Tennis Gratitude
Lee Hall Delfausse
“Game, set, match.” How many times have I heard these words from a tennis umpire?
Sometimes, to announce me as the winner, but often to announce my opponent as the victor. No matter what, my reaction has always been the same — gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunity to share the national stage with thirteen hundred other women, all members of the National Women's Tennis Organization (NWTO), thirteen hundred other aspiring athletes, thirteen hundred other contestants who have a passion for hitting a ball over a three-foot net within defined boundaries. Gratitude for this sport called tennis: such a simple game that creates incomparable friendships.
Where else does one get to laugh, to cry, to fall down, to get up, to doubt, to trust, all in one second, one minute, and certainly in one three-hour contest?
The sport of a lifetime. This wild crazy sport of tennis is more than a game; it teaches fortitude, focus, and fitness. The countless hours on the court, each swing of the racquet has taught me the invaluable lessons of dedication and perseverance, much like a sculptor chiseling away at a clay block to reveal a unique masterpiece. “Game, set, match.”
Dashing around the court, lunging for balls, I grow stronger, want to work harder. Each drop of sweat is my reward for the hours of practice with friends.
When the competition is fierce, the camaraderie grows stronger. Each match, whether against a friend or a foe, pushes me to do my best. Win or lose, I've won because I've gained a new understanding of the sport, my competitors and, most of all, myself.
Oh, did I mention the thirteen hundred friends that I've met over the years? These friendships have developed during forty years of local, national, and international play. Traveling to tournaments in different states and countries is a thrilling adventure, where each destination brings new faces who share the same passion. The joy of rallying, of exchanging playful banter, of bonding over heated competition fills my heart with gratitude.
At times, at the end of a three-hour match, my opponent/friend and I fall to the ground, giggling with a profound sense of momentary timelessness. Also, when the score is close, when the points grow long, when the heat overwhelms, when the body runs on fumes, gratitude, combined with humility, carries me forward. The humility that no matter how hard I have worked, how much I have focused, how talented my opponent is, at any moment, just one errant shot, one tipped net cord, one lucky swing, can tilt the match like a seesaw. “Game, set, match.”
And finally, off court, after the match, I always discover that each opponent has a story, a story like mine, a story that grows out of a profound love for the game and hard work.
Is it a sport or a game? No matter what, for me tennis gives meaning to each day, to each friend, yes, and, finally, to this short, wonderful journey played out on the messy clay of life.