Q. From time to time three friends and I have enjoyed an occasional game of mixed doubles. Over the past couple of years my tennis partner has seen rapid promotion in the publishing company in which she works and corresponding with her success at work we have noticed an uncharacteristic and growing display of aggression on court. Indeed, our friend’s net play has recently become so threatening that when her racket comes into contact with the tennis ball, the opposition now frequently turn their backs in the forlorn hope of avoiding the ball thundering over the net and causing serious bodily injury. The last straw occurred a couple of weeks ago when our female opponent narrowly avoided a visit from the emergency services (all the while
maintaining her rictus smile). Mary, how do you suggest we can temper the aggressive nature of our friend’s play while allowing her to keep her enthusiasm for the game (and for us)?
Name and address withheld
A. Why not contract out the unpleasant job of bringing this offender up sharp? Next time you play, arrange for one of your usual
opponents to be replaced by a co-operative friend of yours — an American would be best suited to the role — who can verbalise the disquiet felt by the group without inhibition since she will never clap eyes on the offender again. Making pleasant comments such as ‘This is way more aggressive than I am used to in an amateur match’ and ‘Now I know where the expression ball-breaking comes from’, etc., she can guilelessly ask when the game is over, ‘How come you guys have been playing together so long when one of you is so disproportionately violent in her game?’ Having given your friend this food for thought, the problem should resolve itself.
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