Delaney Ricciardo is fierce and her determined to win at any cost has not made her well liked. But by the time she retires from tennis she is a twenty four grand slam winner and regarded as the greatest tennis player the world has ever seen.
But si...
My uncle was absolutely right. I needed to feel the specific crispness of grass under my runners, to feel the way it moves under my feet.
The hitter I'm plaving this morning is named Hannah. She's fast but not terribly powerful. And yet, still, I feel a thrill as I run from sideline to sideline, up and back from the net to the baseline.
It's such a joy to play on grass. I relish the snap, the speed, the low bounces, the unpredictability, the strategy. It is an entirely different game, lawn tennis.
And I fucking love it.
At the end of the session, Hannah says, "I fear I did not give you much of a run for your money"
I have sweat on my forehead and upper lip.
She's drenched through her tank top.
"That's all right" I say "You did your best"
Her face tightens in a smile, and then she makes her way out. I sit down on the bench and drink some water. I begin running through what I want to work on with the ball machine, which shots I'll start with.
My slice, in particular, needs some sharpening. I take stock of my grass game. My footwork feels good. My serves are sharp. I'm putting the ball where I want it. I've come such a long way since Melbourne.
Still, even on grass, I'm probably not as fast as Swift. So if I do come up against her again, I will have to find another way to offset her speed. But that's what I'm here to do.
I look down at my yellow sneakers on the green turf. Maybe this whole season has been leading here. Maybe I just needed to come back to Wimbledon.
I stand up, trying to find one of the facility managers to get a ball machine. But when I scan the area, I spot her.
Nicki Li walking past my court.
I pretend not to see her at first, but it soon becomes clear she's not the type to let me get away with that. Why are people like this?
Let's all just walk by each other all day and not stop to make awkward small-talk.
"Delaney " she says, smiling, extending her hand.
"You practice here?" I ask "I would have thought you'd -"
Nicki shakes her head "This place is a bit quieter. And I needed some focus. I booked a court out here for the next few weeks until we all head over to Wimbledon Park. You did too, then?"
"Yep"
Nicki laughs. "We both had the same good idea. All right, well" she says "Maybe one of these days we can grab a drink."
"Maybe" I feel myself saying, before I realise what it was I was agreeing to "I mean, no, I'm probably not going to do that" Nicki laughs again.
And I find it irritating, that laugh. It feels performative, like some false unflappability "You know what somebody on the tour told me about you back in the day?" she asks.
"I'm sure I've heard it before, in some form"
"No, no, it's not bad. Just... she said that you seem tough, you seem cold. But really, you're biggest weakness is deep down you actually do care"
"Meaning?"
"That the reason your so rude and keep your distance from the girls on the tour, the reason you death stare everyone is -"
"Because I don't like them?"
"Because you care. It's easier to kick someone's ass when you know they dislike you, rather than kicking a girls ass you actually like and could be friends with"
"I just think it keeps it a lot simpler... to not care too much for anybody"
Nicki nods "I understand"
"You don't feel that way?" I ask.
Nicki shakes her head. "I'd destroy my best friend in cold blood on national television if it meant I'd win"
"Well" I say, nodding "then maybe we've more in common than I thought"
"Maybe we do"
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