The match
Beat Elliott Brown 6–1, 6–3 at the Charleston Tennis Center.
First set was as clean as it gets. First serve and return were both working, aces in three different service games, and I was through it before he could settle in. The only game I dropped was one where my return let me down for a few points. 6–1.
Second set was a completely different animal, and honestly the more interesting one. I had the most double faults I have had all season — every single game I lost had two of them in it. Three games lost, six double faults. My serve was a liability for the first time all year.
And I won the set anyway, 6–3, because the return carried me. I broke him five times. Twice I came back from 0–30 down to break, including the last game of the match. One of the breaks took six deuces. I only held serve once the entire set.
That is the thing I want to remember from tonight. Every match this season the story has been the same — when my first serve is on I am dangerous, when it leaves I have nothing. Tonight it left, and I had something. I stayed patient on return, made him play, and took the set on the strength of one shot instead of the usual one.
On Elliott: his backhand is his best stroke and he hit a few clean winners with it. His serve is inconsistent, which is what made the return plan viable. On paper it should be a win when we play, but he has got enough in him to be dangerous if you let him settle.
Fix for next time is obvious and narrow: the double faults. Six in a set is giving away free games. But I would rather find out I can win a set without my serve than never be tested on it.