2003

USTA NATIONAL CLAY COURT CHAMPIONSHIP

35-45-55-65-75-85's

SINGLES AND DOUBLES

********************************************** MARCH 3 - MARCH 9

HOUSTON RACKET CLUB

Monday, February 24

I checked out the draw today. I play Heidi Gerger first round. When you look up the word "relentless" in the dictionary, Heidi's picture is there. She is fit as a fiddle, and a #@$%ing backboard. I have my work cut out for me.

Wednesday, February 26

Thanks to Rick, Billy, Shari and all my students who are "players" and keep me on point all year long.

Sunday, March 2

Long day traveling from Philadelphia to Houston on 2 hours sleep. Had a dinner party at home last night, packed my bags at 2am and got to the Airport at 7am. My protein "goop" exploded all over my carry-on in the overhead bin, my head was pounding and the flight was bumpy. Welcome to my tournament life. Ran into my doubles partner Jami on the curb waiting for the shuttle to car rental. Got lost trying to find my Hotel. Traveled 20 minutes past my exit. Motto of this story? GET SOME SLEEP. If my brain had some sleep, I would have my "goop" on my lap and saved myself the trouble of cleanup at 30,000 feet. I would be alert enough to make my exit.

Jami and I practiced for an hour at the club. Nice to be there again. Took 2002 off. Nice to be OUTSIDE. Are you jealous? I have many pictures, but I must sleep. Will load them later.

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Jami and I just finished practicing. YIKES!!!

Monday, March 3

Woke up to rain and I missed breakfast downstairs. Ended up at the 59 Diner. A back to the past, 50's diner. Food was great and service was better. I expected "the Fonz" to come in with "Richie and Potsy". Can't wait for the rain to stop so I can practice.

Tuesday, March 4

Should have missed breakfast today. Ridiculous breakfast. I am at the 59 Diner tomorrow. First day of matches due to the rain yesterday. Practiced with Jami. We scouted our doubles opponents and I got a ticket for not making a right turn from the right turn lane. Mr Officer tells me it is the law in Texas to ask and report the race of all citizens they stop. I said "human" race. First match tomorrow at 11AM. Warm up at 10AM.

DAY 1

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Wednesday, March 5

I am up 6-1, 2-3, 15-love and serving when the rain stopped our match. We are on the court at 830am tomorrow morning. Spent a good deal of time in the locker room with everyone else waiting for the rain to stop. I have to learn to play Bridge. That is the locker room game.

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Thursday, March 6

Long day on the courts. Started at 830am. Frozen. It was so cold. Could not feel my finger tips or toes. Heidi was dressed in ski pants. And never took them off. I had a ski hat and scarf on. Lost the 2nd set 64. Could not get any shots where I wanted them. Won the 3rd set 62. After I started to thaw out. Spent an hour in the locker room getting warm before my next match of the day. Heidi brought me rice. I can't seem to eat enough, though I am consuming mass quantities of food. I am hungry every hour. Played a pretty good player from Connecticut. Tina Smith. Good baseliner. Too cold to play that groundstroke strategy. Put my drop shots to work. Won 60, 63. Winter thumb set in around 5-1. 3 hours rest then doubles with Jami. Playing a pretty good team. I strugled a lot. Dr. Evil had my mojo. No killer instinct. Thank god for Jami by my side. She still had her mojo coming off a 3 set win over Teri Gaskill. Teri is awesome. We have had our battles over the years playing Sears Cup. Tough match tomorrow. I face the #1 seed Renata Marcinkowska. Never played her before. Looking forward to it. Jami plays her regular doubles partner Anna Hayden. Sorry I have no pictures. Too much playing and getting warm. No time for taking photos.

Someone took these. I just found them

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Friday, March 7

Yikes. What a day. I lost to Renata 60,63. Did not have a good day. She is awesome. Jami and I won doubles and play for the gold ball tomorrow. I am exhausted. Jami played awesome tennis today to get to the finals tomorrow. Shari Bucklin had the longest day though. She started at 830am this morning, finished at 630pm or so with a loss against Amy Alcini. Awesome tennis. Shelly Works and Tina Smith had a long match that Shelly won under lights tonight. Jeanne Mullen lost a tough 3 setter. And all the 35+ year old spectators solved every world problem as we sat watching. The older players were playing Bridge in the bar.

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Saturday, March 8

What a good day today. Got my mojo back. I was beginning to worry about my playing ability after yesterday. There was so much good tennis everwhere. I have so many pictures. It's going to take me hours to load them up, and I will load them all up. While I was playing Anna Hayden, Jami was playing Renata. Renata defended her championship. Pattison-Yorke played Kitchen-Palmer, the #1 seeds and won 64, 60. Jami was instrumental in getting me to play this tournament. Glad she did. Rosie Garza and Sue Whiting won the 45's doubles. When I left the club today they were playing in a 35's consolation match. There are still matches to be played tomorrow. The older age groups have many participants. Sorry I will miss some good tennis. I am going home. Got to get ready for Barbados next weekend.

LEGENDS
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SINGLES(MANY MORE TO COME)
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DOUBLES(MANY MORE TO COME)
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