Embarrassed (A little tennis story)

[Tempyst]

I met this kid a year younger than I was a few days ago at the backboards, he is at the backboards frequently. He timidly asked me if I wanted to play. I said sure, and we went to the courts. This kid is so...shy I guess? It might have been because I was older than he was (I am 14) and so much taller, idk. He would lock his arms to his sides and keep his head down between points when he ran over to the net to get balls! Also, his serve seemed....awkward. It seemed like how a ping-pong player would serve. So we played and at the moment, I thought, "What the heck, let me just hit around like I do during hard rallys". I won the set 6-3 and got one more game before I had to leave.

The next day, I came with my dad to practice my strokes.
Who do I see? The same kid but this time his mom decided to come watch. Well, as soon as we got out of the car, she stared at us the whole time while watching her son. I start a small warmup with my dad while my mom went to the backboards. Then the boy's mom comes over to my mom and she wants my # and email so her son can contact me to play tennis. My parents appreciated her offer so I gave her my # and email and she gave me her son's. Not that I didn't appreciate it either, but I didn't really like how her son was so shy, it kind of took out the experience of the matches for me. I prefer a few light-hearted comments ("nice shot" "good try" etc.) between my opponent and such during play, but moving on. He asked me for another game, I said sure once more. We started our match, with me serving first. I held my serve and he held his.

This is where it got ugly.

From this moment on I was broken every game and I couldn't break back. I kept making mistakes. My mind was saying, "Oh, I'll take the next point/game, not big deal". But it didn't happen. It might have been because it was pretty dark (past 6, no courtlights), but I could still make out the tennis ball and where it was coming from. I lost 1-6. I came up to the net and shook his hand and then he asked me, "Were you being serious?" At that moment, I swallowed my pride and replied, "Yeah, everyone wins one day and loses another." But inside, I felt so embarrassed and wanted to hit myself!

What do you guys think? Was it my mental attitude? Too dark outside? Did he overcome his mental pressures of vs. me the 2nd day I played him? Help would be appreciated.

 

[DRtenniS1112]

As far as him being too shy for you perhaps you should be the one to truly open up. Talk to him on change overs and what not. Sounds like he is at ur level or close to it if ur beating him one day n him the next so he would be a great person to keep around for a partner.
As far as your loss, well it's tough for anyone to say without seeing the match. You didn't say anything about him, did he change anything? What made you lose, inconsistency, him hitting winners, double faults, what was the deal?

 

[Swissv2]

loss of concentration depends on several factors: one of yours being you were probably distracted with the mom's reactions and perhaps was nervous with people "expecting" you to do well.

I have had parents ask me for my number and ask if I could teach (without asking my experience) as I have taken numerous challenges by people to play (best of 3 sets) and have won every one with an average of 2 lost games in a set.

 

[drakulie]

What do you guys think? Was it my mental attitude? Too dark outside? Did he overcome his mental pressures of vs. me the 2nd day I played him? Help would be appreciated.

First off, you shouldn't be embarassed. You lost, big deal.

It wasn't that it was dark, because he played in the same condidtions.

I think it is a combination of a few things. For one, he may have played badly the first day because he felt intimidated. Secondly, you sound like you are a bit annoyed or uneasy with the whole email/phone thing. So this may have played a part in your poor play.

Regardelss of what it was, there is only way to find out. You have ot play him again. Perhaps you might find you are both on the same level, and you have found a good hitting partner.

Good luck!

 

[Tempyst]

As to the comment about me opening up, I did in fact encourage him throughout the match. However, he seemed to be oblivious to it, or just shy to reply.

Thanks for the help, I'll evaluate myself next time I play and keep what all of you said in my mind.

 

[spot]

Sounds to me like you were overconfident going in. SO when you started to lose you decided to not change anything because you were obviously better than him instead of adjusting to what he was doing. But whatever he was doing was enough to beat you and you did need to adjust at some point. Whether that means just conentrating on hitting deep to the corners or attacking his backhand, you needed to change something.

 

[Deleted member 13755]

Don't you hate it when people watch you play tennis?

I'd probably play better in a match blindfolded than having people around me.