Page 69 of Best Year Ever
She shifts her position so that Julie’s strategy about using her inside-out forehand against her works perfectly. When Marta returns the shot, she is off the side of the court. When the ball next goes off my racquet, I aim for the exact place I want—the opposite part of the court from where she’s standing.
She has no chance.
Point for me.
Game, set, match for me.
I’m headed to the Wimbledon finals.
I let out a scream of joy, relief, and satisfaction, and fall to my knees.
Fifteen minutes later, a bonafide symphony of sounds is coming from my phone as I get to the locker room. Notification upon notification dings on my phone, across various apps. Everyone I’ve ever met is congratulating me, it seems.
Including messages from Landon, of course.
NEW YEARS: YOU’RE SUCH A BADASS! WIMBLEDON FINALS!
NEW YEARS: Congrats babe. So fucking excited for you.
Julie comes racing into the locker room and gives me the biggest hug that I’ve ever received from her. Who knew she was so strong? I can feel the elation coming off of her, and I start to cry from all the emotion.
I’m not a crier, but it’s all so much to take in.
“This is where you’re meant to be, Rori. The Wimbledon finals. You deserve every minute of it,” Julie says, ignoring my tears.
“Thank you so much for everything,” I choke out to her as the tears start to subside. We’re still hugging.
Her next words would ring through my head for the rest of the night.
“You did this. You did this.”
CHAPTER 24
Rori
Ilose track of how long Julie hugs me, but eventually she steps back.
“Now, Taylor says she wants to talk to you before the player press conference. Take the time you need to get cleaned up and let me track her down so she can get back here.”
Taylor had thought more about whether she needed to be here after our last conversation. She ended up booking the NYC to London red-eye last night. “I’m going to be there to watch you win Wimbledon,” she messaged me.
Twenty minutes later, Julie and Taylor walk into the locker room. After a quick shower, I’d changed into a comfortable green loungewear set for the press conference.
As Taylor approaches, my curiosity is peaked about what she would need to talk about before a press conference. She’ll definitely help navigate the flurry of individual press requests that will come with me making the finals, but usually these post-match press conferences are pretty straightforward.
“Congrats, Rori,” she says with a large smile, before getting down to business. “I’m sorry to barge into the locker room. I did want to talk for a minute about a couple of things.”
She takes a breath and continues. “This win is going to takethe level of interest in you that is already peaking and blow it sky high. I want you to take a moment to be prepared for the intensity of the media interest. I’ve seen other athletes go through this, and it’s a lot to take in.”
Julie’s nodding. “That’s thoughtful of you, Taylor.”
Taylor gives a small smile of appreciation at the comment. “The biggest thing I want to say is no matter what they throw at you, remember that you’re in control of how you answer. Slow it all down and process the question, take your time to figure out what you want to say. And if you feel really overwhelmed, tap your thumb on the table three times. I’ll come and rescue you.”
“You’re amazing, Taylor, that’s so helpful,” I say, sincerely. I cannot resist asking my next question. “What about the Landon Battle story? Do you think anyone will say anything?”
Taylor shakes her head. “I don’t think so, but you never know. It hasn’t gone anywhere after the initial social media wave two days ago. If it does, just acknowledge that you did a photo shoot together, and it was a nice professional experience. Something neutral.”
Professional. Neutral. Got it.
