2008: 1st Place	Cissy, Mom, Me, Bill, Marna, and Bob at the Caddy Shack
2007: 2nd Place	2005: 1st Place
2003: 1st Place	2001: 3rd Place

The first weekend in November will always hold a special place in my heart. For many, the month of November means college football, pumpkin pie, and winter coats. For me, November means Lake Conroe, Bob & Marna, and the National Mother-Daughter Hard Court Championships. Since I was a sophomore in high school, my mom and I have made the drive to Conroe, Texas to take to the courts at the Walden Racket Club. We have only missed the tournament twice in the past nine years: in 2004, my sophomore year at A&M, the team was competing in Hawaii, and in 2006, my senior year, I qualified for the National Indoors in Columbus, Ohio. The tournament is held in the Walden retirement community on Lake Conroe and each mother-daughter team is housed by a different family. Bob and Marna Leasure have been our faithful hosts for seven years and are my surrogate grandparents. They have rooted me on during matches at A&M, I attended their 50^th wedding anniversary party, and they have encouraged and supported me every step of the way. I am their proud eighth and oldest “grandchild.”

The weekend is exactly the same every year, for there is tradition in every event: We drive down on Friday and have dinner at the Caddy Shack, Walden’s local hangout. Painted on the restaurant’s back wall is a scene of people hanging out on the golf course. For a small fee you can have you and your family painted into the scene. Every year my mom and I look forward to searching for the new faces, but the real feat, however, is noticing the “disappearances” that have been painted over due to not so hush-hush family feuds. This year Bob and Marna met us for dinner at the Caddy Shack along with their friends and my fellow Aggies, Bill and Cissy Hardy. Bill and Cissy came and watched my mom and I play last year and cheered me on in the past down at A&M. They also would stop by to say hi at the A&M football pre-game show where I was a radio co-host in college. 

The tournament begins on Saturday and it is quickly apparent during the complimentary breakfast who is out for blood and who is there for a fun social weekend. I would say my mom and I fall smack dab in the middle of that spectrum, we always come ready to play, but our number one goal is to have fun together. The draw was smaller than usual this year and I don’t know if it had to do with the ailing economy and rising travel costs or the sheer intimidation that the Lubinsky duo always brings to the table. All this is to say, we got a bye first round, then didn’t even give up a game in the semi-finals. Because we only had one match on Saturday, it gave us the freedom to drive an hour north to Aggieland for the mini-tennis reunion tailgate. I got to see some of my favorite faces from my days at the Mitchell Tennis Center: Coach Kleinecke, Russell Brandes, Phil and Dee Springer, Joe and Barbra Armon, Monty Gibson, and Kevin O’shea. It was their support and encouragement that made playing for the Aggies incredibly special.

We drove back to Walden for the Saturday night cocktail party and banquet at the Yacht Club. I am convinced the cocktail party was inserted into the event calendar for the sake of the daughters competing in the tournament. It is not unusual to see many bellied up to the bar to ease the stress of playing with their mothers. Someday I plan to purpose a toast to all the hard working daughters who have to run around like chickens with their heads cut off as their sweet lil’mothers stand up close to the net and scream, “Yours!” Okay, so I am exaggerating a wee bit. The cocktail party and banquet are always my favorite parts of the weekend. All the mother and daughter teams along with their weekend hosts gather to chat, laugh, and reminisce on years past. I am however, not exaggerating when I tell you that the evening can be a perfect time to get scouting reports on your opponents. And let me tell you, the report is not always, “just hit it to the mom.”

The finals are held on Sunday and my mom and I were ready, based on the “cocktail scouting report,” to face off against a tough team. The mom just retired from coaching for 24 years at a community college in California and the daughter is a teaching pro in Arizona. We came out swinging to take the lead 4-1. Unnerved, our opponents came storming back, and despite our one set point, captured the set in a tiebreaker 9-7. Here is where most mother-daughter teams would fall apart. Dejected after being ahead and still losing the set, the “You should have’s” and “If only you could have’s” start flying. My mom and I, however, communicate very well. It is our secret weapon. We sat down on the changeover and talked about what we needed to do differently, what we did to get us the lead in the first set, and what our plan was for the second and third. What I admire most about my mom is her mental approach. Now don’t get me wrong, she does have a mean slice backhand, consistent serve, and killer volleys, but her “ain’t over till it’s over” attitude has always inspired me. There have been moments over our seven year tenure at the tournament where I felt like our ship had sailed, but it was in those moments that my mom was always ready and willing to climb back on board. After the first set changeover we never looked back. We played smart and aggressive throughout the next two sets to win 6-3, 6-3 giving us our third national championship!

