As the parent of a tennis-playing youngster, I spent Saturday doing what I do a lot of weekends–accompanying my son Christian to his latest tournament. This time it was the Clearwater Top Gun Level 6 (boys 10s). One of the advantages to living in the Sunshine State is that there is always a tournament around the corner, and the level of competition is–well, if the name “Top Gun” doesn’t give it away, let’s just say that it’s rather intense. Maverick and Iceman would have undoubtedly approved.
The funny thing about these things is that so much depends on the luck of the draw. Sometimes you start off playing kids who might not have too much experience and you can work your way through the brackets without getting beaten up. This, ah, was not one of those times. Turns out Christian had to start things off with a kid who looked very much like he was on the north end of ten years old and who had already had some success playing in the twelves (Christian is only 9). So I sent him out there with a hug and the only piece of advice I could offer: “Hit hard, play hard, have fun.”
And dang it if he didn’t win the first match.
I know every parent would say this in the face of an unexpected victory, but I can honestly say that it was the best tennis Christian has ever played. It was rough going for sure, because his opponent could not only hit like a sledgehammer, he also had the best serve I’ve seen with a kid that age. Christian didn’t let anything get past him, though, and returned everything the other guy threw at him, burning through more than a few twenty-plus ball rallies. More than once, I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin watching from outside the court fence.
The first set was really close, with Christian edging it out 4-3. The second set, however, was all his, and he took it 4-0. I think at that point he had just worn the other kid out. Rushing onto the court to give him a big hug after it was all done, Christian had a smile on his face I won’t forget. I imagine I had a similar expression myself.
But tennis being tennis, the kid he drew in the second match was even tougher than the first. I suppose it didn’t help matters that Christian’s opponent had a bye in the first round and was coming in fresh, but in all honesty the kid was a serious slice of awesome. He was a superb tactical player, and although Christian took a game early in the first set, he ultimately went on to defeat 4-1, 4-0. Still, at some point Christian must have thought to himself, “The heck with it–if I’m going down, I’m gonna try some new stuff.” And in that match, I saw him save some balls and flick shots back like a little pro. I couldn’t have been more proud of him if he had won.
Christian is already wondering when the next tournament is.
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2014