Mark's Winter Tennis Season 2024

As we all remember well at our house, tennis has no real off-season. Mark plays tournaments even during the winter months. So 2024 started for Mark with an L4 tournament in Peachtree, GA, about 5.5 hours away. 

Mark played well, the draw was pretty tough, although he was in the second flight (draw of 64, four flights of 16 divided according to the rankings).

Mark got 3rd in Singles in his flight. 

He played doubles with Connor, against whom he had to play in singles as well, in the consolation. 

The first doubles match was actually a nail biter. The team of Max D and Emery C was very competitive, so we got to witness a great match. Connor and Mark won. Clearly they all had such a good time, that taking a picture after the match was not awkward. 

As I've mentioned before, sometimes it's so hard to get pictures in the middle of the match because it is sometimes quite stressful and distracting. Plus you know...the jinx of losing the point when I am recording is still well and alive. 

At the end of February, Mark played in Charleston. It was another L5 where he played doubles with Connor. They again had a great run but ended up with third place. These guys aim to win and nothing but that. 

Finally, Mark and I went to Jackson, MS to finish up our winter tournaments. It was a Southern Closed L4 so lots of great matches. Mark played really well! 

He and Ross Johnson somehow managed to take the first place in Doubles! Their first try at doubles a year prior was quite disastrous-haha. 

                

And then Mark also finished off his Singles run by becoming a Consolation Finalist. He learned a lot of lessons at this tournament and one of them--you never know what type of player will give you trouble. 

I try to write about these tournaments because after a while they become a blur. Some are a lot more eventful than others, some are in new locations, some require flying and others just driving an hour (hello, Greensboro!). One thing for sure, we need to do a better job taking pictures and documenting them as the clock is ticking. Mark is jut not a huge fan of pictures so we will keep trying our best! 

Three more years of junior tennis--that is very exciting!