How Power Has Transformed Women's Tennis

As you're watching the early rounds at the US Open, check out this NY Times article on women's tennis.  Kimmelman writes comprehensively on the game while asking some good questions about the transformation of the sport.  He also goes to those gendered topics that can make us cringe about our culture: emotions, outfits, race, the sisterhood, and lack of consistency among female competitors. Go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/magazine/29Tennis-t.html?_r=1

Cedardale vs. Latitude

Maybe we were Sparkin'. Or maybe it was the pressure of an open building and overhead track where spectators could view court play sans walls or curtains. Either way we swept the doubles courts for the team W on our final match of the USTA season.  The lineup placed two of the A1 doubles teams back together, which may have contributed to the straight set dominations. Personally, it felt good to have the band back together.  Jeannie and Kristine put their match in the win column in record time with Jeannie poaching, slamming, and tagging her opponents (final hit count at four?) in a tour de force not seen since the July 8, 2010 running of the bulls in Pamplona. Dorian and I won in straight sets and took the match with Dorian's stunning overhead put away down the middle. 'Twas one commanding, non-refundable shot.  Leslie and Lisa B played another straight set winning match on Doubles 1, which took the pressure off the singles ladies who walked onto the courts at 8:00.
Taking on two undefeated players, Marybeth and Betsy played hard and they played well. Marybeth hit across from a seasoned singles player who is a veritable backboard.  I know her game well having lost a singles match to her earlier in the run.  Watching the sets I was infinitely impressed with Marybeth's patience and strategic adjustments to a player who had a seemingly endless capacity to return and endure. Betsy played a strong match next door, holding her own against one tough opponent.
What impresses me most about this group of women is not necessarily our team numbers, individual rankings, or national standing. It's how we continue through the years to support each other week after week on the court and off with laughter, praise, and, perhaps most importantly, through sharing and providing accoutrement (Jeannie, ask Dorian what this means). Bottom line is we show up for each other.  In emails, text messages, phone calls, on Facebook, at matches, restaurants, homes, beach homes, and tennis "holidays" we are there and we know others will be, too.  I don't have to tell you.  That just matters.