Murray Christmas

Dear Reader - because of the busy holiday season, I didn’t have time to write about the Next Gen Finals. Instead, below is a piece that I’ve written for a local tennis publication based on real events in my life. I hope you enjoy it, thanks!

Leaving the Parking Lot

I watch the rain run across the window as we leave the parking lot, each streak eating droplets of water like Pac-Man. Tears accumulate at the bottom of my chin, waiting for the next round of shouting. I wish I could be anywhere but here.

“You NEVER listen to me!”, my dad’s voice cracks through the car like thunder. I peek at the dashboard. 82 MPH. “How many times have I told you! Place the ball! If you’re not going to listen to me, you should just quit!”

I lean closer to the window, hoping he can’t see me through the rear view. How did this happen again? I promised I’d be better, that I’d listen. I hope he lets me keep playing. I need to play tennis.

We drive the 3 hours back to Seattle in silence. I’m hungry, but I don’t dare speak up.

A week later, it’s afternoon and the sun is out. I grab my racket and a ball, and start hitting against the brick wall above our garage, as I always do. I’m careful not to break a light, window, or vent (again).

Hitting on the wall is calming. It never yells. I will be better, I think to myself. I count how many I can get in a row.

A couple hours later, dad comes outside. I hold the ball, nervous. He knows I’ve been out here for a long time. He gives me a small smile. “You really want to keep playing?”

I nod sheepishly.

“Okay”, his smile widens. He ruffles my hair playfully and then heads inside.

Beaming, I keep hitting until dinner. Everything is okay.

My love for tennis has compounded since those days hitting on the wall at my childhood home.

The red brick was a consistent, peaceful presence that soothed my sorrows. It also built muscle memory, for which I am forever grateful. Because when I play today, that muscle memory takes over. And for a brief moment, my mind goes silent.

I forget the roughly 50 times I got berated in the back seat after a loss. I forget the rain running across the window. Instead of freezing in fear, my body warms each time the ball comes back over the net.

For me, tennis is home, my heaven on earth.

Trivia

Only one player has ever won a grand slam after being down match point in the very first round. Who was this player?

A. Juan Martin del Potro

B. Venus Williams

C. Dominic Thiem

D. Angelique Kerber

Find out at the bottom!

Meet the Player

Sebastián Báez

From: Argentina 🇦🇷

Best Slam Result: 3rd Round

Career High Ranking: 18

Fun Facts: Gave up ice cream at the advice of his coach. Reason numero uno I didn’t go pro.

Game Analysis: At 5’ 7”, this short king is a clay court killer. He’s speedy and grinds his opponents down to a pulp. It’s no surprise that 12 of his 27 tournaments this year were on the dirt. That said, Baez struggles big time on fast courts since he doesn’t have a big serve or groundies. The Argentinian didn’t win more than 3 matches in a row on hard all year.

Career Prediction: I think Baez’s career will mirror that of Diego Schwartzman, who consistently finished in the top 50 for 7 years. He’ll make a great living beating up Americans who dare enter a South American clay court tournament. But you won’t see him in a slam quarterfinal or in the top 10.

News

Headlines From the Tours

🏆 Wow Joao. 18 year old Joao Fonseca won the Next Gen Finals on Sunday, defeating American Learner Tien in the finals. The Brazilian joins an elite group of past winners (Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner), and took home a cool $526k in prize money. I think this kid has the potential to push the top guys. If he stays healthy, we’ll be saying “Wow Joao” a lot in the next few years.

💍 The first fight of many in a long, healthy marriage. Tennis power couple Alex De Minaur and Katie Boulter announced that they’re engaged. Ironically, the two will likely square off against each other when Australia plays against Great Britain in the United Cup next week.

🧠 “It’s... just something I don’t want to have to keep to myself” — Jenson Brooksby on his journey living and playing tennis with Autism. Diagnosed as a “very severe case” as a child, the American is now “on the very mild end of the spectrum.” In an interview with the Associated Press, he shared how his ability to focus on small details is often a strength in pressure moments. But that he’s also prone to outbursts when things aren’t going well. Check out the full interview!

Memes

Murray Christmas! 🎄

“Mum can I go now? Federer just hopped on Fortnite”

Answer

D. Angelique Kerber

The former World No. 1 won the 2016 Australian Open after being down match point in the first round. She upset then No. 1 Serena Williams 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the finals lift her first of three major trophies.