Springtime = Strawberries!

Hey everyone! Unfortunately we lost our doubles match 10-8 in a 3rd set tiebreaker…it was a VERY tight battle, and it came down to one point in the end. We got a bit unlucky, but I was very pleased with how we competed and fought back after losing the first set. We will get them next time, no doubt about it! 🙂

I went home after Charlottesville since I had a few days to spare before I needed to leave for my next $50,000 event in Raleigh, NC. While I was home, I spent a whole day just hanging out with my parents which was fun and relaxing. We went to my favorite vegan restaurant called Sprig & Vine in New Hope, PA for brunch. They have the most delicious food, I could seriously eat every meal there, it’s that good!! Afterward, we went to the annual Strawberry Festival in Peddler’s Village, PA which was pretty cool too. They had live music, fresh local strawberries (with optional whipped topping, of course! LOL!) strawberry pastries and shortcake from local bakeries, and even strawberry pie eating contests which were hilarious to say the least! The kids competition was so funny…these kids were so intense! (future Joey Chestnut, perhaps?) It was a fun time for sure!

I’m in Raleigh, NC right now…arrived last night. I’ve been coming to this event for a few years and it’s definitely one of my favorite stops on tour. The event is held at the North Hills Club which is beautiful and the courts are very well maintained. It’s really important for clay courts to be watered and groomed regularly so the surface stays packed and smooth and the bounces remain true. I had a practice day today and I’m feeling really good, so I’m excited to get started with the tournament!

North Hills Club

Share this:

Hi everyone, ugh this is no fun…unfortunately I lost my singles match yesterday 6-4, 3-6, 2-6. It was a really tough match with intense points and some crazy weather conditions to contend with (more on that later.) My opponent, without question, played at the top of her game, and everyone knows she can be a very dangerous player when she’s “on”. I fought my hardest, but in the end, it wasn’t enough…I’ll keep my head up though and I’ll get her next time!!

During my match we were alerted to the fact that there was a Tornado Warning for our area, and if anything were to materialize or if we hear a tornado siren, we were to go directly to the basement for shelter. Not the most reassuring thing to hear during a tennis match to say the least. After about another 45 minutes of on and off rain (since we are playing on clay, we play through light rain), and gusty wind, we were then told that the Tornado Warning had expired but that heavy rain was imminent in about 15 minutes. It’s pretty unusual for chair umpires to tell players things like this, they usually don’t want to say anything that might upset, disrupt, or distract the players, and it’s definitely something I had never experienced before, so I think the umpire himself was personally having a mini panic-attack about it lol. 

I have my doubles Quarter-final match later today. The matches have been delayed all morning because the courts were so water-logged from all the rain, but the sun is out and it looks like they’re about to start up now 🙂 We play a team who I have played twice before (with a different partner), having won the most recent of our meetings. They’re the 2nd seeds and a very accomplished team, but my partner and I are definitely looking to pick up where we left off from our last match and keep it rolling!

Until next time! Alex

Day #3…Go Flyers!!

Hi guys!! Sorry for not posting yesterday…I had a really busy day and when I finally got back to the hotel, I realized the internet was down. 😦 Anyway, let me fill you in. I won my singles match 6-0 6-1. I played really solidly throughout the match and never took my foot off the gas. There were a lot of deuce/ad games that I gritted out which really helped my confidence grow as the match progressed.

Afterward, I was able to get a shower and my favorite pita sandwich at Rebecca’s Natural Foods. I’m like a kid in a candy store when it comes to health food stores. Lol! Later in the day, I had my doubles match which we won 6-1 7-5 against a really tough team who I had lost to in doubles earlier this year…so it felt good to get some revenge :). My partner and I played awesome together and were really positive and fired up the whole match so that definitely helped us gain the edge on the big points. I was really happy with my game in both matches and I’m hoping to carry it though and keeping getting better with every match!

