Go Boys, Go!

Shane and Owen participated in a tennis camp this summer. At the end of the session, there was a tournament where the kids play both singles and doubles. Let's just say that both boys had a good tourny.

Owen was playing in the beginner division which uses "short court" only...ie they play in only the service boxes only. These kids can't serve from the baseline so it makes it easier for them to play.



Talking with your partner in doubles in so important...as Owen knows!



He's such a gamer. Even at 7, he understands strategy. He was serving over-handed but switched modes and started serving under-handed when it wouldn't stay in over-handed. With no bounce, of course, because that's the rules. ;)

Even more important, he's such a good sport. He always remembers to shake his opponent's hand. He was the only kid who shook the umpires' hand (well, except for Shane and his doubles partner Joseph...who were reminded.) Because that's the way it's suppose to be done. :up:



He won first place in both singles and doubles.





Owen and his doubles partner.



Shane was in the advanced group of players. The kids that he was playing against could play and there were some really good points played.

It was hot. Really hot. Like summer in Virginia, 90-degrees with 200% humidity hot. They shorted the format and only made them play until the first player got to six games.

In singles, his first match went about 45 minutes and they played no less than 10 deuces in the last game. So happy for him that he was able to win that one because he really worked for it. He had approximately five minutes in between that match and the second match.

Which he also won but it took him about 30 minutes to win that set as well. And I was really happy for him because he won this one in particular because the kid came up to me while he was playing the first match and said he hoped he could take on Shane because he thought he could beat him. I am amazed at the bad sportsmanship I see in tennis but smack talking to a kids' parent? Unbelievable!





He had about five minutes between the second and third matches and was completely exhausted. I would have been too! He lost in the third match to his friend. He was really disappointed but was still a good sport.



In the doubles tournament, Shane and his friend Joseph partnered up. There was an uneven number of kids so one of the instructors had to partner up with the odd numbered kid. Shane and Joseph had to face them in the final round. This particular instructor intimidated Shane and I was sure that he was going to freeze up and they were going to get bageled. (Lose 6-0.)



They were kind of playing flat for a while and with no energy when they were down but once they got up their energy, they were tapping rackets and high fiving each other when they made good points.



But it turned out that it was actually an exciting match to watch because it kept going back and forth. Shane and Joseph went down 3-1 and brought it back to 3-3. Then they went down 3-4 and brought it back to 4-4. Then they went down 5-4 and it was Shane's serve.



I was so nervous watching him because I knew that he was intimidated by the instructor and it was his serve. They went down 0-40.

And then fought back to win the game and the match which meant (for those who don't play tennis) that they won the next five points. On Shane's serve. And he was able to keep his composure and his focus and his serves were spot on. His partner was playing the net very aggressively, which is how you win doubles.

So, yay for Shane and Joseph.





Shane ended up winning second in singles and first in doubles. Owen won first in both. They had a great tournament and a great time playing. :)