Page 134 of Game Point
I pushed it away, resetting myself. She still had far to go. And even then, there was a tie break.
I had this.
She served again, taking her time to bounce the ball against the hard court, no doubt trying to knock me from my rhythm. The shot went straight over, and we hit back and forth. She returned, my eyes assessing in the fraction of a second I had to make the decision. I let the ball fly past me, only to be rewarded with the familiar shout: ‘OUT’.
40–30
Let’s go.
She served again, and this time, she managed to catch me at the net, coming close to volley it over. I reacted in time, using my control over my body and racket to bring it back. She returned from the baseline, and this time I didn’t swing, the ball out, and the point mine.
40–40
My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest, but I used every last bit of remaining strength to keep myself calm and level.
40–AD.
One more, and it was over. One more … and it was mine.
I looked to the box, seeing my family, my boyfriend, took in the crowd around the arena, cheering for me. Closing my eyes, I remembered that first night, months ago, Oliver’s voice replaying in my mind.
‘You’re closer than you know, Dylan. You’ve gotta keep your head on straight.’
Chloe got into position, her expression conveying nothing but determination and grit. She had it, whatever it took to make it into one of the greats, and I had absolutely no doubt that I’d meet her on the court again.
She served high and fast. I pulled my racket back, returning with a backhand, aiming into open court. This was the game that would determine the winner. If we went into a third set, she’d surely walk away with it. There was no way she was letting that second chance slip from her. But this match, it was mine.
She hit it back over the net, a blistering speed as she clung to victory, a desperate attempt to win it from me. Cutting her off, I met the ball at the net, smashing it over with an overhead swing. I sent it short, landing down the middle of the court.
Chloe watched it fly out of bounds, for once helpless. I fell to my knees, my racket thrown to the side, the crowd already on their feet cheering so loudly I could barely hear the umpire announcing the words I had waited my entire life to hear.
‘Game, set, match – Bailey. 2 sets to love.’
Tears rolled down my face as I struggled to comprehend what I had done. A look at the box confirmed what I knew. My family, standing, cheering, congratulating each other. Oliver’s eyes on me, the biggest, proudest smile on his lips as he cheered and hollered.
I had done it, finally, exactly where I needed to be.Home.
Meeting Chloe at the net, I was barely able to keep my legs underneath me. She looked as unhappy as she did when I had to stop the match.
‘Good match, you played well,’ I congratulated, shaking her hand.
She shook her head, her palm meeting mine nonetheless. She covered her mouth to stop anyone from picking up what she was saying. ‘That was some shit you pulled. I hope it was worth it.’
Chloe moved to leave, but I didn’t let go of her hand, glaring down at her. I remembered this moment, I’d done that before. I’d been cold hearted instead of congratulating my opponent, and now I knew where that had led me.
Softening my gaze, I spoke again, not bothering to cover my mouth. ‘I look forward to meeting you here again. You’ve got a good career ahead of you.’
Her gaze only sharpened, her eyes rolling as she dragged her hand from mine. I let her go, knowing there was nothing else I needed to do.
Instead, my attention turned to the umpire, shaking their hand, before going back to the crowd and my family, taking in everything I had waited so long for. I’d won the Australian Open. And I knew exactly who to thank. He was always there, standing with his prideful gaze, and Irealized I couldn’t love anyone as much as I did him. Willing to hide everything away for me, willing to step aside to allow me to shine.
Without thinking, I headed straight to the side of the court, finding the steps and, using my height to my advantage, pulled myself up and over the wall.
On the other side, I found my parents and sisters screaming with excitement, surrounding me in a massive full body hug as they crowded around me, some crying, some still shouting congratulations.
Then, I was free to turn to Oliver, the cheeky Brit grinning at me. He opened his mouth to congratulate me, but I didn’t even wait, my sweaty body crashing into his. Oliver laughed and wrapped his arms around me.
‘I knew you could do it,’ he said, both of our bodies shaking together. ‘I told you.’
