Play to Win, Win by Playing

It must've been the Isner cap: Nelson Simon and I, victorious. The dark cloud behind us is Henry Strozier.Haters, should I start calling you Lovers now?  I've been having so much fun on the courts, it's thrown me -- and my husband -- for a loop.

Earlier this week, I teamed up with Worthy Opponent Nelson Simon against my Mark and Worthy Opponent Henry Strozier of the cranberry commercials.  It was a beautiful morning. We've been having a run of them in New York City: bright blue skies, just this side of cool temperatures, a smell of damp wood and dry leaves in the air.  

I'm so glad to be here! I thought.  Well, what do you know about that.

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Worthy Opponent: Rain

From left, Henry, Mark and Nelson prepare for an unbeatable opponent: summer thunderstorms.Haters, this time of year has me dodging raindrops as often as I dodge hard volleys at my head. Our foursome of Nelson Simon and Henry Strozier vs. Mark and me was happy to get in 2 sets before the skies opened up.

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Worthy Opponent: Nelson Simon

Worthy Opponent Nelson Simon. It's a hard life when you're a tennis addict.My Worthy Opponent Nelson Simon is Old School Cool.  He serves and volleys.  His serve is deceptive; he's careful and accurate, rolling it in so that I think, "Ah, I'm gonna clobber this sucker" -- only to have it kick ear-high to my forehand, drawing an easy error on my return.

Nothing is more humbling than to think I've got an easy winner on my racquet, only to realize it's not easy, and I just lost the point.

I've just been Simonized. 

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