People say a tryst with tennis can be an awakening of the soul, a peek into the joys of sport and something that will energise you through the day.
Actually, I’m not sure if anyone said that, but it sounds good in retrospect and as a motivator. A picture speaks a 1000 words. Now, if you look at this one below, you’d assume that I played tennis. You’d be right, but that’s not the whole picture, which is why we need words.
Now that I’ve mentally prepared you for the verbal onslaught ahead, here goes.
Yesterday, in a bid to encourage the kid to be up early even during the vacations, I suggested that she could play tennis with her dad in the mornings.
It began with my expounding the value of waking up early, getting some fresh air into those lungs and working out the limbs and other necessary parts of our anatomy. As I spoke, she rolled her eyes and said, ‘Fine, but what about you? Will you play too?’
In that moment, I had two choices. Shake my head violently and refuse or buckle down and agree. Bear in mind that I’ve played badminton pretty regularly but tennis? Let’s just say it’s a wholly different ball game (ha ha, pun intended!)
Having said this, it was now left to me to follow through. This is how it went:
5.25 am. Roused myself from bed and blearily looked at the alarm.
5.30 am. Sat bolt upright in bed, energised by the thought of tennis.
5.35 am. Did some warm up and stretching at home.
5.45 am. Laced-up shoes: Check
Tennis gear : Check
One enthusiastic and physically fit husband: Check
Butterflies in the stomach: Triple check
5.50 am. Reached the tennis court and did some preliminary stretches. The cool air made it a thrill to just stand on the court.
6 am. And so it began. With practiced ease (or so I thought to myself) I flung the ball in the air and brought my racket down on it, sending it coasting over the net in a perfect serve. It caught the line and made me stare in amazement. Okay, I wasn’t ‘bad’ at this! I could do this! Ah, my dear, have you never heard of beginner’s luck?
Grinning, I then gripped the racket and readied myself to return the serves. V served and I watched as the ball sailed past me, mocking me with its speed. I was literally standing still. Not done! Had to pick up my feet.
A few useless attempts later, the racket became me. I allowed the energy from my tennis idol, Federer, to flow into my being and muttered a prayer under my breath. I could do this. Yes!
As the ball careened down the centre of the court, my racket swung and connected with it. I erupted in joy until I saw that my wild swing had sent the ball sailing not just over the net, but the high fence that surrounded the court.
Drat! This wasn’t going well. I seemed to have channelised Chris Hemsworth’s spirit instead. That was a shot worthy of Thor!
After 20 minutes, the momentum picked up and I continued to randomly hit the ball here and there. Hey, at least I was finally hitting the ball. Plus I prided myself on the fact that one of us was running. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t me.
By now I was huffing and puffing out of sheer exhaustion, of bending to pick up the ball and running to get the ball from the playground, the basement car park and the adjacent basketball court. Let it never be said that I wasted the space available. I covered all the bases.
45 minutes later, my ever-sporting husband said, ‘Shall we go home?’
I should have said ‘Yes’. But pride is a strange beast which makes you do stupid things. So I shook my head and said, ‘Come on! Are you tired? I’m just getting warmed up here. Let’s play for another half hour.’
Raising both eyebrows he chuckled and wisely said nothing. So the swinging and connecting of racket and ball continued until the muscles in my legs woke up and started protesting.
Give us a break and head home, you idiot!
Never one for being told what to do, I ignored them and gritted my teeth. I was having fun, that was the important thing, right? After 15 minutes though and one more ball that roared with laughter (I’m not kidding) as it left the tennis court like an albatross, I had to admit I was tired.
That wound up my first day on the tennis court. But, you know me. I always look for lessons in everything. What did I learn today? Here are some of them. The rest I will share when my body can pick itself up off the floor again.
- Tennis is a game that will test the existence of every muscle in your shoulders, arms and legs. Occasionally, your abdomen will be summoned to duty as you bend to retrieve the fallen balls on the court.
- Play the game early in the morning before the sun starts to shed his warm glow on you. This way you’d enjoy the running too. Pro tip: Ensure your opponent is facing the rising sun so you can return serves while he is blinded!
- Get ready to run. When I say run, I don’t mean dawdle, amble, saunter or stroll. I mean, pick up your feet and cover the court. Or invest in a runner who will hit the balls back while you stand stylishly on centre court and serve the ball. This may work too.
- If you have large yellow bushes lining the court, be prepared to spend 15 minutes hunting for the ball that escaped your skilled backhand and landed in that patch. This activity will build character and patience. Trust me on this.