In each of the three matches where we have captured the title the match point has always been quite memorable. In 2003 we played a strong team where the daughter was the head coach at the University of Kansas. After winning the first set easily 6-1, we found ourselves in a tiebreaker for the second. On match point at 6-5 my mom jumped in the air “a la Michael Jordan” and smashed an overhead for a winner. She turned around to me, let out her signature “Whoo Hoo,” and we threw our arms up victoriously in the air! In 2005 we battled against an infamous team from Ohio. The daughter played for Bowling Green University and the mother was ranked in the top 5 in the nation in women’s 40s. I am not exaggerating when I say that they were the worst sports that I have ever competed against in all my years of tennis. During a score discrepancy in the second set she turned to the crowd and screamed, “Of course you agree with them, they are from Texas!” While the mother fumed, the daughter cried, and accused us of cheating between sobs. Throughout the third set the mother threw her racket and used some “choice” words when the momentum would shift in our favor. We kept our cool and went on to win the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. On match point my mom dropped to her knees to hit an incredible volley that nailed the mother right in the stomach. Victory never tasted so sweet. Needless to say they didn’t stay for the awards ceremony….lame! This year the mother and daughter that we played were both very effective at the net. My mom made sure to remind me on match point to stick with our number one tactical strategy of keeping the ball down the middle. I served the ball and like clock work the daughter returned it deep and came charging in. I held my ground, set up, and ripped a forehand down the center of the court causing our opponents to collide! Once again…. “Momma knows best!”

Now you can see why the first weekend in November will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope to compete in the tournament someday with my own daughter. What makes mother-daughter doubles so special is that you just can’t pick your partner. You have to play with the “cards you are dealt,” and in my mind God dealt me a royal flush.

The Road to my 2nd Pro Doubles Title!

Fellow Aggie, Dell Perry, who provided my mom and me a place to stay in Atlanta	My mom's college roomate, Jennifer, and husband, Gary
My mom with Jennifer's prized mule, Hooch	My mom's maid of honor, Pam Landy
The Pro-Am in Evansville, Indiana with our host Don Smith	At the Psychiatric Museum in St. Joe, Missouri with Aggie teammate Sarah Foster. This case contains the stomach contents of an insane women: saltshaker lids, nails, buttons, safety pins and more!
Ice & Stem: 20 mintues on, 40 mintues off	(L to R) amidst the ball kids: opponents, my partner Lauren Lui, and yours truly
A victory smooch from my #1 Fan in St. Joe, Betty	Local t.v. news interview with the champs!

Sometimes the journey we're on takes unexpected turns (no pun intended!) After a slow start in Atlanta,  and a wonderful few days in Franklin, Tennessee with my mom's dear friends, I picked up the pace in Evansville, Indiana. But here's where the road got bumpy:

I stormed through my first two rounds, setting up a college re-match with the infamous Baylor Bear, Zuzanna Zemenova (ZZ), in the Quarterfinals. I lost to ZZ three times during my days at A&M and was excited to get to play her under different circumstances. She came out swinging, in typical ZZ fashion, to take the first set; however, we were neck and neck in the second set, and I could tell she was starting to fade. I was serving at 4-5, hit a fabulous approach shot to take the net, she barely gets it back just dipping the ball out of reach, I lunge across my body with my left foot and then...SNAP, CRACKLE, POP. Next thing I know I am surrounded by a line judge, the trainer, the tournament director, ZZ, and my mom. Their voices swirl around me as I grasp my swelling ankle: the trainer, "You're okay, you're okay," the tournament director, "She has to retire,"  ZZ, "Anna, I am so sorry I shouldn't have hit that shot!" and my sweet mom, "Lord, be with Anna." I was forced to retire and hopped off the court. The prognosis for this "unexpected turn": Severely sprained ankle, stem and ice 20 minutes on, 40 minutes off, and elevate. (Stem: electronic current is sent through 4 sticky pads outlining the injured area to stimulate the muscle.)  

I passed the time over the next few days doing exactly what the doctor ordered. Luckily I had two ways to take my mind off the pain: my trusty Harry Potter novel, Goblet of Fire, and chats with my mom. (I got to see some hilarious photographs at her college roommate's house in Tennessee that I felt needed some serious explanation!) When Sunday rolled around it was time to make a huge decision: pack up and go home or head to St. Joe, Missouri for the last tournament. I decided to stay on course, knowing I wouldn't have to play again until Wednesday. I have had several ankle injuries in the past: broke my left jumping across a creek when I was ten, tore all the ligaments in my right sliding on a clay court when I was sixteen, and sprained both countless times playing basketball in high school. I had experienced the worst with both ankles and knew as the swelling and pain began to steadily decrease I would be able to at least "attempt" to play. 

