'IMPOSTERS'

In my last chapter I talked about ' mixing it with the best' and how this will eventually bring out the best in yourself , here's another side and a rather amusing story on what I simply refer to as 'a farce'.
Several years ago we were asked to play in a Tournament called the 'Zone Challenge' , a mini 'Country week' style competition at the State Tennis Centre in Perth , country town vs country town , a great concept . Most of my good friends through Tennis I have met through Country Tournaments , especially through the Tambellup , Katanning and Kojonup regions, great blokes and great players .
I was looking forward to the Tournament as were my three other competitors in the Men's section, we just had one small hurdle to over come which turned into a rather large hurdle . The women that were part of our team were from one Club in town that I would call 'Pot Hunters' and these ladies were more interested in playing in a lower division and taking home some silver wear . This is how the 'farce' unfolded' . There was no negotiation , the women , who I actually considered to be 'A Reserve' standard refused to play A Grade , stating that 'we will get killed', interesting statement . Apart from Bunbury and Geraldton who did have some fairly handy Women players, our ladies regularly played against fellow female players from the above mentioned towns and more than' held their own', so where was the problem?
I didn't have a high opinion of this Club or it's members as I used to see things written in the local papers regarding their 'exploits' and the rather 'exaggerated Tournament successes', things were not as black and white as they seemed . Saying that they won a Tournament without actually stating what Division they played is just a 'minor' detail isn't it ?! So back to the 'farce'.
I told two of my fellow team mates that I was not prepared to play B Grade as I was an A Grader , they agreed with me , one more problem though . The fourth male was from the same club as the ladies , his statement read something along the lines of "the girls don't want to play A Grade because they reckon they will get killed , I tend to agree with them". I said under my breath what Jonny Mac was famous for "You cannot be serious"!
To cut a long story a bit shorter , us Men reluctantly agreed to play the B Grade Event , we won easily , I played at Number 1 and didn't even look like losing more than 1 or 2 games a set in singles , my fellow male and female team mates  much the same with their results . We received a Trophy , one of our female players had the nerve to say to me "We will play A Grade next year Glenn"!
On the way out I quietly placed my trophy in a bin , I was embarrassed by the whole ridiculous situation but that's sadly how the game can be sometimes .
Some people will go to extraordinary lengths to win a trophy , not wanting to test themselves or to try and raise their own ability to that of another level . I mentioned that I had a hit 6 months ago with a guy by the name of Neil Borwick , another 'legend' in my eyes from my days at Coops in Brisbane. Neil beat former World number 1 Boris Becker in 1993 and also had a victory over Ivan Lendl, was I intimidated ? You betcha but I didn't want to just have a hit with him , I wanted to play him , he beat me 8 games to 4, but that hit took my play to another level that I didn't know I had .
Tennis brings out many personalities , egotists , show ponies and boutique players (practise champions) and I have seen them all . The sport has many 'imposters' also , and is like a game of golf , did you really chip it out of the bush or did you throw it while no one was watching ?? Give yourself a true test when you enter a Tournament and be 'honest' with yourself, after all it's only you that you are cheating if you don't .........