- Invoke Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic before you begin playing. After 12 minutes, throw all those prayers out the window and hit the ball any way you want. It doesn’t matter.
- Most of all though, just have fun. This one is a serious tip.
Now excuse me while I go and apply ice to my calves, knees, ankles, wrists and forearms. What? That’s for all the energy it took to sit and type this post.
Am I going back tomorrow to play? You bet! I’m just getting started! Serena Williams, watch out. I may just meet you some day.
***
I can just picture you in that skirt and top. So cute! Yeah, the running is what gets me too. Sigh, physical activity, I tell ya. Thanks Vidz!
He he he thank you 🙂 I will teach you badminton, come 😉
So hilarious! The last time I attempted was years ago. In college, I went for tennis practice only because I thought I looked great in the high ponytail, wrist bands, short skirt, tshirt and keds. Also, I wore those large ring earrings. It was more about looking the part than playing. Then I remember how our coach would make us run thrice around the ground to warm up. Hehehe. Wonderful memories. I so enjoyed reading your post! I admire your spirit!
haha…I could picture you and it was hilarious. Okay don’t hate me 😉
Well, coming from a person who is far away from sports apart from watching them, you did very well. I can’t play badminton to save my life, forget about tennis 😀
YES! That court is way too big 😀 Thanks Jaish!
Thank you, Archana 🙂 Glad to have made you smile.
Oh my! Giggled a lot. I love mostly these kind of posts, which can make us smile. 😀
I have tried my hand at the game when i was in the Us….first thing i realized is
“That damn court is a lot bigger in real than it looks on TeeVee” Hmm!!! :D…. You go ahead and give Serena her nightmares…. For the rest of us we have our playstation version of the game ha ha
I LOVE badminton and actually got pretty good at it too. No court here in the new place yet else that would have been my first choice.
Gy is blissfully sleeping on both days so far. V wouldn’t dare laugh at me 😉
Ha ha, glad, Mithila. As for the little one, she is gladly enjoying her vacation by sleeping in every morning. Yeah, all that lecturing only put her to sleep. But, bonus is I am working out 😉
Right? YES! Thank you. My muscles disagree with you though 😉 Feeling better for sure.Hence getting back to some physical activity.
Ah, I’m glad! A writer wants to paint a picture with her words. Once that’s done, that’s half the battle won 😀 So happy you laughed 😉
Oh no! I should have invoked Becker! 😀 Will do next time.
Right? There’s good in everything, Shilpa 😀 We just have to find it, past the aches and pains and the running.
Of course! Not going to give up in a hurry 😉 Thanks, Raj!
Hahaha I am imagining the indignant you trying to get away yet staying put. ? I’ve never played tennis. Don’t intend to either. Badminton is so much better. Did Gy and V dare to laugh through your escapade? ?
This post was too good! I’m doubling up with laughter, which I must say is a better exercise than hunting for tennis balls in yellow bushes 😛
I remember my vacation days when I used to laze around, waking up later and later with every passing day! I’ve only just started waking up early since last year, thanks to classes and studies 😀
Happy holidays to the little one! 🙂
Thanks for the mid-exam laughs. Hope you are feeling better now. Over an hour on the court on day one – that’s an achievement no matter where you hit the ball.
Hahaha 😀 I love your sense of humor 😀 I was imagining you doing the said things as I read this post. Not to forgetthe got wierd looks from people around me for laughing out loud throughout the post.
I did have a plan of starting tennis after my holidays. But it will remain a plan for few more days (or may be months) now 😛
45 mins is good on day one. I love watching tennis but I will stick to playing badminton. Plus you also did not invoke my favourite Becker.
Hahaha. …I was imagining Shailaja Williams hitting the ball with much gusto and then cursing her luck when the ball decided to play hide-n-seek with her in the thick bushes!
What a hilarious post it was! Yes, people should definitely play tennis. If nothing else, at least they wil have amusing anecdotes to share with their bored-sitting-indoors friends!
Hahahaha you survived more than 45 minutes on court… Jai Federer Dev. I played tennis just once with my 11 year old cousin and I swear I ran a marathon that day. It does make you feel all those muscles in the body that you had no idea about. Loved that tip about playing early morning ? keep smashing… Jai Federer ?
Glad to have made you smile. And please play. Why should I suffer alone? 😉
Oh I am just rolling around holding my sides .. what an image you have painted… I’m so glad you had fun though and I’m sure you inspired Gy! I think I’m going to stick to Badminton, find that tiring enough most days :P.
And needless to say, thanks for the Chris Hemworth reference and image ;).