American Dream

Chapter 3: When troubles come, and my heart burdened me

'Just go out there and give your best.' Coach Davis said, folding his arms on the sidelines. A darkness loomed over me, as luminescent stadium lights twinkled, with the roaring crowds. 

'The teenager, just out of high school now, up against the world's best under 20 years of age. Sergio Perez, 19 years of age. The U20 Open Tournament. The World no. 7, against an American youngster. He did medal at the D1 collegiate competition, but he remains largely unknown on the world scene. He's played D1 since 13 years of age, obliterated senior men at pro level, even. Carter Miller. How will he shape up against Sergio Perez.' 

From the first few shots, the lack of conditioning was starting to wear on me. He'd play a couple of easy shots, from side to side, before taking a central smash when I was caught blind. 

'Best of three sets. 6-0, for the first. This looks like a rather long night for the teenager. It's not easy to play against the world elite, he's getting a taste of just how hard it is to become the best in the world.' 

'Sweat poured off my back as I keeled over, panting. 

'Come on, come on! He's playing the end corners, you have to give some proper smashing.' 

The college scout's words came back to me. 'He's got a great stroke. But he needs to be there all the time, because at the top level there is not time to make mistakes. It's one shot, one kill.' 

One shot, one kill.  No space for misses. 

I grabbed a bottle from the sidelines, and set myself a goal. At least score 3 in the second round. Don't let it be a Watergate. 

'The youngster now, can he make this happen? Against a top competitor, he has to garner inner strenggth to beat the 19 year old, who has been one of the best tennis athletes in the world this year. Can he pull off an upset?'

The roaring crowd. Instead, I just focused on each shot. 

'First serve there, very aggressive, just over the top  by the youngster. Perez dives-' 

He was on the floor, having dove to recover the bomb into No Man's Land. 

I anticipated, watching for the green orb as it popped back into orbit. Slam. 

'What a stroke. The sheer finesse, he has just scored a magnificent shot! The clever dip to force him to run and then the long shot deep. Two bounces, that is a scoring shot of the decade!' 

'Very good! Keep it up!' Davis hollered from the sidelines. 

However, the very next turn, I didn't have such luck. Perez was on fire, and he blazed away my winning chances. He'd toy by teasing the corners of the court, and lethally blast away down the center. 

'Goodness me, what a match. 6-2, a stunning performance with guileful shots from Perez. The youngster's hopes are over now.' 

I sat down at the bench, grabbing a bottle. I wiped tears that fell, an empty icy sensation forming within me. 

'It's fine, kid. Pull yourself together. This man is the world's best. Of course he's going to be really good.'

I stalked back on court, halfheartedly slogging away. I lost the final set, 6-1. 

'We thought there was a watershed moment as the youngster effortlessly scored a wonder goal, but he was outclassed by a 19 year old who has had such a good run of form this season.' 

Carter

'What a disappointment. On home turf of all damn places.' 

'Goodness. It was not your best game.'