Congrats to Jackie for doing what it took today to win the match. What a great player and gal!
Natalie was down 1-3 in the first set, then 3-4 to take three games in a row to win the set. Seemingly, cruising to victory being up 5-1 in the second and serving. Natalie double faulted twice in a row and yet another HORRIBLE back line call by the chair and the game was over and Nat was "ticked off". Not a good thing....unfortunately there are STUPID coaches out there that think you should get "mad" during a match .....that is sooooooo not good! Your brain can only focus on one thing at a time and if you are mad about something that happened 10 minutes ago you are NOT in the current point.
Two more games that set were lost with a "chair" deep call. I was sitting on the back line as well as others...non of those sitting on the line agree with any of the three calls. Unfortunately, they cost Nat 3 games and her calm head. You know that calls are bad when perfect strangers come up to you and say something about them. One can't help but wonder if the "chair" happens to call matches at Jackie's school, ASU.
Not hard to guess that the set went to Jackie. Natalie had several match points, 3 times she played out balls due to the chair not calling the ball out and lost the point. When I say the balls were out....I MEAN OUT....no where even CLOSE to the line. She even called his attention to it, that he is missing the calls. So its kinda of hard to stay calm and play a match when you have two opponents.......Jackie and the chair umpire.
Losing the second set 5-7 took us to a tie breaker. Again NON DEEP calls by the chair, cost Natalie her mind and the match. She lost the breaker 3-7. Just a shame that the match didn't come down to two amazing players and friends battling for 3 1/2 hours and one coming out on top. Instead it will be remembered as a HORRIBLE UMPIRED MATCH. A shame indeed!
So, that ends Natalie's singles matches for the year. We will "hang" for doubles, will know about them tomorrow. Until then.....I will try to find Natalie's mind.....
Love and Blessings....Sherry