With it triple taped and braced up I took to the court in St. Joe and won my first singles match. My side to side movement was quite limited, however, and I lost next day in three long sets. Down but not out I still had doubles to play. My partner, Lauren Lui, and I had lost in Evansville in the Quarterfinals and were poised to redeem ourselves in St. Joe. I could effectively move up and back in doubles but occasionally yelled out "Yours!" sending Lauren on treks to scrape and dig out balls in the back court. We steam rolled through our first two rounds and came up against a talented team in the Semifinals. One of the girls was from England and had once reached the second round of Wimbledon, the other was a standout at Georgia Tech University. Down 4-6, 3-5 (Deuce), with no-ad scoring in doubles this put us down match point,  I served and rushed the net only to see our opponent hit up a lob that sailed over my partner's head. It was as if we were watching the ball in slow motion, our fate seemed to be sealed. It was then that Lady luck appeared, the lob landed out by inches, we had been saved by "the skin of our teeth." The celebration was short lived as we soon found out selves down again, this time 0-40 (quadruple matchpoint.) We saved one incredibly by reflexing several blistering volleys at the net, our rackets blocking and defending as if they were shields. We clawed our way back to deuce and I asked Lauren if she would "take it," meaning she would receive during the no-ad point (their 5th match point). What I love about Lauren is she is always cool, calm, and collected, willing to return during the no-ad points with a shrug of her shoulders. I looked her square in the eye and said, "No matter what happens, thank you for taking all the ad-points. I am proud of you." Unable to produce against Lauren's penetrating backhand return, our opponent's volley landed wide, and I could hardly contain myself! I leapt over to Lauren and said with a wide smile, "Someone wants us to win this!" And..................we did! We took the second set in a tiebreaker and won the third set 10-point tiebreaker 10-5. I really pulled my weight in both tiebreakers and played like an animal at the net. During one critical point the chair umpire missed a call on the baseline. The ball was at least a foot out but for whatever reason she didn't make the call (The umpire's make all the calls in the pros, no questions asked). With my mouth wide open, and my eyes fixed in disbelief on the chair umpire, I somehow managed to hit the ball back but it was immediately cut off at the net by our opponent and smashed seemingly out of Lauren's reach. In one fluid motion Lauren stretched out with all her might to reflex the ball into the open court. Winning that point (twice!) set us up with our first, and only needed, match point! After a double fault from the former Wimbledon competitor (just proves that even veteran's can't escape nerves!), the words that seemed so far away down 0-40 were spoken, "Game, Set, Match, Lui Lubinsky!" The "cool cucumber" (Lauren) and "the ferocious feline" (Me), with a little help from Lady Luck, had landed a spot in the finals!

I was excited to get another crack at a doubles title as I had fallen short with Bo in Sumter and it had been over a year since my first pro title in Evansville last summer. With line judges surrounding the court and ball kids in every corner we took to the stage ready to soak up every moment. We faced off against a veteran from Israel and another college standout who played for this year's National Championship Team of UCLA. We came out strong in the first set taking it 6-2. They regained momentum in the second set to force a deciding 10-point tiebreaker. Before every 10-point tiebreaker I love to look at my partner with a big toothy grin and say, "Alright, this is my favorite part!" to help get them energized but unlike many of my partners in the past, Lauren thrives under the pressure as well. We shot out of the gate to go up 4-1. During one point I ran from the baseline to the net to retrieve a drop shot but couldn't stop myself with my bum ankle and ended up knocking over a chair on the sideline! My speed despite my ankle, coupled with the noise from the falling chair, overwhelmed the Israeli and she sent her volley wide. They picked up the pace to even the score at 4-4, we then took the lead to go up 6-4, but nerves reared their ugly head, and all of a sudden we lost 4 straight points to go down 6-8. Just two points away from defeat......Deep Breath......We fought back to 8-8 and with my adrenaline pumping I yelled out a VERY loud "C'mon!" at which point Lauren looked at me wide-eyed and said, "Whoa you're scaring me." I looked at her with fire in my eyes and said, "I want to win this." And.........we did......eventually, by a score of 12-10. Five match points down in the semis and two points away from defeat in the finals, we were the champions!

Winning this pro title was extra special because I got to share the experience with two of my biggest fans, my mom and Betty Long. Betty has been my St. Joe host for the past two years. She is my dad's best friend's friend's mom (how's that for six degrees of separation!) She is the sweetest little lady I have ever known, besides my own grandma that is. With her Life-Alert hanging around her neck and cane in tow she cheered me on the entire tournament. (There were times in the doubles matches when I thought my mom was going to reach over and press the Life-Alert button because she herself was having a heart-attack!) We got to make a speech during the awards ceremony and it was such a joy to publicly thank my mom and Betty for supporting me. It brought tears to her eyes when I thanked her for being my #1 fan and for making me goulash (a dish that is often described as having "everything but the kitchen sink" in it!) 

So yes, even though my journey took an "unexpected turn,"  in the end I found my way, and "fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith ( 2 Timothy 4:7)."

