Aphrodite #2
I barely heard the announcer acknowledge my win because I was so busy cheering for myself for once.
I couldn’t believe that I had actually done what people thought was impossible.
I’d made history as the first Black woman to sweep the majors in one year.
He had spoken life into me to replace all the negativity I’d ingested for years: worthy, a fighter, a champion and a history maker.
I fell to my knees with my hands on the court and felt all of my emotions wash over me.
I’d actually done it. The tears melded with the sweat, my emotions and adrenaline causing conflicting feelings in my body.
I wanted to scream for joy and cry in a corner.
My talent had always been undeniable but this time I wasn’t looking around for someone to accept me.
To tell me I’d done well. I knew it for myself and I was proud of who I was: a champion.
Once I gathered myself I stood up and waved to the crowd. They erupted in applause before I walked back to the net with my hand out. Marguerite didn’t bother to hide her disdain as she gave me a halfhearted handshake and a smile that was definitely a frown.
“Lucky shot.”
I raised my brows but her words only made me smile harder. “That’s normally what losers say. Guess I only seem to be lucky against you.”
Her mouth opened like she’d just expected me to stand here and let her taint this moment without me saying something back to her. Damn, everybody thought I was weak out here?
“What a tacky thing to say.” Her dark brown eyes were narrowed at me and I knew this was going to make a crazy front-page story. But I wasn’t about to let people keep playing with me.
“So is calling a shot luck just because I beat your ass twice this year. I guess all that hardware I have to make room for was luck too. You kept trying it and I was rooting for you. Not because I liked you, but because I wanted the chance to gloat once I beat you. Again. So smile for the cameras, Marguerite, this is the last time you’ll be on the front page this year, make it count. ”
I smiled broadly at her seeing the flashes of the cameras go off around us as I gave her hand a friendly squeeze.
She knew I was right and put a fake smile on her face as we dropped one another’s hands and waved toward the crowd.
The media swarmed us then and I wasn’t sure if my parents were there or not.
It wasn’t really my business. I was just trying to enjoy this moment and then get through to the next bit of joy I had on the schedule for this weekend especially with my birthday being on Monday.
It was kismet that the Desperados ’ first game was in New York to open the season, and I was grateful.
I wouldn’t have to run around too much to get to the game and would still be there to support him.
This had to be a dream.
I wiped at my face, cognizant of the tears almost as soon as I’d fallen to my knees. I’d kept my composure momentarily but now that was all out the window. I let them stream down my face unbothered by how I looked. My emotions were raw, my body was exhausted but I was so grateful.
“Aphrodite, how do you feel about having swept all the majors this year? Four Grand Slam singles titles in one calendar year is a major accomplishment. It hasn’t been done since 1988 and you weren’t even born yet. How does it feel to add your name among the greats?”
My hand went to my heart as I smiled again, thinking my name was going to be synonymous with tennis excellence.
“I’m just so grateful that this year has played out how I trained for it. My ability to work hard and stay positive even when things were getting a little tricky there. I…I’m honestly speechless right now.”
“You absolutely did. You got a second wind after going down in the second set. Where did it come from?”
“Faith. From the number of people I have in my corner who always believe in me. I didn’t lose faith and it was their voices that I heard in my head telling me to dig deep.”
Lord I knew he was the one who'd get that innuendo and I was trying my hardest to keep a straight face. Anthony’s favorite joke when I was tired and he watched me practice was to encourage me to dig deep the same way he did when he was in my pussy.
“Well, it seems you have some very loud fans that are cheering for you.”
“What do you mean?” I was about to take offense when the announcer, a man who had played the sport for years before me pointed to the stands.
It was there I saw all of my friends: Billy, Yzzy, Rye, Sterling, Carine, Lyric, Rachelle and her cousin Tiana were all there cheering.
I didn’t bother trying to hide my excitement and I jumped up and down, waving at them and pumping my racket in the air.
I was crying harder now watching these women celebrate with me.
It was crazy but I didn’t even look for my parents in the crowd.
These women were my friends, my family and their support meant the world to me.
When I finally turned back to the camera I was sure I looked a mess and I didn’t care at all.
“Apparently, you’ve got an entire NFL team behind you too. We have our cameras at an undisclosed hotel in the city. We were told there is a US Open watch party happening with the Desperados as they’re set to play the New York Sentinels tomorrow.”
“Are you serious?”
I barely choked out the words before he pointed to the big screen and watched the replay of match point being shown in a ballroom.
Dozens of players who should be worried about their own game tomorrow were watching and I saw Anthony and Antwan jumping and cheering loudly as I fell to my knees.
Anthony was grinning broadly as Antwan shook his shoulders in congratulations and I felt the tears fall, seeing that I had such a huge group of people supporting me in their own way.
“How about that?” The mic was back in my face and I wasn’t going to give him the sound bite he was looking for right now.
“Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever had an entire team behind me before. Feels kind of cool.”
“Just cool?” His brows were raised and he was trying to get a headline before the Desperados’ first game but I wasn’t going to give it to him.
“I mean I have to be respectful of everyone else and not feel myself too much, you know.” I shrugged and smiled just wanting to enjoy this moment so I could get off the court and get some fluid in me before I passed out.
My adrenaline was going to tank any second and passing out on national TV and making Anthony worry would’ve been a terrible way to end today.
“Well, this is your home area, your home court and now it seems like you have the entire sport of tennis in the palm of your hands. Can you tell us how it feels to win here and make history here?”
“Honestly, amazing. The making history part was never my goal. I wanted only to compete with the best and beat the best. I’m proud to say that I’ve been able to accomplish that so far this year.
My name might be the one to go down in the record books, but there are so many people that worked so hard to get me to this point.
My loved ones, my friends who came to see me — they all kept me focused on my goals so that I could stay disciplined and never falter.
A special thanks to Marion Lacy and Dr. Richard Morrison and the Desperados for all their help in overseeing my rehab so I could be out here tonight performing at such a high level. ”
The reporter grinned and I knew he was setting me up for one last question. “Anyone else you want to thank?”
I smiled coyly and looked into the camera. “Not particularly. But I wanted to say this: it’s your turn, Bam. Let’s get it!”