Tochi's Hut

Played my first squash game of 2008 today against a long time squash buddy.  Right before Xmas, we played a gruelling match where in the final and decisive game, I fought off triple match point to steal the game and the match.

Today, we had yet another tight match.  After being tied 8-8, I got the last two points to take the first game 10-8.  During our break, my friend examines the ball and discovers a small hole.  I was heart broken to find that my trusty ball was busted.  The guy then goes on to say we have to redo the last two points of the previous game.  Restart it at 8-8. 

WTF.

Now, when it comes to sports, I can get pretty competitive, but I play fair.  This was just a friendly game.  The previous game was over already, why whine and try to reverse the outcome?!?  He argued that the ball was bouncing weirdly in the last two points.  No, it couldn't have been some really nice spin that I had put on the ball.  I mean.... I played those last two points with the same busted ball too.  Jeez.

Anyway, the guy was adamant.  I was a bit ticked, but it wasn't worth my effort to argue.  I still have a game to win.

I could feel this as one of the turning points in the game - a potential momentum shifter. 

Score 8-8. 

I lined up in the serving box. 

Ready. 

Slow swing.  Contact.  A really high lob serve.  Up and over.  Lands and dies right into the corner.  Textbook execution.  One of those serves that I get once in a hundred tries.  No chance of return.

Score 9-8.

Slow swing.  Contact.  Another lob serve, but it was short.  Service return catches the side wall and pops out right at the T.  Also happens to pop out right to Tochi.  I put the ball into the near-side back corner.  My opponent just came from there and couldn't turn back in time.

Score 10-8.

A fist pumping moment.  My opponent remarks, "That was quick."

I definitely had the momentum in the next game and ended up winning the match 3 games to 1.  Maybe it was just me, but thinking back to the incident, I still think he deserves 2 minutes in the box for unsportsmanlike conduct.  But whatever, in the end, I got the sweetest revenge of all.  bwhahahaa.