Match Point for Zeke
Zeke is playing in her first tennis tournament against a much better opponent.
Zeke 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 Idris, the club champion.
‘Just play your game,’ said her coach, Pip the pony. ‘Enjoy it.’ Zeke nodded. She bounced the ball three times, tossed it high, and served. THWACK! It flew over the net.
Idris was fast and strong. Point after point went to Idris. Zeke lost the first set, 7-5. 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 Idris won the match in the end, Zeke had played her best tennis ever.
At the net, Idris shook her hand. ‘That was a great match,’ said Idris. ‘You’ll be champion one day.’ Zeke 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 Zeke feel before the match?
- What did Idris do at the end?
Finish stories to collect Zeke as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
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