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The start of my tennis journey

15K views 133 replies 7 participants last post by  Ricardinho 
#1 ·
Let me introduce myself to you all. I'm 28 years old, I live in the Netherlands and all my life I have been busy practising sports. Since I was a little child I played soccer and I managed to reach the Dutch third division at the age of seventeen. At the age of 18/19, I stopped playing soccer (too much politics, lost the fun in it) and I started boxing and kickboxing. This also went quite okay and I fought tournaments in different countries, mostly in Europe. I also like running and finished a few half marathons. Despite working fulltime and getting my business degree, I always managed to work out at least 3 or 4 times a week. But then, the injury started...

I started feeling little shocks in my left knee and it got worse and worse. I was training for a kickboxing match in the UK and a 15 km run and since I am stubborn, instead of taking some rest, I continued to workout until it got to a point on which it got impossible. I have an injury called jumpers knee. I started to go to doctors, hospitals, physiotherapist and specialists. After a year and a half of visits, there was no solution for my injury. I started doing fitness to stay in shape and quickly I got huge biceps and a sixpack. But I was missing the competition element.

As a child I watched a lot of tennis. I was a fan of Pete Sampras and later came Federer. Richard Kraijeck and Robin Haase are from my town so I have seen them play a lot. I never had thought of playing tennis until my physiotherapist (physiotherapist number 3!) told me to try it. The impact should be less on my knee and I could slide over the court. So at the end of 2014 I went with a friend to a tennis court and started playing.

This went quite well and my friend, after a few matches, didn't want to play anymore against me, he was tired of losing. I've asked another friend who had played tennis and competion for 3 years a few years ago and so I found a new tennis mate. This also went quite okay for me and I currently have a positive balance with him of 13 wins and 1 loss. Although he has much more experience and technique than I do, I compensate this by fighting for each point and never giving up (something I inherited probably from my Portuguese roots).

To learn the basics, I followed eight classes in the spring of 2015. My coach was the brother of Ysaline Bonaventure (a Belgian Fedcup player). The classes have ended but I'm still learning each week new things just by playing against more experienced opponents. Last Sunday I played a training match against a much more experienced opponent and won by 6-2 6-3. I also watch a lot of youtube movies that I try to copy on the court. Tennis is an incredible technical game so there is always a lot to improve, that's also the beauty of it.

My strongest point is my will to fight. I never give up and run all across the court to get the point. Power is another strong point and my forehand is also quite strong. My (doublehanded) backhand needs a lot of improvement, so does my service and my volleys. I'm most confortable when I play at the baseline but I am trying to play more at the net. I play with a Babolat Pure Drive racket.

After having done approximately 25 matches (losing 2) on the training ground, I feel it is time to test myself in an official tournament. The tournament is an open tournament in my hometown and starts the coming weekend. I've enlisted myself for singles and doubles (with my training mate). I've never played a doubles match so my focus is on the singles matches. I'm not setting any goals for myself but I always play to win. If this goed well, I'll play two more tournaments this summer. For now it is time to train, I'm off to the tennis club and I'm looking forward to the weekend. I'll keep you updated :)
 
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#99 ·
No, the level 8 tournament is the most important and is where my focus is.

I had my first match yesterday and won by 6-1 6-0. It was an easy match in which I tried some new techniques and tried to play more offensive. His service was really weak which I attacked on so every service game from my opponent was an advantage for me.

The organization of this tournament is really terrible. They informed me of the days and times of my next matches but posted different days and times on their website now. It's going to rain a lot this week so I'm curious to see how this tournament will be in the coming days. I will play Friday my first level 9 match and on Saturday my level 8 quarter final match. I saw both my opponents play and my level 8 opponent is decent but I should win, level 9 will be no problem. For now I have a tennis training tomorrow and probably a busy tennis weekend ahead of me. If I would reach into the final for both levels then I would play a total of 5 matches in 2 days. But there's still a long way to go ;)
 
#101 ·
Yeah the top seed also beat my friend today by 6-1 6-1, an older man who knows how to place the ball in each corner of the court. I managed to switch my match so I'll play the level 8 quarter final tomrrow night.

