Meeting The Master On Court: My Practice With Federer
By A.J. Bartlett
I just want to start by saying I’m sorry for the late post, but there is good reason for the delay. I’ve been in post Roger Federer shock the past five days.
I finally pulled my jaw up off the ground and woke up from the daze of utter stuper he put me in as I had the best seat in the house to watch the master at work.
Friday morning I get a call the call everyone could only dream of getting.
“Roger wants to hit…in a hour,” the voice on the other end of the phone said.
Meanwhile I’m shouting “No, no no!? How could this happen to me since I’m stuck in San Diego when the call came. The chance of a lifetime is so close yet so far!
I could drive as fast as my car would let me and I still couldn’t be there in time to be awed and aahhh’d.
The rest of the day goes by with me stopping every five minutes to think: “I could have hit with Roger Federer. Really!! Really!!!…..REALLY!!!!!!”.
That was it my one shot…gone.
Fast forward to Monday a phone call comes again. It can’t be. No way, it couldn’t be… It could!
“It’s a go,” the voice on the phone said. “You’re on court with Federer for two hours in the Big House!”
Perfect! This is great! Wait, what do you need if you’re gonna hit with Roger? Some fresh strings might help so I go over and crank one out on the stringer. Fresh stick? Check.
Now what? Some photos would be nice to prove I’m not dreaming this up! As I’m walking to the courts I run into a media guy I’ve met over the years at the tournament who is a photographer and as I’m talking to him a video guy I know comes up. Perfect. Photos and videos, check check. I’m set! It’s game time!
As I walk down the long stadium steps I’m thinking how cool is this? Fed and me for two hours. I could get used to this. The first few balls are struck and it feels like I’m hitting with a two by four because the ball is barely passing the service line because I’m so nervous.
I loosen up and all goes well. I was just amazed of the array of shots the master beholds. I just had to remind myself of one thing: enjoy the moment it doesn’t get much better than this!
Topics: Aahhh, Balls, Big House, Chance Of A Lifetime, Fast Car, Five Minutes, Friday Morning, Game Time, Good Reason, J Bartlett, Master At Work, Meeting The Master, Phone Call, Photographer, Rest Of The Day, Roger Federer, San Diego, Shock, Stringer, Video Guy
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