You Are My Federer

When I was in high school, Melissa was my Sampras. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi were the top tennis players in the world, and Pete Sampras could beat anyone. Melissa and I took tennis lessons together, we went to tennis camp together, we played on the tennis team together, we played tennis together all the time. In all the time that we have been playing tennis, I have probably beat Melissa three times. Sometimes I like to say that it is my lack of competitive spirit, but we all know the truth, Melissa is just better than I am. I think it really says something about her that she continues to play with me, but I guess Sampras just kept playing with the lowly underlings. That's how he kept his ranking. Melissa wasn't out for a ranking though, she's just really nice. ( P.S.-happy birthday Melissa. Sorry I haven't called yet.)
Well, Melissa and I haven't played in quite some time (and, on the down low, I think I may be able to take her), but I have been playing with my friend Luke. Where Melissa was my Sampras, Luke is my Federer. He always beats me. Every match starts with me talking some trash about bringing my "A" game or him "going down", but it always ends with me saying "Good game, Eastman".
Tonight, things were going to be different. During warm up, I was doing really well. You know the feeling. Everything you hit is perfect-it clears the net low, it lands deep, the placement is great. I was ready. I was serving first, and I double faulted on the first point. Then, I lost the first game. I didn't give up though, and I fought back to win the first set 7-5. I have never beat Luke in a set. This was awesome!!! A Miracle!!
Set two didn't go so well. All my good tennis had been used up, and I lost 1-6. Pathetic. My spirits were down, but the third set was a little better. I won the first game, but then, even though almost all the games went to deuce or were really close, I lost the third set 2-6.
If Luke really were Federer and we were playing in Wimbledon, John McEnroe would have said that I made a great effort, but Luke is just like no tennis player we have ever seen. It really says something that I could even take one set. I should feel proud that I won even one set against the almighty Luke.
This may sound silly, but really, winning one set is enough to make me happy and keep me talking trash until the next time. In fact, next time I may just be the Nadal to Luke's Federer.