Well, we’re back. Not just from Bideford, North Devon, but back at that special venue — the Atlantic Racquet Centre (ARC), where our son played his first ever tournament just over a year ago.

Back then it was U8s, big nerves, little rackets, and a slightly confused parent brigade googling what “Red ball” meant. Fast forward to now, and we’ve officially graduated to semi-seasoned U9 parents… complete with iced water, protein snacks, and a tactical pre-match McDonald’s.

The Pre-Match Prep

After last week’s emotionally dramatic tennis episode at Millfield (read that tale of tears, triumph, and tennis trauma here), we decided to skip tomorrow’s Cheddar tournament but kept this one. New opponents, different postcode, slightly more scenic drive — why not?

Now, most U9 tournaments are morning affairs, which means hauling ourselves out of Taunton at what feels like 3am just to arrive warmed-up-but-shivering by 9. But this time, the start time email said: 2:15pm. Yes, that’s right. Afternoon tennis. In the UK. In June. During a heatwave. What could possibly go wrong?

We left Taunton around midday, fully loaded: iced water bottles, a cool bag filled with snacks that scream “tennis parents” (bananas, protein bars, questionable cooling spray), and of course, the rackets. We even had time for a cheeky McD — tournament-day traditions matter.

Smallest Player, Big Presence

There were 10 players in total: 8 born in 2016, 2 born in 2017. Ours was, unsurprisingly, the youngest and the shortest. Standing next to some of the other players — many already dabbling in Green ball (aka full-court mayhem) — our son looked like the team mascot.

But as seasoned sideline psychologists, my wife and I reminded him (and ourselves): You’re doing great. You’re youngest, not weakest. Brave, not behind.

Besides, Nadal didn’t peak until his knees were taped up anyway.

For the uninitiated:

• Red ball = U8 = tiny court, huge ball, chaos.
• Orange ball = U9 = ¾ court, slightly lowered net, modified balls.
• Green ball = U10 = full court, closer to the real deal, just with a slightly squishier ball to delay full-blown Wimbledon tantrums.

Court 3 Magic: Match by Match

Match 1: Court 3 vs. Girl Power
Opening match against one of the three girls — and a solid 10-2 win. Good start, no drama, no sweat (yet). Cue parental smugness.

Match 2: The Max Showdown
Court 2, against Max the Mighty. This kid has played nearly 700 matches already. I’ve had fewer coffees this year. Our son gave it his all, showed some resilience and decent tactics, but lost 6-10. He teared up a little, but (and this is key) didn’t crumble. That’s growth. That’s mental tennis muscle. Also, Court 2 clearly doesn’t have the same magic…

Match 3: Ella the Elegant
Back on Court 3 (phew). Ella plays doubles with Sophie — a name we know from the Taunton team circuit. She had the height, serve, and power — but our son had the strategy. Tactical slicing, smart placement, and sheer bloody-mindedness earned him a 10-6 win.

Match 4: Jay the Green Ball Gladiator
Jay looked older, played bigger, had a fiery forehand… and a fiery temper. But while Jay steamed, our son stayed cool (despite the 29°C heat), kept his tactics tight, and snagged another 10-6 win. Court 3 delivers again.

Match 5: Ayansh the Ace Machine
Last match. Huge serve. Fastest on the day. Ayansh clearly dabbles in Green ball territory. Our son had to summon every remaining ounce of energy — luckily, the clouds rolled in just in time. At 8-5, Ayansh served a rocket… which our son casually returned for a clean winner. I’m not saying Federer should be worried, but he might want to keep an eye on this kid. Final score: 10-5. Court 3 magic, confirmed.

Ice Lollies & Certificates – the Real Trophies

He probably came second overall (we think), but in all honesty, who cares? He played brilliantly. He improved his post-match behaviour. He kept his cool. And most importantly… he got an ice lolly.

And then, just as he was sipping Capri Sun and pretending not to eavesdrop, the organiser asked if he wanted to come back next Saturday — same venue, same format. His only question?

“Will I be on Court 3?”

Final Thoughts

• The LTA website will have the official results, but we’re not in it for the stats.
• Our son fell asleep in the car before we hit the A361. Victory nap.
• Heatwave tennis is no joke — bring all the cooling sprays.
• If he insists on only playing on Court 3 from now on, we might need to speak to his agent.

Until next week: game, set, snack.