She's back ~ L. Hamilton

64. | Preparing

My uncle and I are at the practice courts at the tennis club after a sweltering session against a hitter.

A small Netflix camera crew were in the corner of the court, a small lightweight mic was tucked into the pocket on my top. They were here most days now, filming, that I'd gotten used to them, used to pretending they weren't there.

I'm drenched in sweat, and my uncle is sitting on the bench beside me, running through his plan for defeating Charlie Thyme.

I've never played her before only seen the devastation of her speed from the crowd or off a screen.

"She's quick," my uncle says "The clay barely slows her down. It doesn't present the challenge for her that it does for others"

"So.... I have to be faster" I say

My uncle shakes his head "No. That is not what I'm saying"

"What do you mean?"

"Do not lose your temper," he says, "when I say this"

"I'm not going to lose my temper"

My uncle raises his eyebrow at me.

"I won't" I say, shifting my tone and moving slightly in my seat "I promise"

"You are not as quick as she is," he says. "Maybe once you were. But not now. Certainly not on clay" I can feel my heart start to beat in my chest at his words, my pulse rising.

"You have to be okay with that information, Delaney " My vision narrows; my mouth tightens.

"You are not the same person you were when you played six years ago, in ways both good and bad. Your body is not the same. Your mind is not the same. You have to acknowledge the areas where you are not as strong" he says "Even back then, clay was harder for you. We have to accept that. So that we can find another way."

"Go on..." I say. I thump the bottom of my racket against my thigh.

"I don't want you trying to match her speed. What would be a better strategy?"

"I don't know. Just tell me."

"What do you have that she doesn't?"

"Crow's feet?" I say.

My uncle frowns. "Andare avanti"

"Time on the court," I say "I have at least a decade of playing professional tennis over her"

My uncle nods "Exactly"

"Just get to the point" I say "I don't need the whole book before I get to the ending" My uncle frowns again

"You have always excelled at shot selection and anticipation. You understand where the ball is going, how it will bounce. And you know how to construct a point-three, four, even five returns down the line. You have years of learning this. So let your body-which has done this a thousand times more than she has guide you. You have instincts she doesn't have yet. Use them"

I nod next to him. "You're saying play smarter"

"I'm saying control the court. When it's your serve, don't try to prove you can hit as fast. Set up the shots to benefit a slower game, not a quicker one. Because you know you're not the quicker player this time. And be economical in your movements, anticipate where the ball is going. Conserve your energy and let her tire herself out.
Thyme is the rare bird that if this goes three sets, you will probably beat her. Just stay still and slow her down. At every juncture. Even at the changeovers, stretch the time limit. Make her frustrated, make her wait. Don't play for speed. It's not how you win this one."