Have you ever been there...?

TT's headline refers to 'biting off more than one can chew.' TT accepted "Prez'" challenge match yesterday as a test of his heart and stamina. Afterall, Prez and TT have had our series of clay matches over the past six summers and neither of us has ever cancelled. TT loves Prez' willingness to chase down every ball and to contest every point, conceding nothing in matches wherein he can seldom dictate play. TT knew that today would be different. And,indeed, it was.

TT galloped to an early 4-2 lead in the first set when 'the wind went out of his sails'... make that the pace off his forehand, the accuracy off his backhand, as his legs failed to heed what his brain was directing them to do. TT dropped 4 of the next 5 games (two at love) and was facing disaster serving at 5-6. He had asked Prez at the changeover... will we play a tiebreaker or play it out?...before starting that 12th game. TT knew his energy reserves were ebbing fast and that to 'play it out' would severely jeopardize his chance of the necessary three-set-sweep to have Prez pick up the luncheon tab. Ah, food (and not paying for it) is such a motivator for your colleague. TT held serve, staving off 4 set points to force the deciding 13th game. In the 'back and forth' tiebreaker TT closed it out at 7-5 on a errant forehand by Prez.

In set two TT again got up 3 games to 1 and failed to close the deal. Prez proceeded to win the next three and TT was faced with breaking back in game 8 to level the score at 4. "Can I finish this"? was his only thought as he served again... "Will I be buying Prez' meal today?...did I bring enough money?... if he wins this set, he'll surely be inspired to win set 3... and I'll have to pick up the damn check. I should never play 3 days in a row, I must be nuts!" Not to be... broken in game 9, TT breaks back, and then holds to take a 6-5 lead... and wins the final game staving off game-point 4 times to win on the 6th deuce. Phew.

Bet you know what happened in the third set... we've all been there,right?... "Prez, will you have butter or cream cheese with your bagel?" The last 6 games took 20 minutes; the first 2 sets, 2 hours 10 minutes. Who says tennis is not as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one? Not TennisTitan.

Epilog: If you see Prez wandering the streets of Briarcliff Manor tonight or muttering under his breath in the Hamptons this weekend, approach him warily. I believe he is on suicide watch as of this writing.