Chapter 88

Dan relaxed as best he could while he watched the practice unfold before him. Just as promised, Peter was giving the girls a lesson, and he wasn’t holding back. When it came to tennis, there was no doubt, Peter knew what he was doing. And even though the Senior preferred playing singles, he knew doubles strategies and tactics very well. Furthermore, from what Dan could tell, Peter had actually been paying more attention to the two play than any of the three had probably expected. Which made Dan wonder if Peter actually watched all the players, or he just picked favorites to observe. Past that, Dan knew until he’d shown up, Peter hadn’t really been much for training anyone.

As Dan sat there, one thing was certain though. Even if the girls had been getting special treatment with regards to how much Peter watched and analyzed their gameplay, the practice was anything but favorable. They’d been at it for perhaps 30 minutes, and Peter had both Ashly and Sophia sweating something fierce. The girls were doing their best to hide their exhaustion, but Dan could tell they were tired. That mere fact was impressive in and of itself, given they were no strangers to hard work. No one on the tennis team would accuse those two of slacking, and yet it looked like they were nearing their point of utter exhaustion.

“Switch.” Sophia called out as she dashed from the left side of the court to the right. She was at the baseline, and Ashley, who was near the net, crossed from left to right. The biggest part of the drill Peter was currently running them through, involved the two switching, practically constantly, from both side to side, as well as front and back of the court. Not surprising, even though Peter was working the two hard, he was barely sweating, and had a huge smile on his face as he watched the two. Peter may try to hide it, but Dan could see a twinkle of satisfaction and pride in Peter’s eyes, and it made him smile. Maddie was right, Peter did seem to be opening up more.

“Nice.” Dan mumbled to himself as they finished executing the maneuver. The reason for the switch had been simple. Peter had launched a high lob over Ashley’s head. The high ball, with enough spin to ensure the trajectory would still land in the court, albeit close to the baseline, gave a doubles team two options. Either Ashely would rush back and try to get to the ball before it landed, or she and Sophia switched sides of the court.

By switching sides, Ashely continued to apply her pressure up at the net, and Sophia had an easier time lining up a good shot off of Peter’s ball. Part of the danger of having Ashley rush to it, came from the amount of spin Peter put on the ball. The moment that thing hit the court, it would accelerate even more, and jump away. Peter had given Ashely a hands-on demonstration on that option, showing her why it was such a dangerous shot to try and pursue herself. From the way Peter executed the shot, Dan knew it was something that had likely done a lot of his singles opponents in. If he could bring them to the net, and then hit a lob like that deep into the court, over their reach, they’d wear themselves out trying to sprint to it, and they definitely wouldn’t have a good shot.

Sophia though, running sideways, or even diagonally as she assessed the flight path of the ball, could get into position a lot easier than Ashley, and line up an effective counterattack to Peter’s lob. Even with the top spin he put on the ball, such a shot still had a bit of hangtime, and was strategic for that reason as well. In doubles, it wasn’t meant to be a winner. It was meant to buy time and reestablish positioning. And, the way Peter was using such shots, also as a means to ensure the two girls were getting plenty of cardio in.

As exhausted as she was, Sophia managed to line up a good shot, and Dan grinned as she executed her own attack. Even though she was the more senior tennis player of the two, Dan felt she was taking a trick out of his very small playbook. She waited for the ball to hit the court and bounce up, the top spin Peter had placed on it causing it to shoot upwards in a predictable, high arc. Then, with her racquet brought up over her head, almost like she was serving, she executed an overhead slice.

The ball flew through the air, curving past Ashley’s shoulder, landing in the back corner of the left service box on Peter’s court. It was a good shot. Had Peter had a partner, not only would she have managed to avoid Peter’s partner, who would likely have been at the net across from her, but it also would pull Peter wide. That would force him to try for a down the line shot, which Ashely could defend against from her position at the net, or try for a sharp angle cross court shot. In other words, it was a return that Dan felt everyone on the court could respect.

Peter, of course, wasn’t about that lifestyle though. He was in full on training mode, and he was unforgiving. Even as the ball skipped sharply to the side from the slice Sophia had put on it, his racquet was already moving. He’d sprinted towards it, his legs facing forward, while his torso had twisted to the side, allowing him to get his racquet out and to the side of the ball as he hit it. The slice on the ball further drew the ball towards the outermost part of the head on Peter’s racquet, and with a smooth motion he returned the ball with a wickedly sharp angle.

Ashley, from her position in preparation of watching for the down the line shot, didn’t have a good chance to poach the ball. That meant, the sharp angle shot, which was heading towards doubles alley, only a few feet over the net, was meant for Sophia. From where Dan was sitting he could hear Ashely growl in frustration, along with something that sounded like a rather foul name, as she was forced to react.

“I’ve got it.” She said a second later as she rushed forward. Ashley responded in kind and moved backwards, putting herself on the service line of the service box she was in, as Sophia rushed forward. Her movements were slowed from exhaustion, and she did not have the skill that Peter had just showcased, but she still tried.

Peter, to his credit of not taking the lesson lightly, had already moved from his shot. He had already beelined across the court, his movements relaxed and full of intention, as he placed himself in the optimal position for anything Sophia tried to return. Had they been playing actual doubles, his partner would have had it covered easily, but Peter was taking on both roles. The only restriction he’d put in place, ‘to ensure the practice was fair’ according to him, was they had to keep the ball within singles lines when they returned the shots to him.

While Dan knew full well Peter could cover the whole court, by diminishing the area the girls could return shots to, it allowed him to more easily cover the whole court, and Dan knew, gave him more time to ensure each shot he sent their way, was what he wanted. His point of the practice, was getting them moving and covering each other. He was furthering their trust, he said, in themselves, and in each other. Peter was working them, to the bone, to strengthen their bonds, and their teamwork. In that regard, Peter’s efforts were actually detrimental to Dan, since it meant it would be all the harder for Dan to become a good doubles partner for Sophia.

At the same time though, Dan had a feeling that was Peter’s point. Peter was improving the duo before Dan’s very eyes, as a way to continue to push Dan. To keep Dan on his path forward, and to keep his motivation high. And sure enough, as he watched them continue with this cruel exercise, which, Dan had noticed early on, actually involved Peter moving the girls about in clockwise and counterclockwise rotating positions, was doing just that.

Once Dan had recovered enough from his short rest bonuses for the world to stop spinning, and to not feel like he was going to die, his excitement and drive had returned full force. Watching the two play, and watching Peter move on the court, just further kindled the fire within him. Even more though, Dan felt a new drive building within. He wanted to play mixed doubles with Sophia still. There was no doubt about that. But he also wondered, if someday, he and Peter could play doubles together. He could only imagine what a thrill that would be. But, he also knew, there was a literal mountain, skill wise, he needed to climb, before he could even hold a candle to Peter.

Thankfully, he had time, and even more than that, he had magic on his side. It was only a matter of time.