Hitting Partner Takes Title

It is December 11th and the weather in Atlanta today reached 77 F. As you might guess, this is the kind of day you want to get out to the court and hit a few balls. I mean you just can't pass up the opportunity to work on your strokes with the weather being so unseasonably warm, even for the southeast. Tonight I had the pleasure of hitting with my friend Elizabeth, a lefty with great control and a mix of power and finesse.

I started hitting with Elizabeth over 18 months ago when she responded to a message board post I placed on the Atlanta Journal Constitution web site. We've hit on and off since then and during a typical get together we will hit groundies for about an hour. She has a great forehand that really pops when she hits all out.

Tonight we hit groundies for about two hours. The hitting consisted of good solid strokes and long rallies. We both worked up a good sweat, and it felt ten times better than playing a match. Sometimes playing a match is the better experience, and tonight Elizabeth shared with me the details of some recent match successes she had in the local K Swiss Ultimate Tennis League.

Last week, Elizabeth won the Atlanta women's 4.5 singles championship for the Fall season. She won in straight sets 6-1, 7-6 (5) and her husband and friends were also on hand to see her win the title. Isn't it always better when you have people around cheering you on? The championship match was held at the Collins Hill Athletic Club in Lawrenceville, the same place I visited in October to see the ITF Women's $50K tournament. She had a great season at the 4.5 level, winning all seven of her matches. Her prize for taking the title? A pair of K Swiss tennis shoes. Did you expect a Wilson tennis racquet?

This was her second season in K Swiss and I am sure she will continue to play in the league. I am really happy for her. She also spends time coaching locally, so she stays connected to the game in a number of ways. Isn't that the case with so many of us?

It's great when the people you play with have success on the court. It has a way of rubbing off on you as well. I know I've got a lot of work to do to make that happen.

Time.