It’s a bright summer day with almost no clouds in the sky. It feels like a million degrees, but I have to play my final match of the tournament. I am filled with nervousness like bees buzzing inside of me. I am sitting in an old white chair, watching other people hit the ball back and forth, between the lines, on the bright blue and green courts. I can hear the screeching of their shoes sliding on the court. I am so nervous, I feel my heart start to beat faster. I take a few deep breaths and try to keep my mind on tennis.

 I hear my name called and I am filled with worry as I walk up to collect the balls. 

“Ok guys this is the last match of the day so I’m sure you know the rules. Five-minute warmup and then play one set.” The man at the table says. 

“Ok,” my opponent and I say in unison. 

We walk onto the court and place our stuff down. I grab my racket out of my bag and my hand is greeted with the familiar feeling of my sticky, bright pink grip. I am so nervous, I hope she’s not good. We start warming up, hitting the fresh green ball back and forth. I try to keep a consistent stroke and hit the same speed just to get warmed up. She’s alright, she can keep a good rally. I need to hit it harder, I think to myself. I don’t know if I can beat her. I am trying to shake off my nerves but I can’t help myself from feeling scared. Now we are practicing serves and I try to get a few good ones in before we start the match. I watch the ball fly up into the sky and I am blinded by the bright, scorching sun. Shoot, how am I going to serve when it's so bright? I take a couple more serves and get used to the sun shining in my eyes. I am ready

“Are you ready to start?” I shout to the other side, my heart pounding like a cheetah running for its life. 

“Yes,” she answers, sounding confident.

We walk up to the net and I am still panicked. Try to stay calm, my mind is saying.

“I can do the spin. Do you want W or M” she asks me. 

“W” I reply, I hope it lands on W. 

I glimpse at the racket leaving her hand as it spins rapidly, paying attention to the end where it says W or M. It lands on what I called. Yay, I want to serve. 

“I will serve first,” I say. 

I go back to the baseline and start getting ready. I try to hype myself up although I have a few thoughts of uncertainty.  I don’t know if I can win this match, I need to try my best and stay focused. I bounce the ball on my strings a couple of times to get a feel for it. I grasp the fuzzy ball, then I start my serving routine. I glance at my faded white shoes to make sure I’m behind the line, then my eyes shift to the racket in my hand. Still feeling nervous, I toss up the ball and serve it over the net. She wins the first point, meanwhile, I am trying to shift my mind to the next point. I serve it and when she returns it to me, I hit it into the net. I am feeling a little frustrated, but I just need to focus. It’s 0-30 and she can win this game with two more points. Come on, you have to get this. I serve again, and she hits it down the line. I try my best to get to it, but it’s too fast. I need to move my feet quicker. It’s 0-40. I serve to start what could be the last point of this game, and she hits another winner. She wins the first game. Come on, you need to focus. It’s so hot, I can taste the salty sweat dripping down from my forehead. I try to focus, but I can’t seem to shake the feeling of anxiousness. It’s her serve now and I am trying to zone in. I get into ready position, bending my knees and holding my racket in front of me, as she strikes the ball over the net and into the service box. I hit it back to her, and win the first point of the game. Yes, I say in my head. She wins the next few points, and she gets the second game. My serve again. At the first point in the game, I double fault. Come on Lucy, you need to do better. I take a second to try and relax and then serve the ball. I get a couple of points, but she ends up getting the third game. What am I doing, why am I so bad? Come on, you need to win. We start the fourth game, and she is serving. I get the first two points and it is 30-0. Come on, you need this game. I lose the next three points and it is 30-40, her. I lose the last point of the game and the game score is now 4-0. I need to focus and think about my shots. I don’t know why I am doing so bad. It is now the fifth game, with me serving. I calm down and serve the ball. I watch it fly over the net, into the service box and then see her hit it out. I get the first point. Let's go, I think to myself. I win the next three points and I finally win a game. The game score is 1-4, and she is serving. You can come back. She serves the ball, and I hit it back. She doesn’t return it. It’s 15-0. Come on, you have to get this game. We have a couple of lengthy rallies, but I win the game. Now it’s 2-4, and I am serving. I take my time each time I serve, and win the game. 3-4, she is serving. Each time she serves, I keep my eye on the ball, and I watch it go over the net. It’s 40-15 and I’m about to win the game to tie it. I keep my eyes glued to the ball, watching as she tosses it up and smacks it with her racket. I return her serve, and she hits it back to me, but her shot is out. It’s 4-4. I shut out all my other thoughts. I have the momentum, I can get this game. I am serving, and if I get this game, I will be in the lead. I am so scared, I need to win. I try to center myself and then serve. I watch the ball go over the net, then watch her hit it out. 15-0. I move to the ad and serve again. After numerous shots, I win the rally. 30-0. I serve, and double fault twice. 30-15. I serve, and hit it in the net. Come on, you have to get this in. My second serve is in, and she hits a hard return. I get to her ball, but hit it out. Shoot, I have to get this. It’s 30-30. I serve the ball, and she hits it in the net. 40-30. If I get this one point, I can be in the lead. I toss the ball up, feeling it and watching it leave my fingertips. It’s in the sky for a second, and I smash it over the net. She doesn’t return it. I get the game, and It’s now 5-4 me. I can win it with this game right here. Lets go, I am going to win this. It could be the last game and she is serving. I observe her motion very carefully, and keep my eyes on the ball. My heart is beating so fast I think it's going to burst out of my chest, I don’t want to lose. I watch the ball go right over the net, then I hit it back. She hits it into the net. It’s 15-0. She moves to the ad side and serves again. We have a long rally, and I win. Now it's 30-0. She serves again on the deuce side, and her serve is extraordinary. I hit it in the net and its 30-15. You’ve got this, I think. She serves again, when I return it, she hits it into the net. 40-15. Match point. Right now it seems like this point is the only thing that matters. All the points we’ve played before lead up to this one. I can win it right here. I am so scared I am shaking. I watch everything she does closely, my eyes glued to the ball. Her serve flies over the net, I hit it back to her, focused on keeping it inside the lines, then she hits it back to me. This is my chance. Ok I need to have a good shot here. I hit a hard backhand angled cross court. It zips past her and double bounces. Yes, oh my god, I just won. Let's go. 

I am filled with excitement and relief. A big grin rushes onto my face as I walk up to the net to shake hands.

 “Good job” I say, trying to be respectful.

“Good job” she says back to me. 

I put my racket back into my bag, and sip my cool, refreshing water. My grandma greets me and says good job. We go up to the man at the table and he gives me a metal and says congratulations. I can’t believe I just won. I remember before my match when I was so scared. This moment showed me not to doubt myself when I am doing something new. Next time I need to have more confidence in myself. This was the first tournament I ever played, and going into it I was very anxious and scared of what was going to happen, but in the end there was no reason to be scared because I won.