My three week journey by the numbers:

3164 miles traveled by car from Dallas to Atlanta, GA; Franklin, TN; Evansville, IN; and St. Joe, Missouri
841 dollars made in prize money
802 current singles ranking
671 career high doubles ranking
4 Harry Potter books I read
3 fabulous hosts: Dell Perry, Don & Jane Smith, and Betty Long
2 pro titles to my name
1 sprained ankle

     Doubles Finalists in the Palmetto Pro Open

Faithful Sumter Aggies: Les Carpenter                               and Tom Olsen	Doubles Partner Bo Verhulsdonk                                   from Holland
Award Ceremony	My #1 Fan: My Momma

RESULTS
Round of 16: 7-6, 7-6
Quaterfinals: 3-6, 7-6, [11-9]
Semifinals: 4-6, 6-3, [10-4]
Finals: 6-2, 2-6, [6-10]                                                                                                         

                                                          
Competing in the Palmetto Pro Open exposed a rollercoaster of emotions:
Excitement: It was the first tournament where I was automatically entered into the main draw based on my new ranking (#845) and wouldn't have to battle through the qualifying rounds. It was also the first time since my days on the courts of Aggieland that my mom would be able to see me play.
Frustration: I had been struggling with acid reflux prior to leaving for South Carolina and was unable to mitigate the pain, nausea, and fatigue associated with the illness before my first round singles match. It was a disaster to say the least.
Determination: I had previously asked my friend Bo Verhulsdonk to play doubles and was determined not to let her down despite my weakness (I began to feel better and better as the tournament progressed thanks to my trusty Maalox and Prilosec). We had never played together before, yet instantly connected on the court, bringing complimentary strengths to the table: the brain and the brawn if you will. Bo was the brawn: powerful and aggressive with an incredible serve and unmatched overhead. I was the brains: cunning and crafty with precise returns and effective topspin lobs. Each match was so closely contested , yet it was our ultimate goal (which we voiced before every match) that brought us through the most intense and nerve wrecking situations: Have Fun.
Gratitude: In typical Aggie fashion, the Association of Former Students came through  to provide housing for my mom and me in Sumter, South Carolina. This is the third time on my professional journey that I have been fortunate enough to find a place to stay through the association, the other two cities being Evansville, Indiana and Augusta, Georgia last year. We stayed our first night with Tom and Jackie Olsen. Tom, Class of '56, is a retired Air Force Major General who still works for the city of Sumter to coordinate defense and improvement of Shaw Air Force Base. The rest of our week in Sumter we spent at the home of Les and Margy Carpenter. Les, Class of '69, is a retired Army Reservist who is now the Dean of the University of South Carolina Sumter. Their encouragment and support throughout the week was a true blessing.  During changeovers I would look over to see my mom bellowing with laughter in between Jackie and Margy or watch the sunlight flash off the Aggie rings of Tom and Les. It is meeting people like this that make my experience all the more wonderful.

Up Next: This Texan is finally playing back on her home turf! I will be competing in Houston June 14-22 at the Downtown Met. If anyone is interested in seeing me play, please email me and I will send out more information as the date approaches.
                                                                                                       


 

FINALIST AT THE
IV COPA MAZATLAN "CLUB EL CID" TORNEO

Qualifying Round of 32: Defeated a Columbian 6-7, 6-4, 6-1
Qualifying Round of 16: Defeated an American 7-5, 6-3
Main Draw Round of 32: Defeated the Chilean I lost to in Obregon 6-3, 6-1
Main Draw Round of 16: Defeated an American 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
Main Draw Quaterfinals: Defeated an Argentinean 7-6, 3-6, 6-1
Main Draw Semifinals: Defeated a Russian 6-3, 6-2
Main Draw Finals: Lost to a New Zealander 6-7, 7-6, 4-6

2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

VI Copas Itson Torneo
Obergon, Mexico

On the Court: 
The four tournaments here in Mexico consist of a 32 player qualifying draw, meaning you must win two matches to advance to the main draw. 

Qualifying Round of 32: Defeated a girl from Viet Nam (7-6, 7-5). I was down 1-4 in the first set tiebreaker and 3-5 in the second set but managed to claw, scrap, and dig my way out. She was very robotic in her movements and maintained a poker face throughout the entire match until the end.... after the last point she tilted her head back, threw her arms out wide, and belted out "NOOOO!" It was like watching R2D2 from Star Wars blow a fuse.

Qualifying Round of 16: Defeated a girl from Guatemala (6-1, 6-4). This was a tough match mentally as I had befriended my opponent during my previous tournaments in Mexico last October. We had played several practice sets, all of which I won, but all of which were very closely contested. She is an extremely talented 17 year old who competes for Guatemala in Fed Cup. I was down 3-4 in the second set before I "kicked it up a notch" as Emeril Lagasse would say, and reeled off the last three games. (For all you who are unfamiliar with Emeril Lagasse he is a famous chef on the Food Network who spices up his Cajun cuisine by furiously throwing in cayenne pepper and yelling "BAM!") 

