A month ago I learned what it was like to play tennis on a hard court in 98 degree heat. With no shade. No breeze.

Over 80 players, aged 35 to 85, competed at the USTA Hard Court Nationals in Rancho Mirage, California. The Mission Hills Country Club hosted the week-long event in a spectacular setting nestled between the San Jacinto, Santa Rosa, and San Bernadino mountains. The club has 48 courts, including 15 hard, 10 grass, four clay, and 20 pickleball courts.

This time of year, the sun is a factor. As I warmed up for my first match, the sun was so low that visibility was severely limited at one end of the court. Balls that I might have hit as an overhead looked impossible, and the only alternative was to let the ball drop to hit a groundstroke. All morning match players experienced the same. Doubles began around noon. The sun had moved but did not supply any relief. Visors and hats were put to the side, players swung and missed and only the tiny bit of shade off the court provided safe haven.

Having played just two tournaments this year, I was nervous to see how I would compete. No matter how much I had practiced, match play would be completely different. Would my serve hold up? Could I play a match with few unforced errors? Would I have the best mindset for my shot selection?

I won the first round handily in both singles and doubles and moved on to play Carol Gay, an excellent player from San Diego. While I have beaten her before, I was prepared for a competitive match and frankly many, many moon balls. The first point of the match I hit a winning forehand but in doing so dragged my left tennis shoe across my ankle, causing a deep cut and copious amounts of blood. The match was stopped by the roving umpire, who informed me that I had five minutes to stop the bleeding and get taped. A first aid kit and tournament administrators all came to my rescue as the minutes clicked by! I kept hoping that I was not going to be defaulted by this silly accident, but with one minute to spare I was wrapped and ready. I won this match 6-0 6-1 and was glad I never saw the tedious moon balls. My partner, Liane Bryson from San Diego, and I won our semifinals doubles over two of our friends, so I was now on to the finals in both singles and doubles.

The day of the finals was again 98 degrees. I played Gwenda Ward, one of the top players in my age category. As it turns out, my game matched up well with hers, and I won my division 6-1 6-1.

At the start of our singles match at 8:30 a.m., two players in the younger division also arrived to play singles. We finished our match, I had lunch, then returned for the doubles final in my division. The two younger players were still at it! Four hours later. In stifling heat. They both returned to the court later to compete in doubles.

Liane and I won the doubles finals 6-3 6-0. It was so hot that the chair umpire (all National Championships are chaired for the finals) allowed us to sit outside the gate to take advantage of three feet of shade.

While I was happy (and relieved) at my level of play and winning results, I was happier to see (and play tennis with and against) so many women who have become great friends over the years. How lucky at age 75 to be able to enjoy what I love. I hope to never sit down!

PICTURED: Hard Court Nationals Div 75+ : Judy Dixon Winner Singles / Gwenda Ward Second Place Singles

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