Hello, my name is Phoebe.
And I love tennis.
Yes, I love it.
I love absolutely everything about it.
Allow me to list a few reasons why:
(I like lists)
1. Tennis is dramatic.
Watch any professional tennis match and try to show me one without drama.
Won't happen.
No one knows the outcome,
and no one will until it's already over.
Here's a little taste of,
11 hours and 5 minutes of drama.
2. Tennis can change in a moment.
Momentum can shift at any point during the game.
Just because one player is up and doing well in the beginning of a match,
doesn't mean they are going to continue to do so.
One thing sets them off, and they're done.
One bad call.
One bad game.
One noisy bird.
They're through.
3. Tennis is a personal sport.
The beauty of tennis is that anyone can have the advantage.
Each individual player has certain advantages and disadvantages to their game.
And depending upon who their opponent is, that could be good or bad.
So there's no ONE way to play tennis.
There are many different techniques and strategies that make each player different.
Each player plays differently.
Each players plays their own game.
4. Tennis is hard.
Just try and keep score.
Properly.
If you watch tennis on TV and think:
"Oh that looks easy enough...ball over net...how hard is that?"
You are WRONG.
Tennis is HARD.
Tennis is COMPLICATED.
Tennis is NOT easily learned.
The players you see on TV have been working their ENTIRE lives for the ability to make it look easy.
TENNIS IS HARD.
Confused?
5. Tennis is mental.
Tennis is not for the weak minded.
If you can't control your mind on the tennis court,
GOOD LUCK.
You're done.
One temper tantrum, and there goes the entire match,
the entire tournament,
the entire year.
Mind and emotion control are CRITICAL.
Roger Federer.
The greatest player of all time,
the most mentally disciplined player.
He never shows emotion on court.
Never negative.
Rarely positive.
He's stone faced.
Direct correlation.
I just wanted to brag on my sport a little.
It's awesome and I love it dearly.
Get out there and see what makes tennis so great.
But don't think that just because you own a tennis racquet,
and some shorts with pockets you're a tennis player.
You're not.
You might play tennis.
But you are not a tennis player.
I have devoted countless hours, unseen amounts of effort, and lots of money into this sport.
I don't just play tennis.
I am a tennis player.
This is my sport and I take it seriously.
Yes, I do realize that tennis is fun.
That's why I play it.
And that not everyone has devoted as much to tennis as I have.
I am well aware of such facts.
All I'm saying is that you don't get the title without the effort.
You can't call yourself a lawyer unless you go to law school.
And you can't call yourself a tennis player unless you commit to tennis.
This isn't a fair-weathered friend.
This is a life-long love.
If you would like to see real tennis players in action,
The Australian Open is currently in progress.
The first Grand Slam of the year.
Let the drama begin.
(check your local listings.)
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