Ready for Play

Snapped this behind the Caswell Tennis Center. The courts are in good shape these days.

Merry Christmas

I usually play tennis on Thursday mornings. Not today because it's Christmas. I would do it myself, but the club is closed and my mates are probably all having Christmas celebrations. That's me, last Thursday, with the tree in the tennis center at the club. And, yes, they did hang tennis balls among the baubles.

Retro Tennis

Last Saturday Westwood Country Club had a wooden racket tournament and our head pro went all out with retro short shorts and head band. I didn't participate. An old lady (me) playing on a clay court with other 'women of a certain age' is retro enough.

One More Tennis Picture

USA hopes were dashed in a four setter match between Mardy Fish and David Ferrer yesterday that took over four hours. The final (dead) match didn't take place. I'm going to leave you with a picture from Saturday of Bob Bryan striking a volley while Mike positions himself. Or is it the other way around? Nope...that's Bob hitting. He's the left-handed one!

I think it's safe to say that our team was disappointed and a packed Erwin Center crowd, too. But I don't think I was the only one who fell even harder for this Nadal-less Spanish team. I'd enjoyed Ferrer and Verdasco before and Lopez' great recent Wimby performance. But the hours I spent this weekend watching how much heart they had made me a bigger fan. Ditto Mardy Fish. Makes me want to see even more live tennis at this level. Maybe I'll have to visit New York or London or Paris or Melbourne. (I've linked to some of the City Daily Photo blogs for cities hosting Grand Slams!)

Bryan Brothers Give U.S.A. Hope

After dropping two singles matches, the U.S. was given a slim hope in the Davis Cup Quarterfinals going into Sunday by a four set victory by Bob and Mike Bryan. Nice match. In this photo the overhead video shows them thanking the crowd for supporting them and pumping them up. I have loved seeing professional tennis live again. It has been a long time.

International Tennis

The Davis Cup Quarterfinal Round between the U.S. and Spain is happening this weekend in Austin. Yesterday was the opening ceremony and two singles matches. We were at Erwin Center for eight hours because the match between Mardy Fish and José Lopez went to five sets. One of the best tennis matches I've ever seen. Unfortunately, Mardy fell 6-8 in the third. David Ferrer rose to the occasion, too, defeating powerful server Andy Roddick in straight sets on the fast indoor surface. Now the Brian brothers must win a doubles match today to send Spain to Sunday looking for the third victory needed. I really enjoyed the tennis although our seats were on the top row of the mezzanine of Erwin center. Took this with my little camera on maximum zoom!

Tennis, Anyone?

I play tennis a few times a week. You really don't want to see pictures of that, however! But Sunday, FFP and I caught the finals of the Big 12 Tennis Championships. The UT men won although the team in action here did not. I used the sports capture button on the Nikon P90 to get a selection of shots to choose from. I like this one because the low volley has just come off the racket of the player and the ball and its shadow are still visible. One of my 'ladies of a certain age' who plays tennis with me says that she learns a lot by watching pros on TV. Indeed she came back from illness and injury this week and did play some great shots.

In or Out?

Tennis players and fans know that a ball is in if it touches any part of the line. This (pink, breast cancer awareness) ball represents an edge where a serve might go and still be considered in. One day we were playing with some pink tennis balls (unusual for my group but someone had them) and we went looking for an errant ball. Later the groundskeeper found this one and tossed it to us, assuming it was ours. It wasn't. I saved it to take a photo on one of the club's newly refurbished courts.

By the way, if you struck a serve that landed in that spot, you would have a good chance of your opponent calling it out. The hopeful eye sees what it wants. The pros have linesmen and, in some cases, electronic review challenges. Us amateurs call the balls on our side.

Lines are everywhere today on City Daily Photo. That's because it's the first of the month and it's theme day and lines is the theme. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Tennis, anyone?

Here is the new tennis pro shop/locker room/clubhouse at our club -- Linda really enjoys playing tennis here and we have a dandy casual cafe in this facility as well. That means I can come over, get a good salad or sandwich, sit there and read a book and watch the players. Life is good. (I also work out every day at the main facility across the parking lot.)