Ball’s in your court.
I ain’t gonna be just a face in the crowd, you’re gonna hear my voice when I shout it out loud;
There I stood, staring at a girl with long dark brown hair as her forehead was covered by her side fringe. Her rose petal coloured lips were strangled in a formidable smile, her dark brown eyes sternly gazing at her own reflection.
Standing in a pair of firm trainers my hands slowly traced my body’s frame. “Ms. Rocha? It’s time.” A deep voice spoke up from behind me, unfamiliar to my ears. I nodded to myself in the mirror as my hair was thrown back in a ponytail, snatching the steel blue coloured Nike cap that lay on the counter in front of me I set it on my head, taking a brief last glance in the mirror before I yanked up my tennis bag, strapping it loosely around my shoulder before leaving the locker-room.
Opening match, it was all or nothing. Losing wasn’t an option, I made it to the Junior US Open and I was determined to make it to the top. Walking through the chilly corridors sent a tense shiver down my spine as my eyes narrowed briskly when I got out on the centre court of the US Open.
Chanting cheers, shrieking screams collapsing down from the towering bleachers, I stretched my arm out giving them a simple wave as I made my way to my side of the court, awaiting for my rival to make her appearance on the tennis court.
There she came, with a little smug smile plastered on her face as her dirty blonde hair was pulled back into a stiff ponytail, a white headband wrapped around her forehead. She shot me a glare, seating down across from me, lazily slouching down in her chair. She was my opponent? I always imagined world’s number 9 ranking junior player would be a bit more resolute.
Zipping open my tennis bag I fetched my tennis racket. As my hands grasped the tennis grip I felt like a certain indefinable adrenaline spike ran through my veins. I stretched out my legs making my way to my side of the court. Justine Williams also managed to pull herself up from her chair making her way to her side, time to warm up those muscles.
A ball boy rolled over a set of three balls, I grasped them one by one, tucking away two in my skirt’s pocket I slowly bounced the remaining ball up and down, three times to be exact. Glancing up to my vulgar opponent I tossed the ball up high in the air, my head lifted up as I analyzed the ball’s speed, intercepting it’s collision with my racket as I flung it up towards the ball. The ball zoomed away hitting ground on the other side of the net, in the box, yes. The lazy Justine made a lousy attempt reaching for the ball, managing to return it with a weak backhand. Easily defended by one of my powerful forehands, this match was going to be interesting to say the least.
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Big performance, I could hear our upcoming crowd roar for the two young girls taking the centre court. I sat between my brothers, who were watching the girls warm up vigilantly. I loved tennis, this would be the first grand slam I attended. I felt honoured that my brothers and I were asked to perform by Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day, to be here and perform our music was a great opportunity.
My older brother shot me an excited smile, swiftly turning his glance back at the rivals warming up. One of them, a blonde headed girl who seemed to be taking it slow, Justine Williams, I knew she ranked 9th in the whole world – this couldn’t be her best now could it? The other girl, unfamiliar. All I knew she ranked 12th worldwide, I could merely catch a glimpse of her back as she flawlessly returned a lob by Williams with a powerful smash. They continued to rally on and on like that for a few minutes, they were good, definitely.
“Silence please.” The emperor’s voice overpowered, as it echoed on loudly throughout the stadium, the muttering and yabbering slowly hushed as Justine was up for first service. Tough call who was going to win, I guess: “Serve’s up!”
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I've had this idea for a long time. I hope you all like it, should I continue? Let me know :] <3