Main Draw Round of 32: Defeated a girl from Mexico (6-0, 6-0). In tennis terminology this is referred to as "bagel-ing." I called my mom after the match and she asked, "So did you play the mayor's daughter or what?" No she wasn't the mayor's daughter, but she was a local wildcard, meaning the entire city of Obregon was present to cheer her on. Luckily my years as a Fightin' Texas Aggie playing in front of a hostile University of Texas crowd had prepared me for such an exhilarating environment. During her only game point of the match she hit a high lob that bounced deep into the court. I calmly steadied myself to hit my favorite shot in all of tennis, a shot that always made my college coach's blood curdle, an overhead from the baseline! I could see the crowd in my peripheral vision, on their feet, hissing...jeering, but in one strong motion I smashed the ball in the opposite corner......silence is, and was so very golden.

Main Draw Round of 16: Lost to a girl from Chile (4-6, 4-6).  The match turned on only a few crucial points each set. She had a very effective serve which I managed to break only once. I played well, stayed aggressive the entire match, and am not the least bit discouraged. "Aggies never lose; they just run out of time."


Off the court:
From the beaches of Portugal, to the slums of Mexico. Quite a transition yes....but I am always up for a new challenge.  Before I arrived in Mexico I had been studying Spanish with an online program called Rosetta Stone. I practiced for an hour each evening for three weeks leading up to my trip. I have really stepped out of my comfort zone, pushed aside my perfectionist tendencies, and forced myself to strike up a conversation whenever possible. I shared a hotel room with girls from Chicago, Australia, and the Netherlands and acted as translator for our group. We had free Wi-Fi at the courts and I passed the time by continuing my online Spanish lessons and talking to friends and family on Skype (an internet phone accessible with a headset.)

So all is well South of the Border, the only real frustrating part is brushing my teeth with bottled water…. I think I will survive.

On to the red clay courts of Los Mochis.....

On the court: Portimao Ladies Open

Singles:
Match #1: Beat a girl from Brazil 6-1, 6-4
Match #2: Lost to the same French girl I beat last week 4-6, 3-6.  Blasted Napoleon! It was a great match from start to finish, decided only by a few points here in there. There were three other girls in the tournament who suffered similar fates, all losing to players they had beaten last week. There is definitely something to be said for the revenge factor.

Doubles:
Unfortunately, Sarah and I never got to play together because neither of us had a doubles ranking (You have to win a round in three separate tournaments to get a ranking, up until this point I had only won rounds in two tournaments). The draws are always very small, limited to four qualifying teams and sixteen main draw teams. A girl from England, named Danielle Brown, approached me on the first day and asked me to play with her (she had a ranking and also had received a wild card into main draw from the tournament director.)
Danielle and I made for an excellent team, reaching the semi-finals:
Round of 16: Won  6-3, 6-1
Quarterfinals: Won 6-1, 3-6 [10-3] (Ten point tie-breakers are played in lieu of third sets)
Semifinals: Lost  2-6, 1-6
Thanks to great tournament with Danielle I now have a doubles world ranking of #828!   

Off the court:
My last week in Portugal can only be described by a familiar children's song: "Rain, rain, go away, come again another day...." There were a total of four days completely rained out at the tournament. I passed the time by reading One Free Lousy Packet of Seed (a delightful British comedy) and indulging at the Sweet Factory candy kiosk in the mall beside the courts. 
Unfortunately, our original housing plans fell through as the family turned out to live in an adjoining city too far from Portimao. Sarah and I stayed in a cheap hotel called the Santa Catalina, from which we made the ten minute trek every morning to the resort host hotel to board the tournament bus. A ten minute walk doesn't sound very tiring, but add in a tennis bag and a 100 stair decent through the Fortaleza do Santa Catarina (built in 1621 by the order the Algarvian, Joao de Castro, for the protection of the city from Spanish pirates and Moors) and you might reconsider saving only 20 euros per night by not staying in the host hotel!  
Despite the rain, the beach in Portimao, Praia da Rocha, was still absolutely breathtaking. On several mornings, I braved the ominous black clouds and went for a run next to the waters edge. It took me exactly 22 minutes to run the length of the beach, touch the westernmost rock, back up the beach and across the pier, touch the peppermint stripped light house, and back down the pier. Whew!
Our flight back to the states took us again by way of London where we enjoyed a river cruise down the Thames, went up in the London Eye, and saw Wicked the Musical. 
And now here I sit, back in my house in Richardson, attempting to get over jet lag. It is 11:20 p.m. but with the time difference feels like 5:20 a.m. As I reflect on this past month, I can't help but smile...what an experience...what a journey.  

Up Next: Mexico in April............

