It’s September 15, 2018 and I’m in Pontiac, Michigan at the Wessen Lawn Tennis Club, playing the men’s doubles final of the U.S. National Men’s 55 Grass Court Championships. It’s 5 games all in the third set, and we are serving at 30-all…just six points from winning a national championship and the coveted gold ball. My right wrist is heavily taped and pretty much any movement brings sharp pain shooting up my arm, but all of my focus is on the next point. But before the next point is played, thoughts pass through my mind on how I happen to be at this place, at this time. I think of my dad.
“Yes Mom, I will definitely bring my racquet down to Santa Barbara over the Thanksgiving holiday.” I remember mentioning this to my mom in preparation for our trip to see my parents over the 2016 holidays. It had been five years since I had last played, but this may be my final opportunity to hit with my dad, who was in declining health. Each visit over the previous 5 years were the first without any tennis played. After a life full of tennis, I knew that this caused some sadness in my dad. He was always more interested in my tennis adventures than his own…which were considerable. My dad has won more national championships(125) than any man to ever play the sport. That’s 125 gold balls!
Each day during our Thanksgiving visit, I was able to get out on court with my dad and some of his tennis buddies. Sometimes my dad just sat courtside to watch, as the rust on my game was slowly peeled away. It sure did feel good to hit the ball again! I decided then, that I would look into playing tennis again upon returning home to our new home of Portland, Oregon. Sadly, my dad passed away on December 23, 2016.
Fast forward to December 2017, and I’m in Phoenix, Arizona for the Category 2 national Fiesta Bowl tournament. In the past year, my tennis play has progressed to the point where I accepted an invite to play doubles at this prestigious senior tournament. My old college teammate and lifelong doubles partner, Steve Schultz, on a whim had reached out about playing again after 12 years off the senior tennis circuit. In the 40 and over division, we had been ranked #1 in the country and had twice won the Fiesta Bowl tournament. I would keep my expectations low for this return to tournament play, but looked forward to the challenge, and to hanging out with my old friend again.
To my surprise, Steve and I worked our way through 4 tough matches, to take home the men’s 55+ doubles title. Two of the teams were top nationally ranked teams, including the nations #1 Leo Young, who was partnering Michael Megale. We were able to sneak out a 7-5 in the third set victory in the final. What a week!
In April, we had another impressive showing, this time at the Men’s 55+ National Hard Court Championships, in Atlanta, Georgia. Playing well, we found ourselves in the semi-finals, playing US #1 Leo Young and Stuart Saiki. The hotly contested and entertaining match came down to an acrobatic lunging volley by Saiki at 4-5 in the third set to seal the victory for Young and Saiki 6-4 in the final set. For the third place/bronze ball match, from 4-5, love-30 down, we were able to win 12 out of the final 13 points to win the match and steal the bronze ball away from our opponents. It felt great jumping on the plane home, with the bronze prize carefully stashed away in the overhead compartment.
Stealing the bronze ball
A month later, we are in Boise, Idaho for the Men’s 55+ National Indoor Championships. After another tough loss in the semi-finals, our third place luck has run out, as a strained calf muscle has us retire in the third place match. Next up…grass courts in September!
Arriving in rainy Michigan, we only get one day of practice on the grass prior to our first match. The conditions are wet and heavy, and sometime during our practice, I feel some pain in my playing hand(right) wrist. I don’t give it much thought, as I’m focused on our first match, which will be my first competitive match on a grass court, ever.
We get through our first match in two close sets, with a steady pain in my wrist. Fortunately the adrenaline has kicked in and the prize too important for me to not continue. We work our way into the semi-final. Each pre-match warm-up starting with a short court hit, that allows me to get used to the pain in my wrist. Down an early break in the first set, the rain begins to fall and the match is halted until the following day. My only hope at the time is that I will be able to play the following day.
Lawn tennis at its best
The next day brings plenty of sunshine, and we quickly break back and continue on to win the first set, but then drop the second. This time, everything goes our way in the final set, and we roll into the finals. This will be my first final at a Tier 1 National Championship. With at least a Silver ball in the bag, I knew that this would be my best chance for gold. Our opponents in the final will be US #1 Leo Young and Stuart Saiki…our old friends!
The morning of the final, the wrist is not good. The plan will be to go heavy on the adhesive tape, ibuprofen, and plan the pre-match warm up for right before we go on court for the match. The first few hits of short-court hitting are excruciating. But after a bit, I’m able to push the pain aside and know that I will be able to play the final.
We jump out to a great start, and end up taking the first set 7-6. One set to go. The tennis from both sides is at a high level. We seem to bring out the best tennis in each other. The afternoon turns hot, and you can feel the moisture trapped in the grass from earlier in the week being pulled up into the atmosphere. All four players are soaked in sweat.
A service break late in the second set, gives the set to Leo and Stu 6-4. Now it’s down to one set for the title. An early break of service in the set gives the edge to our opponents, but we continue to battle and try to stay close. With Leo serving for the match at 5-4, we come up with some of our best tennis of the tournament, including a game winning short slice backhand on break point that I was able to negotiate into a shot that just cleared the net and produced an error that evened the match at 5 games all. We are back in this!
So here we are, Steve serving at 5-all, 30-30. Six points to win the title. I look to the sky, with thoughts of my dad, trying to draw inspiration knowing that he has been in this position many times. I also feel his presence, knowing that he is cheering us on and proud of the way we are competing, but mostly just happy that I once again discovered my love for tennis.
Competitors & Friends. Leo, Me, Stuart & Steve (left to right)
With only six points from the title, the unthinkable happens. We lose the next six points, and thus the match 7-5 in the final set. Leo and Stu raised their games during this important stretch in the match to close things out. And while it was difficult to lose the match, we played our best and just lost to a better team that day.
It would be another 10 weeks before I’m able to play tennis again, thus ending my season. Upon returning home, an MRI revealed a sprained wrist and a healthy dose of physical therapy and rest to follow.
I often think back on that match and those six points. I so desperately want to win a national title and a gold ball, but know that I still have some time to do so. Having been that close and not making it to the finish, gives me extra motivation to keep working towards that goal. And when it does happen, it will be especially satisfying. But if it doesn’t, I know just by playing, I know that my dad is happy…and that is what is most important to me.