The thrill of victory is so great because we have the agony of defeat with which to compare it.  Without one, you cannot really have the other.  Today I tasted defeat at the Sydney Gay Games, losing my 3rd-round men's singles C-division tennis match 0-6, 2-6 to skilled New Zealander Greg Hopa.

 

In tennis, every so often you find yourself across the net from a player who has the necessary attributes to neutralize virtually every aspect of your own game, to thwart virtually every tool in your tennis toolbox.  In Greg Hopa, I faced such an opponent today.  Several inches taller than me and quite proficient at responding even to my highest and best-placed lobs with sucessful overhead smashes, he neutralized my most powerful weapon from the get-go.  Resorting to plan B -- passing shots and drop-shots -- failed to win me many points as his speed and deftness with the racquet proved too much. 

 

A glimmer of hope peeked through when, down 6-0, 5-0 in the second set -- and staring a double bagel in the face -- I summoned some of my trickiest and most dogged play to secure two games in a row.  But it wasn't enough and he served out the match to advance to the round of 16.

 

The silver lining in all this?  Well, there are a few.  Bitter defeat causes you to appreciate anew the wonderful things in your life and to turn to them for comfort and revival.  My first action after shaking my opponent's hand and ruminating a few minutes over my defeat was to phone my wonderful boyfriend Fernando back in the United States.  A long conversation with him was all I needed -- more than I needed -- to return to the happiness I had known before the match started. Thank you Fernando. 

 

Another silver lining -- I'm not out of the Games yet!  Tomorrow is my first mixed doubles match with Jacqui (who won her 3rd -round singles match in spectacular fashion today), and Thursday I compete in the 'Poetic Justice' poetry slam competition with poets from around the world.  Stay tuned for the results!

 

Some know that my favorite professional tennis player is Britian's Tim  Henman.  Since first seeing him play on TV two Wimbeldons ago, I've grown to admire his style of play and his passion for the sport.  Ealier this year, I even began playing with the same type of racquet he uses (Slazenger), which elevated my game to a level that saw me beat my first high-C and B players and rise dramatically up my league's challenge ladder. 

 

There have often been interesting parallels between my performance on the court and that of my tennis idol's.  Generally, when he does well, I do well; when he does poorly, I do poorly -- and vice versa -- often match-for match.

 

Take a look below at his performance in the recent Paris Master Series tournament from just last week:

All in all, pretty similar, eh?  Right down to the first-round byes!

 

If I have time later tonight I will upload some pictures from today in this section.

 

Now I am heading over to another part of Sydney to watch the finals of the Gay Games figure skating competition -- one of my favorite events in any Olympics.  Until tomorrow, thanks for all your support!