Aussie Open Final

[bucksfan]

I am really enjoying their rivalry also. My wife has renewed her interest in tennis over the past 2 years, and I have hit around with her in the parks in the summer and really enjoyed it. We watched the last 2 sets men's finals after the Super Bowl.

This December a new tennis facility popped up within 1/4 mile of our house! We joined that month and my wife and I are in a mixed doubles league already! This will be quite interesting because I have never before played any official tennis match of any variety, but have of course played "pickup tennis" (is that what it's called? ) in parks off and on over the years! In a drill at the new facility they said athleticism should get me by until my skills catch up - I'm still trying to figure out if that was a backhanded compliment, if any at all!

But regardless, I am having fun with it as a substitute for basketball. I just have not been able to play basketball at what I consider an acceptable level for the past several years. I don't mind starting fresh (at a low level) in tennis. Tennis is also something that my wife and I can do together for a long time to come, providing she puts up with me in this first adventure! Our daughter is taking a clinic now also and is enjoying it. It may become our family sport...we'll see....

[AccordinglyReds]

I stayed up for the first 3 sets, and right before 6am, the power goes out.

After all that, I couldn't watch the rest due to the ice havoc in Louisville. But I watched the rest yesterday.

[remdog]

Tennis is also something that my wife and I can do together for a long time to come, providing she puts up with me in this first adventure! Our daughter is taking a clinic now also and is enjoying it. It may become our family sport...we'll see....

Tennis is a great game for the family. I've been a member at my current club for more than a dozen years and it's been interesting to watch the 6, 8 and 10 year olds that Dad used to take out on a back court and hit balls to become 18, 20 and 22 year olds that blow serves by Dad on a regular basis. On court, Dad hates it but up in the bar he spends a lot of time bragging about the kids. A lot of those kids I've watched grow up have gone on and played tennis in college, many on scholarships, and every summer they come home and there's the whole family down at the club, together again. It's great to see.

Personally, I preferr doubles (men's or MxD) because it's still a game that you can serve and volley. I'm pretty aggressive by nature and, for me, there is nothing better than 4 people at the net, 10 feet apart, trying to drill the opponent.

MxD with a husband and wife team seems to come in two styles. You make a great team or it ruins your marriage. (I only kid slightly .) I've seen couples that are totally on the same page and are extra tough 'cause they think together as well as alike and they play (win or lose) as a team. Then there are couples that fight each other to see who's going to be the Alpha dog---those folks need to stop playing doubles together before it carries over into other areas (or, maybe, it comes from those other areas in the first place ).

Rem

[remdog]

Oh yeah Bucksfan, one other thing. Just because you're playing MxD don't think that the lady on the other side will be sweet and kind. My experience is that they would rather leave the 'Wilson' imprint on your forehead than lose the point. Then, they'll hold up the racquet like they're sorry but you can hear them laughing all the way back to the baseline.

Protect youself at all times.

Rem

[bucksfan]

Oh yeah Bucksfan, one other thing. Just because you're playing MxD don't think that the lady on the other side will be sweet and kind. My experience is that they would rather leave the 'Wilson' imprint on your forehead than lose the point. Then, they'll hold up the racquet like they're sorry but you can hear them laughing all the way back to the baseline.

Protect youself at all times.

Rem

Thanks for the words, rem. I have heard that about the ladies! Actually the owner of the tennis club was talking to me and told me something to the effect of "You may think you should hit it softer to the women in mixed, but don't do it..." - I stopped him right there and said "I have no formal tennis training. Some of these ladies practuically live here. I had no notion whatsoever of "taking it easy" on them!" I actually am assuming that most of them, if not all, will be better than I am so I will take anything I get no matter how I can get it!

As for playing mixed doubles together, we have been warned about that also. We do get along well but honestly have not undertaken being partners in this kind of event. I come from a more athletic background than she does, but she is taking her tennis quite seriously and has worked hard at her game the past 2 years. We want to be competitive (there's that dreaded redszone phrase!) but our focus is on engaging in sport like this "together" and hopefully having some fun with it. I have no intention of letting it be a problem between us although I am sure it won't be completely smooth.

There is another couple on our team (younger friends of ours) that is more worried about conflict between themselves than we are, so we may be switching off & on regardless. Actually my wife was his partner 2 weeks ago in the 1st match of the year because I had a bad knee (since drained of fliud and now near 90%!!) and his wife was ill. My wife & I still have not set foot on a court as a doubles team but plan to get some practice in Wednesday. It's obviously a lower level league (6.0) but I am looking forward to it. I think it will give us somethign healthy to do together and somethign to talk about (or argue about!) at the bar afterwards!! I'll let you know how Wednesday practice goes!

[remdog]

I'll look forward to your report Bucksfan.

Practice at this point should be all about getting used to each other on court, who plays where, learning your partner's strengths and weaknesses so that you can each help each other the most but most importantly at the club level, no matter what level you play, it should be about having fun.

If you miss playing basketball I think you will enjoy tennis. Most former b'ball players turn into pretty decent tennis players because they have decent hand/eye co-ordination and they are used to the footwork part of the game (once they learn the specifics of the sport).

Have a great time.

Rem

[bucksfan]

Just an update on my tennis saga - our first ever practice match as a doubles team actually went pretty well. My knee felt about 80% bbut it was enough. Lots of stupid missed shots on my part that I think certainly won't happen after some weeks of playign consistently. We communicated OK for the 1st time but can certainly improve a lot. My serve was alright. The couple we played were not very strong so it was tough to tell. I told my wife we should beat someone like that at least 9 out of 10 times. But now the team captain wants us tom play 1st doubles on Sunday, so we'll probably get ours then!

My biggest issues are feeling like I'm in the right place on the court at the right time and keeping my eye on the ball during quick volleys. I think I am looking at the other team's positioning too much some times.

[remdog]

My biggest issues are feeling like I'm in the right place on the court at the right time and keeping my eye on the ball during quick volleys. I think I am looking at the other team's positioning too much some times.

Sounds like a good start. Your positioning will improve with experience as you learn to read the angles and shots (somewhat like learning to read a fly ball and taking the best route). And the more you and wife play together the better the communication will improve (both verbal and unsaid communication).

Good luck Saturday.

Rem

[bucksfan]

Sounds like a good start. Your positioning will improve with experience as you learn to read the angles and shots (somewhat like learning to read a fly ball and taking the best route). And the more you and wife play together the better the communication will improve (both verbal and unsaid communication).

Good luck Saturday.

Rem

Thanks rem. I really am just enjoying being out there and doing something like that together. We played 1 1/2 hrs and the time flew by. I would have easily wanted to go another hour. We did not argue at all, which I think will generally be the case forward. I have no idea of the competition we'll be up against, especially iof we get stuck at 1st doubles (which to me may be a mistake but I will not argue about it).