The Third Match

Today we have gone through the third match against Causeway Bay team. It seems that it is more fun to most of us - because we have won most of the matches?

To me, I had a good start with Peter against Bruce and Kenneth(?) in the first men's double.

They actually performed better during the practicing time, and Peter and I thought that we would have a tough game. However, it turned out that the opponents were unfortunately more nervous than us and we won quickly.

The lesson is that a good start is important to a match, no matter you have better skill or worse skill. The pyscological effect may be enormous and vital!

Of course, I could serve well and hold serve in the first game were crucial (really? ha ha).

Well, we had a comfortable win today, but I was still not satisfied that I didn't play many winners, as most of the winning points were from the mistakes of the opponents. I did win some points by volley, but several of them were done with bad timing (shame!). Two smashes were badly handle so that it didn't win the point at once, nor put any pressure to the opposite side, bla bla bla. Anyway, I played more stable today and I lost less points than the alst matches, that's what I can say about my performance today.

Peter played excellent. As usual his volley skill won us a lot of precious points at the right time, and his serve was dangerous too, which created several easy chances for my rusty volleys. I was glad that Peter also enjoyed the match same as me. (see, that's what a good partner shall say, we praise each other likes we believe each other (hmm, actually we ignore each other) on court.

I also enjoyed the hittings after all the matches, the 3 x 3 games, in which I hit and hit with all my powers, and I had the feeling that I could (almost) hit the balls to anywhere that I wanted to, that I had total control of the ball (of course, my forehand ground strokes only), such wonderful feeling makes me can't stop loving tennis!

On the other hand, the feeling of winning the match today is just so so. It was just like a dream......something you just stood there and did nothing special and then you won, so lucky, so unreal?

I sometimes think that I was too late / old to start tennis, that I could never attain a high level but rather be only an amateur player, so winning or losing is never an important factor in my game. I won't feel particularly sad or mad if I lose, but I feel disappointed if I play badly.

Finally, sorry that I could not join the dinner today, it should be fun to have beer after a winning tournament, a lot fo chit chats? However, I promised my sons to bring them to ToysRus to pick up some legos, and I could not let them down or otherwise they would not allow me to play tennis any more, you know, the result is very serious......

Vicky, please tell me that bill of the beer tonight, I will pay for it (even though I remembered at a later stage that the City Hall charges $25 / can!).

Well done today, Tin Kwong Team!
Hope you enjoy your tennis likes me today!

(isn't it a bit lengthly come to here and I better to stop right here!)

Aftermath of the After Match

Sun Tsui Team 1 on 27 August 2006

I played man's single against Kelvin of Sun Tsui Team 1, and lost the battle by 3:6 (or 2:6?). It was a very enjoyable match even though I lost, for the following reasons (or excuses):
1) My backhands were totally ugly, but as I was struggling with my backhand form, I expected that I could not play well for my backhand, and it ended up that It was worse than what I expected before the match anyway, and Kelvin quickly discovered my weakness was also a key point to my loses.
2) My serves were bad too (especially the second serves).
3) Except the the first few games that I played badly, partly due to I was too nervous or partly my skill problem, I did play quite a lot of winners with my forehands at the later part of my games.

Overall, I was satisfactory with my forehands, as I coudl do what I wanted to do. If I could improve my backhand and serves, I think I can have a better match with Kelvin next time.


Sun Tsui Team 2 on 3 September 2006 - First Double Match

I played man's double with Duncan against Thomas and Paul of Sun Tsui Team 2, and luckily won by 6:2.

I was not so satisfactory with myself this time:
1) I am jsut too nervous and I dropped my serve game with a lot of double-faults.
2) We won mainly because of Duncan who calmed me down a lot during the match.
3) The opponents, who seems to be the stronger team, were too nervous (may be due to the unfamilair court) and gave us the chance to win.
4) Although I won some points with volley hits, I didn't feel I played well.




Sun Tsui Team 2 on 3 September 2006 - Second Double Match

I played the second man's double with Alan against Keigh and Clive of Sun Tsui Team 2, and unluckily lsot by 3:6.

I was not so satisfactory with myself this time:
1) First excuse, I was not prepared to play the second double with Alan, and playing with Alan more or less gave me some pressure.
2) I didn't fit into Alan's game, and we quickly lost 3:0 - again 1 game due to my bad services.
3) When we discovered the weakness of the other team, it became too late for us to catch up.
4) I felt I played very bad at the beginning, but improved at the later stage of my game. Our problem was I and Alan were not familiar with each other's playing style, so many times we had to chase and hit the coming balls without foreseeable thinkings and adequate preparation (like some volleys). The lop balls tactics of the opponents also confused us.

Overall, if Alan and I can prepare better and do not lose the first few games so quick, we may be able to beat the opponents or make the game points closer than 6:3.