JOOLA USA

    This nationals was probably the best tournament that I've ever played, even if I didn't get into a team or get a title. Sure I would be a little jealous if someone kept on boasting at me that they got into the junior or cadet team, but if they played terrible, meaning not trying hard, and still got in, I'd be mad, because there are other girls out there dying to getin the spot that was taken. Anyways, I had 6 events, but my main ones were the cadet trials, the junior qualification match, and U-1900.

    U-1900 was not such a disaster that I thought it would be. I played decent yet somehow, I did not manage to get to the semi-finals, forget about the finals. I played well during this event.

    The cadet trial was the highlight of my tournament. I came into the court, timid, shy, and scared. I thought that I didn't have even the slightest chance to make it into the team. My first match was against Isabella Chen, the girl who creamed me at U.S. Open. I took a deep breath, thought through it, and went into the court. Later on, I was down was 15-14 in the 5th game. I accidently let my hand jab at the ball when I pushed and instantly I knew it was terrible. She smashed it hard, very hard, and in. I knew it was over, but I certainly have done better than before against her.I would have made it into the team if only I had got one or two more points. Yet that was still a very good game. After that, I went to Isabella and gave her a hug to make sure that we were still friends because I had "friends" that left me when I beat them.  Next up, Tammy Gu, another that beat me up pretty bad at the last nationals or U.S. Open. O.K., I thought, just play hard and smart. When I played her, she would usually get the ball back, almost always. I tried very hard and beat her 3-0 but the game score was very close. I took a short break and had to play Elissa Lin next. I have never played her before, yet she was similar to me, smooth rubber on the forehand and short pips on the backhand. She was hard to play with, yet I still managed to beat her. Believe it was NOT easy. Only two more matches to go, then the teams are decided. Erica Wu. I played her several times; I both won and lost against her. The outcome was unpredictable. I played my hardest and won against her 3-0. I was very lucky due to all the nets and edges that I got. I wish that the last point of the match could be replayed, whether I lose or win, because it was too unfair beacause I got an edge. My last match was coming up after I took a seat on the gray plastic chair. Syvan Guo. She was extremely hard to play against, adding up the two minor falls that I received while playing on the slippery cement floor (not that I'm blaming it or anything, just....inconvenient). I lost to her 3-0 that disapointed me. I was hoping for at least one game . Overall, I played very well in the trials, yet I still did not get into the team, and I congratualte everybody that got into the cadet team.

    My junior qualification match was against Anne Deug, the girl that beat Lily, almost beat Ariel, and placed in the cadet team. I felt weak but still I fought. I fought hard and reached until the 5th game, but lost to her 18-16. That was stil a great match. I shook her hand, one of the last hands that I was going to shake in the tournament.