Consolation

While the gravel of Tennis Club Domstad looked more and more like Sahara sand, our match kept on being delayed and delayed. We should have started at half past one, but one of our opponents was still engaged in an endless mixed game. So we had time to look at other matches.
The level of play has enormously improved now that the ones that played in Nieuwegein have come here as well. So this is what good tennis looks like. Now it's up to us to imitate it.

At three o'clock we were allowed on court. Our opponents were of the level "lose from them, and you may lose from everybody", which is exactly what we almost did at first. It took an all-out mental exercise to stay cool during the tiebreak and win. It is possible to win after all!

Following the one and a half hour in this oven of ground brick, we were allowed to catch our breath for a quarter of an hour before we had to hit the court for the final. It's true, the final of the consolation round but still the final. We encountered two very pleasant ladies from Utrecht, -the beginners' tournament is not very international-, that had already played four matches of which they had won three. Formidable opponents thus, supported by a fan club that however also cheered when we hit a ball right. One of the two had the same shortcoming as me: not having played tennis in years and just trying to remember what it was like, to serve. Lots of double faults simply fell into our lap. One way or the other we made less mistakes then the other side.

This time we did not gave it away anymore. We won. So that's the consolation from the consolation rounds. A medal was hung around our necks, and sisternization followed with beer and apple juice.

We now have two medals. Quite a lot after three tennis matches! "My fairytale came true", it says on the back. A nice fairytale: two former soccer players sign up for tennis tournament and win the finals! (...of the consolation rounds).