We both knew this was going to be a match. At 0-0 I was hearing was hearing problems of contacts maybe being in the wrong eye. This guy had no idea but he was playing the best tennis I had seen him play ever. I was finally getting a little power in my shots and being very aggressive at the net. He was not used to me. I was better at neutralising him at the net then he was with me. That was the difference.

I have never played net before. Wheelchair players are told not to play net. Always stay back. The baseline gives you security. Yes that is true especially with two bounces. But it can also cause you to loose the point if cannot place the ball deep to your opponent. I have just begun to do it and it really makes a difference no matter who I am playing.

At 3-0 I heard about the removal of contacts being necessary. Crap. Every game has gone to deuce so far. At 5-0. He said, “You know it is actually not that bad. Sure it is 5-0, but every game has gone to deuce the score just doesn’t reflect the game.” I smiled. I have been there so many times. Deuces but no games. Giving the other guy confidence and beating myself. Games are one and lost on single points. I played a 3.5 hour, three set match this year. The final score over the three sets was 14 gamed to 17. That is a two pint loss. Somewhere somehow at some point. Two points would have changed everything.

MrD played very well. Final score 6-1 6-3

2.5/2884