"Quao Grandes Es Tu" is Portugese for "How Great Thou Art." This is the song in my heart as I reflect on my first week in Portugal:

On the Court:  Vale Do Lobo Ladies Open
Won my first round against a fiesty lefty from Portugal, 6-3, 6-2. 
Lost second round to an even fiestier lefty from the Netherlands, 1-6, 0-6. Yes I got "bagled" in the second set , but I didn't go down without a fight. She was the number 2 seed ranked 685 in the world. A tall, Viking-like Dutchman/woman with a wicked forehand and gigantic serve.  I often felt like David vs. Goliath, except she was the one holding the slingshot, and an accurate one at that. In one particular game I got aced three times in a row!  She was most definitely one of the best players I have ever played, making Zuzana Zemenova, the infamous Baylor Bear who cleaned my clock on several occasions throughout college tennis, look like a country club weekend player. I must learn to adjust to the more consistently aggressive, all court European professional gamestyle. I chalk it up to experience and move on.... 

Off the Court:
Sarah "Foss" Foster and I set out for Portugal on January 28th. Our flight had a day layover in London where I had arranged for us to stay with Becki Fong, a girl I played in my first professional main draw match in Ft. Worth this past June. Becki and I became friends throughout the summer tournaments and she was delighted to put us up for the night. Fighting jet lag (a 6 hour difference), we completed the "London in Half A Day Tour" mapped out for us by Becki's sister: Buckinham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Tower of London, London Bridge, Picadilly Circus, St. Paul's Cathedral, Millenium Bridge, and Oxford Circus...whew! By foot, subway, bus, and train we made our way throught the city as historic landmarks we had only scence during Wimbledon coverage came to life before our eyes!   
We woke up at 4 a.m. to catch our flight to Faro, Portugal where we were greeted at the airport by Jim and Elizabeth McMillan. Here is the short version of the "six degrees of seperation" story on how we got housing while in Portugal:

Nancy McWilliams (missionary with Christian Associates, lives in Colorado, wife of former pastor of my family's church in Richardson)
Marty Uhler (pastor in Lisbon, Nancy emailed him our story asking if he knew anyone in the Algarve Region, the southern tip of Portugal )
Peter Sluimer (name and phone number emailed to me by Marty, said it was a long shot. He hadn't been in contact with Peter for 8 years)
Jim McMillan (my mom called Peter, he answered!, I emailed him our story, heard back from him the next day saying he found us a place to  stay in all three cities with families through his chuch, Jim and Elizabeth McMillan being the first.)

Jim and Elizabeth are a retired couple from Stonehaven, Scotland. They live up in the hills of a small town called Loule. As we drove up to the gates of "Casa Belmont," as they call their estate, my jaw dropped in amazement. "Oh my gosh," I couldn't help but whisper. A magnificent white house rose up through the trees, fitted with a carpet tennis court, pool, fish pond, and orchards. Yes the accomodations have been better than any 5 star restort, but it is the people inside that have made our trip meaningful in every way. We share breakfast, lunch, and dinner together (my favorite dish being tamboril, a Portugese stew made with monk fish, prawns, and rice), have tea time every evening and play scrabble, and laugh and laugh and laugh at each other's "funny" accents. Jim and Elizabeth also made outstanding tour guides as we ventured each day to a new place in the Algarve. We strolled through the bustling carnival in Loule (during the mayhem Sarah and I both got eggs smashed on our heads!), admired the boats in the marina of Valemourda, crept through a tunnel on the beach of Albufiera, and sipped tea in the cobblestone streets of Faro. My favorite experience, however, was attending their church on Sunday, a small ampitheater set in the hills filled with Christians from all walks of life: German, Scottish, Portugese, South African, Dutch, Swiss, and two teary-eyed Aggies. We took communion, held hands in a circle as we prayed the Lord's prayer, and sang "Quao Grande Es Tu", "How Great Thou Art." 
God has truly blessed Sarah and I on and off the court with the privilege of playing professionally in Europe coupled with an educational and heart warming cultural experience. He has protected and provided for us in ways I could have never imagined: Quao Grande Es Tu, Quao Grande Es Tu! 

On to Albufiera.....

"Got a little story for ya Ags": (for all you non A&M fanatics, that is how the yell leaders in Aggieland kick off every yell practice at midnight before a home football game)

It is August 21^st, 2006. I wake up at 8 a.m., slip on my favorite yellow tank top, and begin my ten minute bike ride to work. I have been interning all summer at the prestigious IMG Academies in Bradenton, Florida, home to the famed Bollettieri Tennis Academy. As I ride through the front entrance, I watch the morning sun peek through the palm trees that line the courts and I can’t help but smile. It is my 22^nd birthday and it couldn’t be a more beautiful day. The ultimate present awaits me at 8:30 a.m., a private tennis lesson with Nick Bollettieri, the world renowned coach of many of the games greatest legends. I slowly make my way to the court, imagining my name amongst the alumni plaques that adorn the back gate: Martina Navratilova, Andre Agassi, Serena Williams, Bjorn Borg, Anna Lubinsky! My boss had originally scheduled the lesson to be for thirty minutes, but it was later shortened to fifteen when Christie Brinkley showed up early with her eager eleven year old son. Fifteen minutes. I expected it would be just long enough for a few helpful pointers and an encouraging pat on the back. Little did I know that those fifteen minutes would change my life. He is instantly impressed with each and every stroke, complimenting me on my technique and movement to the ball. After ten minutes of hitting he came around to my side of the net, walked right up to me and looking me squarely in the eye asks, “Have you considered trying out the pro tour?” I laugh and shake my head. To me the idea had always been a distant daydream. As of this summer, my dream has become a reality. 

