Let’s be honest: Tavernola Tennis Club isn’t pretty.
No pine trees framing the court. No seaside breeze. No coffee bar where you sip an espresso and feel like a poet in whites.
Tavernola is bare bones.
Courts. Concrete. Competition.
It’s the kind of place where the tennis dream doesn’t whisper—it growls.
It looks like a cracked court in the cold, with players grinding for points, hearts pounding under mismatched warm-ups.
Match One: My First 90 Points
The first match of the year.
And, beautifully, against a fellow Over-55 player, a 3.5 with a very clever game.
He didn’t run much.
He didn’t have to.
He played just a step inside the baseline, cutting the angles early, redirecting balls with short, low half-volleys that barely gave me time to breathe.
At first, I thought, “He’s not moving well.”
But then I realized: he didn’t need to move more, because every shot was doing the running for him.
That match taught me something deep and true:
If you’re not super fit, you need to be super smart.
And if you are super fit, being smart still saves you.
I fought, I adapted, I found a way.
And when the last point was played, I had 90 new points in my pocket.
My first of the season.
A small step forward. But it meant the world.
Match Two: The Friend Factor
The next round brought something tougher: not a better opponent, but a dear one.
Now, you have to know this:
He is a beautiful player.
Clean technique, quick instincts, smart choices.
Playing him is always a challenge, but above all, it’s a pleasure.
The problem?
I wasn’t ready to compete against him.
I think he suffered the same issue.
His level was not his best.
We battled hard in the first set: 7-5 for him.
But after that, my level dropped and he elevated his game.
The second set flew by, 6-1. I couldn’t keep up.
And the truth is: he deserved it.
He stayed focused.
He stayed sharp.
And I, well, I learned.
What I Take With Me
So here’s what Tavernola gave me, despite the ugly courts and the cement mood:
- 90 points.
- A lesson in smart court coverage and energy saving.
- And maybe most importantly: a realization that if I want to grow, I need to be a focused, combative, and precise player, no matter who is across the net.
This was the first tournament of the year.
There will be more.
Some wins. Some losses. Some quiet courts with no magic.
Because you're not here for comfort.
You're here to become.
— Il Tennista
4.1 and climbing
