Love Game - Season 2011 Read Free Page A

rushed into the infirmary with a very worried look on his face.
                 
     
    ***
     
     
     
    Judging from the pastiness of the journalists’ skin, they were collectively shipped here straight from cold Blighty to follow the British tennis phenomenon Robyn had become last year and, of course, Top 10 player Ted Curry. Not a bad assignment one would think. However, they all looked gloomy and tired. And judging from their questions they were all jetlagged or perhaps just simple-minded.
    Except for one guy seated on the right side. He was quite good-looking and even though he had a slight sunburn there was something about him that excited Robyn. He was wearing surf trunks and a scruffy t-shirt. His clothes clearly set him apart from all the other scribblers and with his reddish, disheveled curls he gave the impression of an Aussie surfer out of water. Footloose somehow, but with maturity. Robyn imagined him travelling the world with a backpack and a surfboard under his arm. What was someone like him doing at a tennis tournament? He had to be a journalist to get accreditation for the press conference, but Robyn had never seen him on the tour before and so far he hadn’t asked a thing. He just looked up occasionally at her and Ted. Then typed words into his laptop. She hoped he would ask her a question. She hoped she could think of a witty answer. Perhaps he would come up after the presser for a little chat. Suddenly, Robyn didn’t feel so frustrated any more. After all, at twenty-five, Ted was a tad too immature, she thought.
    After ten minutes of boredom the good-looking surfer dude raised his hand. Robyn’s heart skipped a beat. She glanced around the room checking if there was anyone else who wanted to ask a question but the journalists seemed to have communally fallen asleep. She was about to give the guy a nod. But Teddy was faster.
    “Yes!” He gave the surfer a smile. The reporter smiled back and addressed Teddy.
    “Teddy, you seemed to have had a good time tonight. Can we expect more of this pairing?” Robyn turned around to Ted while watching the good-looking reporter from the corner of her eye.
    “No, absolutely not,” Ted answered with a straight face. “You see, she hasn’t even run back for one lob yet. I honestly tried to encourage her to do that but I am not sure she’s one who listens to advice.”
    There was some snickering in the back. Robyn needed to think of words quickly.
    “That’s just the way our relationship is,” she said to the wild-haired reporter. “I don’t listen to blokes who refuse to moisturize their hands. That’s why he spanked me in the second set with that return.”
    Ted had redirected a serve by their opponents right onto her butt. It would show tomorrow. With all the bickering going on in front the crowd was waking up. More importantly, the reporter gave her a glorious smile. But Teddy was about to counterattack.
    “No,” Ted retorted with a sly smile, “that shot was for coordinating our outfits in matching colors.”
    The reporters were now tittering and winking at each other. Robyn didn’t care. The redhead moved forward in his chair to ask another question.
    “Robyn, what will you take from the evening? From your point of view, which particular aspect of your game needs improvement?”
    Robyn was thinking quickly. As a young player every part of her game needed improvement, but she had hit a couple of good points, especially one fun shot – a between-the-leg shot – that had gained her loud applause by the spectators when it went in and won the British pair a game.
    “Besides a moisturizing partner, I would say, my hot dog in particular. It’s a shot I intend to use more often as my answer to lobs.”
    The room was roaring with laughter. Hands raised to the air. This press conference had become a blast. Robyn smiled, while the long-haired reporter leaned back and enjoyed the rest of the show. When it was over, the guy left quickly but not