In Lisa's Spin, her new regular blog on wtatour.com, Lisa Raymond brings us her thoughts on tennis, life and more. Here's the latest installment...
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Travel days, don't you just love them? After a cancelled flight, a couple of plane diversions and a drive through the desert I was finally at my final destination - Palm Springs, CA.
I woke up Sunday morning with a message on my phone informing me that my flight to Palm Springs had been cancelled. I had been rebooked the following day on a 6am flight through Chicago. It was a bummer that I wasn't going to be able to have that extra day of practice but I wasn't crying in my Special K knowing I had an another day at home - bonus!
Monday was going to be a long day but I had no idea just how long it would end up being. Woke up at 315am to leave for the airport by 4am. Ten minutes from Philly International I realized that I didn't have my racquets (never, in almost 20 years of travelling, I have never forgotten my racquets!) so I had to go all the way back home and get them. Needless to say, I was running onto the plane, with the door closing behind me. With that sort of a start I should have known it wasn't going to be my day.
On my second flight from Chicago, 20 minutes outside of the desert, the pilot informs us that the winds are so bad in Palm Springs that they have closed the airport and we are being diverted to Vegas. Upon hearing that news, my plan instantly goes to Plan B. I was all set to get off the plane, grab my bags, hop in a car and drive to Palm Springs. I would be there in less than five hours or so (maybe four, depending if my mom is reading this or not) As it turns out, it wasn't meant to be. They tell us to stay on the plane, no one is going anywhere. We sit at the gate for what seemed like an eternity until the pilot informs us now that we are going to refuel, the winds are better in Palm Springs and we are going to be taking off soon. Let's try this again. Meanwhile, for the past hour and change I have been texting, calling, e-mailing everyone and anyone who would listen. Some of these communications were productive and necessary, others just to vent. Conversation with practice desk went something like this - practice court at 4pm, no 5pm, no maybe now 6pm. I don't know who I felt worse for, me or the practice court guys! Then there was my agent and the constant barrage of e-mails she was receiving from me about rental cars, transportation and other flight options. We finally push back about 90 minutes later and head to Palm Springs, and I'm thinking, "Okay, it's not THAT bad. A few hours later than expected to arrive but at least we are on our way." Flight time from Vegas, 30 minutes; 25 minutes into the flight, the pilot informs us we won't be landing in Palm Springs, we are being rerouted to Ontario. Are you kidding me? Never in almost 20 years of traveling have I been diverted for winds, let alone twice in one day!!! We finally land in Ontario about an hour after what was supposed to be my first hit in the desert. I grab my bags (which happen to take 45 minutes to emerge but who's counting?!), rent a car and head east on the 10 to Indian Wells. I text Raj and break the news to him - I am going to my room, showering, ordering room service and getting into bed! I just want this day to be over! Needless to say, I slept like a baby.
So here I am, back in the desert! Something about waking up, looking out your window and seeing a mountain so close it feels like it's in 3D. The tour takes both the men and women to Indian Wells, CA this week, a very popular spot on tour. The weather is picture perfect everyday, great hotels and restaurants. The venue can't be beat whether you are a player or fan - it's just a fun couple of weeks. I have some great memories of this event, winning the doubles on a few occasions. It's always been one of my favorite tournaments to play and this year it has even more special meaning to me. My one year anniversary...
One year - 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds, give or take a few. Anyway you look at it, it's been an entire year since I decided to make some much needed change in my life. After losing my first round of doubles last year with Rennae no sooner we walked off the court she pulled me aside and sternly asked "What are you doing?" I was out of shape, unhappy, and not only was it affecting my career, but hers as well. I needed someone to be brutally honest with me, no sugar coating it. Anyone who knows Rennae can only imagine how that conversation went! :-) It was tough to hear, a lot of tears were shed but even so, I am very grateful to her for doing it. I sat down with Raj as well and we talked, I cried (poor Raj has seen a lot of tears! I could make him rethink ever coaching another woman again!) and right there on that couch in my hotel room I made a commitment to myself that I was going to change. He walked out of the room and I walked to the gym. I was on the treadmill at 8pm and have not looked back once since. I still have a lot of work to do - not even close to reaching the fitness goal I would like to achieve but I am in a much better place. I am fitter, healthier and happier on and off the court. Sometimes I guess we need to hit close to rock bottom before we can see the damage we have caused, to ourselves as well as to others. We also need people in our lives to tell us what we don't want to hear, not fearing the consequences. As hard as it was at the time, losing that tennis match was the best thing that could have happened to me.
All of that said, this morning i had a hit with Meghann Shaughnessy, aka my early morning practice buddy :-) First hit in the desert and outside in a few weeks and as always we had a good time. A much better start to my day than yesterday, that's for sure.
Julia and I play our first round match tomorrow, second on after 5pm. A new year, a new partner, a better me... Looking forward to it :-)
Questions...
@jaytrepanier asks "What's the best way to get past losing a tough match?" If you would have asked me that 10 years ago I probably would have had a different answer for you. The older I have gotten, more perspective I have. Even though it is my career, the Sun will come up tomorrow win or lose. Having said that, I have had some tough, tough losses throughout my career. I used to never want to talk about the losses right away with my coach but now I find that the best way for me to deal with a tough loss is to talk about it, deal with it, and then move on as soon as possible. Don't carry it over to the next day. A new day, a new match...
@LianneLGM wants to know "What do you love most and hate about tennis?" What do I love about tennis? I cannot even put into words all that this sport has given to me for over 30 years of my life. I love competing, I love winning, and to be able to do that for a living is a gift. What do I hate about tennis? That's easy - LOSING!
@mnmcglynn asks "Do you have to have an American partner to be eligible for the Olympics or will your ranking do the job?" That's a good one. No, I do not have to be playing with an American in order to qualify for the Olympic team in 2012. If I am ranked in the Top 10 and have made myself available to play Fed Cup I am then eligible for the team. Should make for an interesting year :-)
Recent downloads or playlists...
"Civilian" - Wye Oak... Totally stumbled on this. Has that total alternative vibe to it. Tell me what you think?
"Rolling in the Deep" - Adele... I just love her.
"Jam" - Kim Kardashian... I AM SOOOO KIDDING!!!!!!!!!
"On The Floor" - Jennifer Lopez... Love Jenny from the block!!! Gotta get up and dance to this one!
Check out Lisa's Twitter page at http://twitter.com/@cutttie2!