That very day Nick Bollettieri extended to me an invitation of a lifetime, the opportunity to train at his academy upon graduating from A&M. I took him up on his offer arriving in Bradenton, Florida this November.

I endured a strict training schedule:
6:30 a.m.-7:30 Warm Up: Consisting of either a mile run, jump rope, or on-court sprinting 
8:00-10:00 Group Practice: Drilling with the academy's top female players on both clay and hard courts
11:00-12:00 Gym Workout: Lifted weights four times a week and did an hour of conditioning every day
1:00-2:00 Private Lessons: I got to be a hitting partner for many players during their private lessons with their coach and occasionally got to work one on one with Maria Sharapova's former coach. 
4:00-6:00 Practice match

For two weeks, while an international junior tournament was being held at the Bollettieri Academy, I stayed in Tampa with my grandparents and trained with my former Aggie teammate Sarah Foster at the Steve Smith Tennis School, an academy focused heavily on technique. The coaches there worked with me on making a grip change on my forehand and I spent hours honing in the adjustment on the ball machine. My discipline and patience paid off when I returned to the Bollettieri Academy and defeated all four of the girls I had lost to in practice matches when I first arrived in Florida. I also split sets with a player ranked #276 in the world from Bulgaria who was at the academy to train for an upcoming tournament. (She didn’t want to play a third set, she knew her fate was sealed!)  After six weeks in Florida I believe I have matured both as a tennis player and as a person. At Bollettieri’s I was challenged to persevere through strenuous days on the court in a highly competitive atmosphere where I was very much alone. A tough adjustment from the practices down in Aggieland where I was daily encouraged and supported by my coach and team. At the Steve Smith Tennis School I was willing to swallow my pride, make a change, and put forth the effort to develop a new and more effective way of hitting a forehand. I am excited to utilize all I learned while in Florida in the upcoming year. Bring it on 2008!

Next Stop: Sarah Foster and I will be heading to the south of Portugal to compete in 3 tournaments from January 28^th- February 25^th. We will be in the cities of: Vale Do Lobo, Albufeira, and Portimao. I will keep you posted….(If you know of any housing possibilities please let me know!)

"What are the odds?" I laughed to myself upon seeing the draw for the tournament here in San Luis Potosi. My first round opponent would be none other then the girl from Finland that I lost to last week! I spotted her looking at me out of the corner of my eye and I gave her a big toothy grin.  Last week I was frustrated and embarrassed to report a loss, this week I am elated and proud to report a win! The score: 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. I was down 2-6, 1-3 when I finally settled in and brought out "the goods." I played some of the best serve and volley tennis of my career, finishing the match off with an overhead smash and loud "COME ON!" for good measure. I accomplished many feats with this win. First, she was the second highest ranked opponent I have beaten in my pro career coming in at 444 (my best win was over an opponent ranked 300.) Second, I won my first professional three-set match, and first three setter since beating Auburn this February on the courts in Aggieland. Third, I played on center court with ball-boys (last week the fact that I didn´t have to walk around picking up balls caused me to rush my play, this week I made a point to take my time and towel off between each point.) 
I almost came home last week after losing in Saltillo. I was frustrated with myself and my game. I thought long and hard  about my decision and I realized that the only way I would improve was if I continued to lay myself out there time and time again. So I "pulled up my bootstraps" and made the 6 hour bus ride to San Luis Potosi.....God gave me a second chance and I took it. Now that deserves a "WHOOP!"

I am embarrassed and frustrated to report that I lost today 0-6, 4-6. She was a respectable opponent, being ranked #428, but I know I am capable of better tennis. The past two days I have been trying to get used to the higher altitude in Saltillo. Here tennis is played with pressureless balls, ones that are essentailly flat so as to keep them from flying over the back fence. You really have to nail the ball in order to get it over the net. Finesse shots: slice and underspin are out of the question. The ball does not "pop" off the strings as it does normally, all power is basically lost. The two most frustrating challenges I faced were my inablity to effectively slice and the loss of power on my serve. I pride myself on being able to mix up the pace of the ball as well as knock my opponent around when serving. To top it all off I let my excitement of finally getting to compete turn into pressure, which ultimatley turned into nervousness.  I was extremely tight out on the court today. I felt as if I needed to prove something to the woman who said, "it is a miracle that you got in", to all the players who have been giving me mocking "look at the American who hasn´t touched the court" stares, to anyone who has been reading this blog, and most of all to myelf. An inability to adjust to the altitude coupled with overwhelming pride and nerves does not make for quality tennis. The tennis I have worked so hard to improve. The tennis I know deep down I am capable of.  My experience in Mexico continues to teach me lesson after lesson.......... I have never faced so many challenges at once, but as the famed British pop band of the 90s, Chumbawumba, sings, " I get knocked down, but I get up again, you´re never gonna keep me down!"

