’m currently ranked 47th in the Tennis Rungs ladder. (My lowest ranking to-date)
Here’s to hoping the weather lets up and I’m able to sneak just one win into National Tennis month, and maybe climb the ladder a little before it ends next Sunday.
Tomorrow’s only a 35% chance of rain. Fingers crossed!
