2nd tournamment match of the year vs. Lillian rasmussen

Written By: Laura Gorman Date: 2/26/2006 well I just wrote a big long synopsis of this match and ... it didn't save. Here is the super-simplified version. Strategy: Keep it deep with topspin, moving her around to keep her from creating her angles, come into net when you get the oportunity, and let her make the errors. Mentally: I played after a less than 2 hour break from my first match, so I knew that I had to forget about my physicall and mental tiredness and no matter what stick it out. 1st set: Although I sometimes played well, mostly I was in and out and couldn't get myself mentally motivated to win this match. She won this set 6-2 2nd set: As soon as this set started I got myself much more motivated to play my game and be there mentally and physically. I told myself to fight for every point, eventually she would self destruct. I knew I could win this match. I had plenty of time set up on most of my strokes, stayed relaxed, let my topsin keep my balls in, yet deep. I was very sucsessful at net and only remember losing the few she lobbed deep and out of my reach. Super Tiebrake: I knew that no matter what I had to stay focused and stay relaxed in this tiebrake. I got ahead 8-4. I started to get a bit tense and let her catch up to 9-10 (her match point). However, I found a way to stay mentally there and won an the next 3 point to win the tiebrake 12-10. It was one of those matches where you aren't physically or mentally at your best. But during the second set she started to brake down mentally, and I knew I could win it if I just kept the mental edge. It was close, but all my mental traing and work pulled me through! Related Photos No images available...