Inspired

I returned home from Palm Springs yesterday and let me say, the HOT tennis made up for the COLD weather. My husband and I saw some great matches. I will post some pictures later today but wanted to share a few highlights. 

On the men's side seeing Tommy Haas beat Andy Roddick in straight sets was very entertaining. Haas handled the big first serve of Roddick beautifully by blocking it back deep. He was in every point by playing perfect defense. Poor Roddick had no idea response for how Haas played defense and quickly would switch to offense flawlessly. On another note about Andy Roddick - I saw him walking with his girlfriend at the La Quinta Resort on Sunday morning. We were getting an early morning coffee and noticed this couple walking towards us - not sure why that feeling of getting star struck is exciting but no matter how you try to fight it, it is always a rush! 

On the women's side we saw all the big names. We saw Davenport (who I love!) just overpowering this poor girl. Literally Davenport was inside the baseline just crushing the ball off both sides and her opponent was ten feet behind the baseline just fighting. Davenport won her next round in a harder three set battle - she has still got it! We saw Sharapova play a deceptively good player who made her struggle just a little by taking pace off the ball and setting the ball back deep. A great strategy against one who wants a fast, high pace match. Maria did win in straight sets! We saw a tough battle between Harkleroad and Safina - that the American pulled out in the third. This was a match where no one slowed the pace. It was heavy hitting the whole time! 

One of the highlights of going to a pro tournament are the outside courts and practice courts. We saw so many great players practicing, conditioning by playing soccer and hitting serves and returns. There warm up session is more intense than most people's matches. They start in the short court and gradually work there way back. At this they are on their first ball - hitting every ball on BALANCE and with lots of heavy SPIN. As the pace picks up so does the depth and height over the net. They see the ball actually hit the strings allowing for very clean well hit balls. When they do miss they get the ball going before you can blink and correct their mistake immediately. There ability to freely swing and hit their hardest could never happen if they were not on BALANCE and holding the racquet softly!! 

Time for me to go workout! I am so inspired after my weekend in Palm Springs! More to come later!