Date: 23 Jan to 26 Jan 2022
Venue: Albany Tennis Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Website: Northern Summer Junior Championships 2022 – Graded Boys Div 2
About my opponents
What kind of characteristics did Damian Tairi-Barros feel as a player? What kind of tennis should I play to win?
I have played him many times in real matches and in practice matches. He like smashing the ball, so he gets 4 return aces out of 10 times he hits the ball hard If you make him on defense mode he will be very good and he will perfectly return the ball because he is very consistent. One of his magic is that he has a slice that he just cut the ball and the ball goes up and when it bounces on the court it goes back to his side. And his other magic is that he has a perfect drop shot.
What kind of characteristics did Michael Ming Yao Yang feel as a player in the second game? What kind of tennis should I play to win?
He is a 15 years old boy and He has a forehand that is very consistent that doesn’t have much power, but it is very cornering and comes in different ways that you won’t understand, 1 of his most powerful weapon is his is serve and it is a kick serve but unlike a normal kick serve, let’s just say that it bounces higher, and it is one of the best kick serve I ever hit in my life, and it is slow but it made me go back like 5 feet from the baseline when I was returning.
About my Tennis
How did I feel about my body during the match?
For both matches, my right foot was hurting so much and it felt like hell. In the 2nd match, it was better than the first match but it still hurts a little bit. In the 1st match, it hurt so much that I couldn’t get Damian’s corner forehand that I could of easily.
What was my skill during the match?
Serve
I did a lot of double faults, but I didn’t do as much as ridley’s match and I was doing alright. I aimed for their backhand when I was about to serve for both matches because both of their forehands are very powerful. But for both matches, I do double faults, when I get nervous. And I am trying to relax but it doesn’t always happen easily.
Forehand
I went crosscourt when there was an open court, so what I did was hit to their backhand 2 times and hit once to their forehand. And it worked really well. I didn’t use slice or tap return when I was returning because I was confident on my forehand, and I knew hitting it topspin can put them on defense mode when I am returning.
Backhand
Today in the match I did only 1 backhand slice in the whole day. I think it is a good thing and I bad thing. My backhand got really good and I am really proud of myself, but on the other side I forgot my slice and I don’t have a powerful slice like a year ago. And when I start to play big people I need to use the change of pace, and I can’t do it without backhand slice, so I am going to practice once again.
Volley
I am really proud of my volley because I had a powerful volley. Especially my forehand volley because my weight was on the front and I was able to hit the ball at the front.
Smash
I had 1 smash, and I hit my side of the court and I miss, I think I need to hit the sky more or jump higher and try and hit the ball in front.
How did I feel about my mental health during the match?
In Damian’s match I had a little bit of up and down, and just like always I got the 1st set but in the second set he overcame and it became 1-5, and I felt like losing, but I didn’t give up and it became 5-5 and I won 7-5 that I am very proud of myself. IN the 2nd match I was losing the whole time so I didn’t have much up and down.
What was my confidence about during the match?
I was confident when a moon ball came up to my forehand side because that means that I can put them on defense mode. And when a forehand came to me and when there is a big open space on the cross-court I was confident that I can get a winner.
I ran for every ball and I didn’t care even if I won’t make it, I gave it a try. I aimed where am I going to hit and it worked very well.
What was I worried about during the match?
When it came to my service game I was kind of nervous, but I knew that I could have just made a weak kick serve and gotten the ball into the court. In the 2nd match when I hit his forehand a little short I got nervous that he might get a winner.
Looking back on the match, if I could coach (advice) myself in the match, what would I like to convey?
1st match in the second set when I am losing I want to tell myself to chill a little bit, because I already have a set and I want to tell myself that move my foot and do my takeback compact, and fast and go on defense mode.
What do I want to improve and practice before the next game?
I want to practice getting my powerful slice backhand and I also want to practice my serve in a nervous situation, and I want to be able to hit the opponent’s backhand a powerful shot with a forehand. I want to get my smash in because when I get nervous I start to swing down too much.
