Proud B2 player now!!

Yes I am moving up to B2 level! Finally I have won two C1 tournaments within one season, and I actually made it within two weeks time :)

This time it's a much bigger tournament that the one last week, so it lasted two days on Saturday and Sunday. It's at Soignies, quite some distance to reach there, took me nearly 1 hour by car! I was still given the privilege as second seeded player like last week. I started the tournament rather well, winning in straight sets every round until I reached semifinal to play against a player to whom I have lost last year. As expected it went tight from the very first point, but I managed to close the first set, only to lose the second easily. Third set was simply tense until the last point, I was lucky to grab the last 2 points at 19-19 and win the match!

Just like the Dragonbad tournament last week, I have to play the first seeded player in the final. What the heck, I won it last week against the top seed and I believed I could make it again. Anyhow it didn't go well in the beginning of the match, just after a few minutes later I found myself trailing 3-11. This young guy (ok I have to admit I am getting old...) was just playing at such incredible fast pace! Keep pushing the shutters very low and smashing whenever he can. It took me a while to get used to his shots but it was too late to do anything to turn over the first set.

Second set went better, I improved my defense and played 4-corners tactic to keep my opponent on the run. I tried to give very high clear shots to move him to the back of the court, as he tended to intercept shots and attack suddenly. Once the court was open up, it gave me more time to return to the center position and ready for next shot, in the meanwhile slowed his game a bit. I was also glad my net shots and cross cross-court shots were effectuated perfectly. A few counterfeit-movement to trick him on wrong foots. Anyway, stamina wise I was very tired but I kept pushing myself. I led the set until 20-17, before he came back at 20-21 with a match point! I didn't know how I saved that point, I was just so concentrated and eventually won the set at 23-21!

The third set, basically I have read his game and found my way to shut his attacking game, he started to get anxious and make mistakes, and I didn't give him much chance by winning the last set at 21-10. It was such a release at that moment that I sat down on the court laughing at myself! I was just proud that I pulled it through against a guy much better physically!

So now I am venturing myself in B2 tournaments. I have to start as a new challenger against those high rank players. Anyway, by moving to B2 I have actually achieved one of my 2008 resolution. I am so much looking forward to the new season of Team League starting in September, where I can again play in a team with my great friends!

Oh yes, I must mention this: I have broken my two rackets last week at Dragonbad tournament, and a kind friend lend me his Nanospeed 7000 which I have come to like it so much. I won the tournament eventually and immediately bought the same one the following days. Now I also won the Soignies tournament with my very own Nanospeed 7000! A good racket to recommend to everyone!