Match Point for Cleo
Cleo is playing in her first tennis tournament against a much better opponent.
Cleo had practised for months. Today was her first tennis tournament. As she stepped onto the court, her hands were sweaty and her heart was thumping. Across the net stood Basil, the club champion.
‘Just play your game,’ said her coach, Nina the pony. ‘Enjoy it.’ Cleo nodded. She bounced the ball three times, tossed it high, and served. THWACK! It flew over the net.
Basil was fast and strong. Point after point went to Basil. Cleo lost the first set, 6-2. She wanted to cry. But in the second set, she took a deep breath and tried a new plan.
She ran for every ball. She won three points in a row! The crowd cheered. Though Basil won the match in the end, Cleo had played her best tennis ever.
At the net, Basil shook her hand. ‘That was a great match,’ said Basil. ‘You’ll be champion one day.’ Cleo grinned. ‘I’ll see you next year!’
The little lesson
Courage and effort matter more than the score.
Let’s talk about it
- How did Cleo feel before the match?
- What did Basil do at the end?
Finish stories to collect Cleo as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
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