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