Love Game - Season 2011 Read Free

and in Yelena’s case this was much needed. Her previous attempts had turned out to be unsuccessful. She had to start the tiebreak with only two challenges left, including the extra challenge the players received after twelve games. During the tiebreak Yelena used one of her challenges at the score of 3-2 when she had hit a forehand cross-court. A lines person had called the ball out and Lynn had confirmed it after Yelena had asked. However, the Ukrainian had challenged the call nevertheless. It had been the wrong decision. Even though she had lost the point, she had fought back and Sasha’s double fault at 5 all had handed Yelena a set point. After another lengthy exchange of shots Sasha’s shot seemed to be wide but there was no call. Yelena played the ball but raised her hand immediately afterwards and nodded at Lynn to indicate she would challenge the shot which she thought the line umpire had incorrectly seen as in. After fighting so hard in the second set, after coming through such tight games, the Ukrainian was not willing to give this tiebreak and the match to Sasha. With the crowd joining the excitement when the video screen showed a slow-motion replay of the ball, challenges set off a wave of adrenalin in the crowd as well as the players. It was 6-5 for Yelena and if she challenged correctly Lynn would have had the ball replayed.
    But the ball was in. It had caught the line by a tiny margin. The crowd roared in excitement and Lynn called the score at 6 all. In frustration Yelena swung her racquet and smashed it onto the ground. It bounced back right into her hand. It was a motion the Ukrainian used so often on court it had become her trademark move whenever things went against her. She definitely was feeling the pressure mounting on her shoulders now. In silence she headed to her chair. Lynn was sure that, more than any bad shot, it was this bad challenge that would decide the match in the end, and she was right. Two points later the tiebreak was over. Sasha Mrachova decided her first match of the season with two brilliant forehand winners. With the voice that never gave away her feelings, Lynn called the final score and began thinking of the match ahead of her.
     
     
    ***
     
     
     
    Whether the injury was serious or not the physiotherapist couldn’t tell yet. But the ankle was swollen like a balloon and it didn't look like it should bear the slightest weight.
    Elise Renard was sitting in the small infirmary next to the center court and observing the clock above the door. When would a doctor come and give them a diagnosis? After waiting another five minutes she finally got up and walked into the treatment room where her German partner Christoph Franke was lying on a  bench. He was covering his face with his hands and his coach was pressing a bag of ice against his injured ankle.
    It had happened during their practice. They were trying out different combinations and doubles tactics when Franke made a quick step backwards to reach for an over-head smash and thereby twisted his right ankle. Sitting down on the ground immediately he had reached out for his foot and carefully moved the joint. When he finally looked up to Elise and his coach he had a desperate look in his eyes. Sometimes a player just knew without the expertise of a doctor that the injury was serious. Elise’s heart had sunk. Not only because she knew how Christoph had to feel as she had experienced it herself, but also because a serious injury meant that Christoph wouldn’t be able to play the tournament. What would she do then, as this was a team competition?
    “How does it feel?” Elise asked her partner, hoping that her words sounded cheerful. Christoph lifted his hands and managed to give her a quick smile.
    “Terrible,” he answered.
    In that moment a doctor came in and Elise decided it was best to leave the room again. She gave Christoph a little pat on the shoulder and walked to the door only to bump into the tournament director who