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She finally got a point in.
“Breakpoint!” I exhale in relief and excitement.
“What exactly does that mean?” Xavier chips in.
I look away from the match and in his direction.
“Letty served and Olivia was able to return the ball, ending up with a point only after one return,” I explain.
He nods in understanding before the crowd goes silent again. Knowing that this is either for the game point or another fifteen points on top of Olivia’s existing fifteen.
Letty doesn’t even seem fazed by the fifteen points scored by Olivia. That’s why having the strongest mental game in the sport is vital; it makes you the best.
Letty hits the ball and Olivia returns it.
Letty hits the ball to the other side of the court, making Olivia run in the ball’s direction.
This goes on for another four returns. Letty makes Olivia run side to side until the ball bounces twice.
“Game point, Letty Davis.” The umpire’s voice sounds in my ears.
Everyone cheers at Letty’s first win in the match of many to come. Olivia gulps in anticipation. She wants to start the next game. But Letty’s face makes her think twice, rule number one when playing against Ms. Davis. Never look her in the eye in between games.
I can’t see Letty’s face since her back is to me, but what I do see is Olivia’s.
Her gaze is on Letty’s and once she looks at her opponent’s expression. That’s when I know Olivia won’t be the one to win this match. Her face is filled with the worst part of any tennis player’s psyche.
Self-doubt.
Chapter39
Xavier
She’s fucking exceptional.
Extraordinary doesn’t even begin to characterize Vio. There are times in a person’s life when they see someone and truly value who they are. Even look up to them, and for me that’s this girl who is currently playing a tennis match right in front of me.
I’ve been here for three days, watching and learning a sport I have grown to love. Originally, I had offered to come just to spend time with Vio. But I never imagined that I would be here invested in the game. I could sit here happily for hours and watch every match on the schedule, even if it’s not Violetta’s. While I’m more invested in her matches, I like to watch how mental the game is.
Vio wasn’t lying when she told me it’s taxing on more than the body. It’s one on one, in every sense.
Usually, when I’m in an F1 car, I don’t see the other driver’s face.
Thank God for that.
But I always thought that was mentally challenging enough. I was wrong because tennis thrives on looking your only opponent in the eye. The passion, insecurity, want, and fear flashing in their stare while their focus shifts between the game and the person in front of them. I finally understood her words after my first day here.
Letty obliterated Oliva’s game with a single look.
I’ve seen an occasional insecure twinkle in Vio’s eye, but once it’s there, it dissipates quickly. Her focus is back on the game.
I can’t stop staring at her, even with her in an exhausted state. When we were watching an eventful match three days ago, I was focused on the match and Vio at the same time. The way her eyebrows crease when she’s nervous or her little lip bite when she’s thinking. Her knee was bouncing in anticipation while her eyes were solely focused on her passion.
Violetta Luna is the most gorgeous human being in the world when she’s playing tennis.
Her movements are swift. It’s like she dances her way to the ball.
But it’s not necessarily graceful, having to run toward the ball in haste or grunting when hitting the ball in return.