Prayers have been answered as I was the last player to be accepted into the draw today in Saltillo! I walked slowly up to the tournamnet desk around 7:00 p.m. to ask what my status was. The woman, who last week in Monterrey had been very rude when explaining the wildcard situation, smiled at me saying, "It's a miracle but you got in."  When I checked in earlier in the day I made a point to thank her for "kindly" explaining the process to me while in Monterrey. I "killed her with kindness" in hopes she might have mercy on me. In this tournament they only gave out 4 wildcards allowing me to remain on the players list! I play Piia Suomalainen from Finland ranked 428 in the world tommorow, second match on after 10:00 a.m. It will be a tough contest but I am more than up for the challenge. I used last week wisely, practicing and working out in the gym everyday. I am excited and determined to make the most of this opportunity.

Hola from Monterrey! Around here I am known as "Ana the Gringo." The middle daughter, Sophia, continues to remind me that it is only a joke, not a racist comment. She explained to me the origin of the word: During the battle of the Alamo the Americans wore green uniforms and in order to get the entire army to advance someone would yell "Green Go!" To the Mexicans this sounded like "Gringo" and the name stuck. A little history lesson for those who didn't know. Well, I can honestly say that my trip to Mexico has been the most wonderful experience of my life. Though I didn't get into either singles or doubles (Their were many strong teams that had a combined ranking higher then my partner and I, so it was legitamate) I have had the opportunity to practice every single day with extremely talented players. Before my doubles partner left we played a practice match and I beat her 6-2. 6-2. She finished #9 in the country in college tennis this past year and I had lost to her two years ago win the Aggies took on the Tarheels of UNC. Next I played three sets against a girl ranked #811 in the world from Guatemala and won 6-3. 6-2, 6-1. If I am not playing practice sets I have been drilling with the #1 seed in the tournament. We became friends and she respects my tennis as she has asked me to practice almost everyday. I also played two tiebreakers against a former Baylor Bear and took her down with no problem! Go Ags! I am leaving tommorow for Saltillo in hopes I will be able to finally compete in a tournament. 
Off the court I have gotten to experience the Mexican culture at its finest. Sophia has taken me all around Monterrey to meet her friends and see the sites. Yesterday we went to the flag at the center of the city on top of a mountain where the view is spectacular. You can see for miles and miles. Everything is so crowded together nestled inside mountains on all sides. Everyone here is so friendly. Even if you are meeting someone for the first time you kiss on the cheek. My face is practically raw from so many encounters! The food here is fabulous too. Mexican cuisine has always been my favorite and now I get to have it every night! But no tequila shots or margaritas for me, I am training! Tonight is "Juevositas." Every Thursday (Juevo), it is a tradition to get together with friends. Tonight is the weekly Paddle Tennis Tournament at my family's house.  Last week when I arrived they had just finished playing. This week I get to watch and maybe get in on the action. I played the other day with Sophia's friends and they deemed me worthy! More than ever I realize that God is in control. I was so upset upon learning I wouldn't be able to play this week,  but with a little prayer and patience everything has really turned out for the best.  

Holà from Monterrey! I arrived yesterday around 9 p.m. after a miserable 2 hour delay. Driving through the city at night was incredible. The dark mountains loomed magnificently in the distance resembling gigantic mounds of chocolate ice cream "sprinkled" with millions of lights. I arrived at the home of the family I am staying with to a very warm welcome.  A faithful group of old friends gather every thursday night for paddle tennis, a game combining the American versions of tennis and racketball. They had just finished their weekly game and were  assembled in the family's pool house kitchen. I was introduced as "Ana" while some shook my hand and others greeted me with a customary kiss on the cheek. I was ushered to a seat at the end of the table by Sophia, the middle daughter, and offered a roast beef torta with fries. As the spanish swirled around me, I silently berated myself for not taking the language in college.  For a moment I felt a little bit like the new animal import from Africa at the Dallas Zoo as everyone in the room stared at me wide-eyed. The sweet little gradmother, Manè, sensed my hesitation, picked up my hand, and asked if I would like something sugary.  All who know me know that I rarely pass up an invitation for something sweet. She went to the fridge and pulled out a large jar that looked like apricot jelly. She explained the dessert to be candied orange peels marinated in syrup. To my delight she dished me out a hearty helping. I was thoroughly enjoying myself until she insisted I try it with jalapeno goat cheese. I shot her a confused look, but not wanting to be rude, I gladly accepted the spoonful that she had prepared.  Lesson number one, learn to say no, even to sweet old grandmothers. I spent my first night in Mexico not in a bed, but on the tiled floor next to the toilet.