The level 9 is really a beginner level so I don't expect too much difficulties there. It is indeed possible to kick ass at 9 and get your ass kicked at 8 :(
 
#103 ·
A walk-over indeed, my opponent had an injury so he gave a walk-over. The stupid thing was that he called but the tournament management forgot to inform me so I got there for nothing :( today it was raining so I wont play my level 9 match today. The match is now set for tomorrow at 16:30. My level 8 possible opponents play at the same time. One of them is a friend of mine which I beat in practise last week by 6-2 6-2 7-5. For now we wait, it will be a looooong weekend!
 
#104 ·
Just thought all the proper players on MTF should get together one summer and play a tournament, that'd be a laugh!
 
#106 ·
now you have the final at 13:30 tomorrow, 6 september.

sorry about tournament management. even a game player like can share the feeling that you had. recently i have learned that even-mindedness is also a power which will bring win to us, like healthiness, stamina, play skills and so on.

hope to see you lift trophy on 6 September.
 
#109 ·
I won the level 9 quarter final today by 6-0 6-2, his good serve gave him two games.

The level 8 match was against a friend of mine and I fought for it like I never did before. I was playing very bad and was losing by 3-6 3-5 but managed to get back and win the second set by 7-5 and the third by 6-3. For now I need to rest. Tomorrow I will play first the level 9 semies, then the level 8 final and after that probably the level 9 final. It will be a long day, my focus will be on the level 8 final. Thanks for the support guys!
 
#111 ·
Nice to beat the 2nd seed, now you might unfortunately have to play Hofman again
I've never played Hofman before (he had beaten my friend before though), he is playing an opponent from my previous tournament in the semies this morning. So I don't know yet who I will play in the final.
 
#113 ·
Thanks Ali! Yes yesterday first I had the semies at level 9 which I won easily by 6-0 6-3. After that was the final at level 8 against the number one seed. He is an older guy who played 20 tournaments this year and won 10 of them and when he was younger, he played at level 4. He let me run a lot, placed the balls perfectly and I was having problems with that. It had been raining so the clay court was wet so I missed also some important balls because I slipped. In the last set I came back from 5-1 to 5-3 and almost won the last game but he was just too smart and too good. It was a good experience but yes, I lost the final again :( Next year I will beat him! After that was the level 9 final which started good, I won the first set by 6-0 and let him run from the left to the right and back. The second set I was exhausted and I had not much power in my serve. He was up all the time by one game but at 4-5 I broke his serve, I kept mine and finished it at 7-5. So that is one title at least but an expected one.

The season here is over now and for my first year it is not bad. 4 tournaments of which 2 finals and one title at level 9. I will have one or two double tournaments this year but that's more for fun and get some experience. Now I have to train and improve some points so that I can make the step to level 7 next year. I'll keep you updated :wavey:
 
#114 ·
@Ricardinho

did not realized that it was rainy. rain on clay.

i was so preoccupied by your tight schedule that you might play 3 matches maximum in a day. your reply tells me that you accumulated good experience, which makes happy for you. i am happy also because you came out of tight day healthy.

if i may ask you, when i somehow miss your update, pm me to be updated plz.

well thanks my friend. following your journey this summer was fun, one of my featured 2015 summer events.

 
#116 · (Edited)
Thanks Ali, I will :) :)

Hit me up for a partnership when you get to 3 in doubles, at your current rate of improvement that should only take five years :p
That might be a tight schedule :p
 
#115 ·
Hit me up for a partnership when you get to 3 in doubles, at your current rate of improvement that should only take five years :p
 
#117 ·
My next tournament will be a doubles tournament and starts next Tuesday. My partner has lost to one of them in the past and is looking for revanche. It will be a good match!
toernooi.nl
 
#119 ·
I don't know if there will be single tournaments this year or at the beginning of next year. For now I want to play two double tournaments and start playing competition in April. Until then I will take some lessons and continue to improve some points, especially the service, backhand and volley.
 
#128 ·
Hey guys, little update, tomorrow starts the last tournament of the year, again in doubles. I have been working crazy hours at work, 12-16 hours a day so I haven't played much. I hope I can be there on time tomorrow, I'm excited to play again!
 
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