One of my beginner students today won his first round match in a L5 Tournament in the boys 12's. This is his first Tournament ever. He came back from 3-1 to win the fist set 6-3 and was down 4-5 in the second set to win 7-5 with an ace as the final point of the match. My students Dad wasn't knowledgeable about tennis i was helping him learn about tennis etiquette and talking about what happens in a match..
What I learned today watching. A beginner match is decided by single point which controls momentum. What I am trying to say is that my player has only been playing tennis with me for about 1 month and the kid he beat today had more tennis skills. The other players moved better, HIt slice, had a more aggressive serve, had better directional aim and had some strategy.
MY player had a forehand, 1 and 2 handed backhands that he cannot hit consistently and he can volley and serve a little not great but get it in. BUt my player is a good athlete and can think a little. I told my player that this game is not about winning or losing its about missing and getting the ball in. I told him that no matter what happens get to every ball and put it in the court let them make mistakes and, also if its easy enough to take a shot at it... go for it it doesn't matter if you get it in or not.
My player is hitting the moon balls we hit at each other and the opponent is hitting hard straight attacking balls. the match if fairly even looking like my player will lose to the more skilled opponent. 3-1 theirs.
out of no where the opponent hits this amazing backhand down the line out of my players ability range. and my player just lunge for it put his racquet and prayed the ball over the net. the opponent was in such shock that the ball came back for a winner dinker drop-shot on accident. now here is the strange part, the part of winning tennis that no one ever talks about. the set was decided on that one point. even though ,my player was down 3-1. for some strange reason the opponent felt threatened. he started to go for shots out of his playing range and lost the first set. My player did nothing other that put the ball in and go for a shot here and there.
Second set starts with a early break for the opponent and it looks like he calm down for the second set because he stop going for too much. my player is down getting tired not calling balls out playing double faults, standing in the wrong spot, ETC, ETC, the same old same old you see in every junior tournament.
But down 4-5 my player hits a very good drop shot on purpose to win the game and to tie it 5-5. I called the match for my player at that moment. Because the momentmum change at that one shot. the opponent didnt think that my player could hit a shot like that he ran it down and didnt get there.
Now the pressure was over whelming for that 1 point to tie at 5-5.
My player struggles with score and win 6-5 after about 4 deuces and after being up 40-15, so he won thaT GAME 3 TIME. and on his serve the opponent went again for big shots he did not have. and at 40-15 match point the knife in the back to kill the opponent. My players First and final point of the match an ACE. To come backs, back to back. I felt bad for the opponent because of the ace. I felt like he got beaten up really bad. lol.
This whole match was decided by 2 points, one backhand and one dropshot. one by accident and one on purpose.
HAHAHAHA great first match!!!!!
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