Tennis is a weird sport.

It's mental and takes a lot of your nerves. It push you to the limit, not
only physically but also mentally. 

Andre Agassi said that tennis is like boxing - but it hurts INSIDE you. 

I got to deal with anxiety when playing, especially during important matches
(I'm back into tennis now after a 20, maybe 25 years stop).  And I'm trying
to be more relaxed while I'm playing - just for the fun of it.  I'm 50, I
know maybe I can't reach the level I was when I was 16 or 20 or 25 (altought
I think now I'm kinda a better player than before, but this is a different
story).

Well, I had an enlightenment some days ago, I was at the net rushing for a
passing shot - that touched the net and dropped very short.  I used to lose
those points, furiously rushing to the ball and kicking the shit out of it
in full power with a topspin forehand or backhand, just to see (mostly, not
every time) the ball fly over the fence and laugh at my stupidity.

But this time I just saw the ball bounce very high on the net and drop in
front of me. And I just... I don't know how to describe it: I just 
relaxed myself, and simply WALKED toward the ball. I put my racket under the
ball and popped the ball just over the net. 10 cm clearance, 10 cm over the
net. 
                    .
                 .      .
               .      |
            \ o       |  .
             \        |
                      |   .
                      |   o 
----------------------|------------------------

Such a beautiful dropshot.  I said to myself "I want to put the ball right
there", and the ball went exactly there.  And I did it with no effort, but
simply looking at the ball, smiling, almost walking, putting the racket in
front of me, and doing a little "pop" on the back.

I suddendly was enlightened. 

I hope my tennis will be better after this.

(If my patellar tendinitis heals, but that's another story)