USA F23 Final Update! – Shubert’s Blog

Written by: Staff on 17th September 2011

USA F23 Final Update! - Shubert's Blog |

It’s been an eventful past few days but let me bring you up to speed on current events! I ended up losing in the 2nd round to #2 seed Bassam Beidas in three sets. I won the first set 6-3, putting together some good points and closing it out with some luck thanks to Bassam’s errors. He settled down in the 2nd set and decided to become a solid wall. I had trouble getting my first serve in, he barely missed any returns, and he took advantage of my one-handed backhand. For the rest of the match that was the trend, my backhand broke down under pressure, sliced too much, and inevitably spent most of the match running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I took an injury timeout after the 2nd set for my sore shoulder and managed to go up a break 2-0 in the 3rd set but wasn’t able to maintain any pressure on Bassam as he cruised 6 games in a row afterwards. I had a chance in the form of two break points at 2 games all, but failed to make a ball in the court. To my credit, I had him screaming and cursing the whole match so I know that there is potential for growth and improvement in my game. I was very disappointed after the match because I felt I could have won this match. Alas, all good tournaments eventually come to an end. It definitely feels amazing though and I’m so glad I have friends and family who are so supportive of me and offer congratulations. If I can do it, I definitely think anybody can do it, as long as you’re constantly putting yourself in the right situations and the right type of environment to grow and strive for your goals.

Currently my shoulder is in poor form. I’m icing it, stretching it, and having it worked on by the trainers on-site. I was at the Costa Mesa (USA F24) event all day today in support of some of my friends in the qualifying draw and warming up buddy Dennis Lajola before his first round match. Physically I felt fine after 6 matches in 7 days, except for my shoulder. I worked out today for about 2 hours simply working on groundstrokes and movement. I was sluggish but I know it’s important and crucial to be on the court daily, because timing can disappear at the first sign of laziness. I made the lungs and legs burn a little bit which keeps my game sharp. So after warming up Dennis this morning for his match, I practiced with another friend of mine, Aba Omodele-Lucien (Recent graduate of Harvard) in the afternoon. I iced down my shoulder after having the trainer at Costa Mesa work on it some more.

Even though I lost yesterday my focus is on the future. I’m planning on playing Laguna Niguel in a week and look to make another run at that event. One singles point is just one singles point, that’s what I keep telling myself. The game of tennis is not decided by one point, a player’s skill and potential is also not determined by one point. I plan on accumulating more and becoming hungrier when I’m ahead in matches, more focused and intense in practice, and more willing to hit through my backhand. I’ll continue to put myself in the futures event mentality by hanging around Costa Mesa, even though I’m not playing in it, just to see if I can pick up tips or trends in the form of tactics or mentalities from the more successful players. That way I stay in an atmosphere that creates the mindset that I’m trying to be a touring pro and not just some lucky punk who made it through qualies that one time.

Always trying to improve,

Shubert