After getting back to the hotel, and after a brief moment of devastation that I was not able to watch Game 7 of the Philadelphia Flyers playoff series, I was able to find it on internet radio. It was weird and very retro feeling to be listening to a game that way, but very cool…and sooo sweet that they were able to clinch it! Yeee!! A bit later just before going to bed, I had to watch the premiere of “The Voice”, the new singing competition on NBC…loved it! I will definitely become a regular watcher lol.

Today I only have singles against a player who I have beaten before almost exactly one year ago. She’s a very talented player with a good first serve so I have to be intense right from the start. I feel great about my game and I’m really excited to get out there and play again…hopefully I’ll keep the winning going!

Catch ya later! Alex

Day #2

Hi everyone! Today was really good day…I won my match 6-2, 6-1.  I felt great on the court and my game was really flowing today. My coach, Scott Lambdin gave me a really good game plan and I was able to execute it well. So, I’m definitely feeling good going into my 3rd round match tomorrow! My singles opponent is a girl I know well and have played doubles with a few times recently. We have faced each other in singles once before, in a match I won, even though it was a few years ago. I play singles at 10:00 am tomorrow and then I have doubles 4th on the same court, so I’ll have time to get a shower and a bite to eat before gearing up for my doubles!

After my match today, I took a trip to Whole Foods (always my favorite!)…to stock up on ProBars. They are the most delicious bars and sooo healthy that it’s scary. The Koka Moka and Art’s Original flavors are insanely good, I’m afraid I’ve developed a new addiction (sigh).. I guess there could be worse things to obsess about than whole food meal bars, LOL! If you haven’t tried one before…it’s a must!

Ok, well I’ll say ta-ta for now, I have a busy day tomorrow so I have to get some good sleep…Good Night and talk to you guys tomorrow! 🙂

Happy Easter!! Match Day #1

Hi all and Happy Easter! Well, I played my first round match today which I won 7-5, 6-0…I was down a set point at 4-5 in the first set, so I was glad I was able to hang tough and raise my level…and I didn’t lose another game for the remainder of the match! 🙂 It was really hot and sunny today, about 88 degrees…had to deal with some gusty wind too, kind of felt like beach conditions out there today. All in all, it was great to get the 1st round win under my belt!

Yesterday was pretty interesting…there was a fire in the clubhouse building and apparently some of the club members barely got out in time! Thankfully everyone is okay, but the club was shut down all day after that. I heard there was significant damage to the locker rooms, which was where the fire had started. A cleaning crew was called in yesterday after the fire was extinguished and they did an excellent job, we were able to use the clubhouse locker rooms, fitness center, and cafe today, although the smell of smoke was still very noticeable. Such a shame that happened, but the main thing is that no one was hurt.

I play my 2nd round match tomorrow at 10:00 am against a player from Russia whom I have beaten in our only previous meeting. Hopefully things go similarly tomorrow! I hope everyone had a very Happy Easter, and found some delicious chocolate bunnies and marshmallow Peeps in their Easter baskets, be sure to have one for me! 🙂

Bye for now, Alex

Greetings from Charlottesville, VA!

Hi everyone! I arrived in Charlottesville, VA last night and I’m so excited to be here! This is one of my favorite events of the year. I’m here for a $50,000 clay-court event being held at The Boar’s Head Sports Club, which is absolutely gorgeous! The atmosphere at the club is so warm and welcoming and everyone is so friendly…it’s easy to tell that the club members, tournament volunteers, and spectators really enjoy when the players come to town every year, which makes it a real pleasure to play here. The tournament is sponsored by Boyd Tinsley (of The Dave Matthews Band), it’s so cool to see him out at the courts taking in some tennis action!

I had my first practice today on the courts…I was lucky to get to hit because it started raining almost immediately after I finished and hasn’t stopped all day! The temperature is quite a change as well, it’s almost 40 degrees cooler here than where I was last week in Dothan, AL. Not that I mind!! I like it on the cooler side 🙂 I’ll have a couple of practices and fitness tomorrow to prepare for my first round on Sunday.

While I’m here in Charlottesville, I’m hoping to visit The Monticello…it’s so beautiful!

Until next time, Alex

The Monticello