The U.S. Open 2013

     As some of you may know, the U.S Open took place about two weeks ago in New York City, NY. I am proud to admit that I spent the 15 days of competition with my eyes glued to the television. As always, the tennis was phenomenal, and the athletes were extremely inspiring to watch. In particular, I enjoyed watching Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal win their U.S. Open championship titles. Throughout the competition, they were able to remain strong and persevere through the many matches they played. Personally, I am able to learn a lot from watching professionals compete in my sport. From years of tennis, I know what to look for and observe, such as how they hit the ball and what different strategies they use to beat their opponents. After the U.S. Open, I found myself using better strategy in my matches and trying to mimic the form of game play I had watched professionals use.
     Many of you may agree that tennis is a sport that requires a strong mental attitude. To me, this is the most important aspect of tennis in its entirety. This aspect was clearly present in the athletes of the U.S. Open, as when they lost a point, they were able to calmly control their emotions and move on to focus on the next point. The intimidation of competing against challenging players is also a major obstacle. Take Nadal, for example. He was faced with the strenuous task of taking on the number one player in the world, Novak Djokovic. Even under extreme pressure, he was able to fight to the best of his ability and win the U.S Open title. My coach once told me, "The match is won even before it begins." I feel like this idea that "attitude is everything" is important to every athlete, no matter their level.
     I hope that everyone is able to take as much from these tennis competitions as possible and use them as opportunities to learn more about every aspect of tennis.

TennisPrimeHD. "Serena Williams Wins US Open 2013 Championship Final." YouTube. YouTube, 08
Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Sept. 2013.

TennisNowHD. "[HD] Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic Match Point US OPEN Finals 2013." YouTube. YouTube, 09 Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Sept. 2013.

The Journey Begins...

Hello everyone, and welcome to my blog! For years, I have heard about this unknown concept of  "blogging," but never did it seem to spark my interest. Now, I have been given the opportunity to create a blog of my own and with the innumerable amount of possibilities before me, I start my journey with an open mind. The process of designing my blog was the first step. Little did I know, however, that the construction of the actual blog would be the easy part. What was I to focus on? Then it hit me... Tennis. The underlying purpose of my existence. The sport that has stolen the past seven years of my life. It was perfect...
To me, tennis is not just a sport. It is a way of life, a stress-reliever, a solver of all problems, and an escape for the mind. From my very first stroke of the ball, to my most recent win in a high school singles match, tennis has changed me in so many ways. Every practice, point, and game is a learning experience. Everyday, I find myself pushing to be harder, meaner, and greater. I'm sure any tennis player can relate to me when I say, "It is in no way easy. Being out on the court alone, waiting in anticipation for the opponent's serve, the scorching-hot sun beating down on your face. It does a number on you, but in the end, when the match is over and you feel that sudden rush of satisfaction, it sure is worth it."
I hope that this blog will help to bring our tennis community together and enlighten people on the nature and identity of our sport. Thank you so much for reading, and I look forward to the journey ahead.