To my doubles partner,
Although we have lost touch over the years because we are at different schools, every time I see or walk out onto a tennis court I think of you. I think about all the time we spent together and all the torturous matches, practices and tournaments we played together. Through all of the sprained ankles, destroyed wrists and shoulder pains, I was happy to have walked off the court with you by my side no matter the outcome. Not having the opportunity to play has been making me think back on our seasons together and made me want to write this letter to you.
Being doubles partners meant we could practically read each other’s minds. When it comes to tennis you and your partner get on a completely different level of close. You could look at me and know when I was breaking down, when our opponent got into my head and somehow you always knew what to say. You have to put a lot of trust in your doubles partner that they’ll never let you down, give up or always have your back out on that court. There’s no one I trust more than you, even now two years out of high school and three years after our last match together, I still trust you the most. Even though we’ve grown apart since then, I know that I can always trust you on and off the court.
We’ve yelled at each other, fought, hit each other (accidentally), cried, laughed, lost our temper but all of that only made us closer and work better together on the court. Having to say goodbye to you was the hardest and scariest thing for me because I knew I wasn’t going to turn around on the court and see you on the baseline. We spent so much time together on the court and off the court training, not a day went by that I didn’t see you. You weren’t just my doubles partner, you became my big sister and my little sister that I had always wanted. I learned so much from the both of you and my best memories from high school are out on the courts with you. We’ve accomplished so much during our time together and we’ve had some major heartbreaks but we always managed to come out on top.
Thank you both for teaching me everything that you did on and off the court, so much of me has come from the time we spent together. Thank you for making me smile and laugh during a match you knew I couldn’t mentally handle. Thank you for making those four years on the tennis team the best memories. Nothing made me happier in high school than knowing at the end of the day I was going to lace up my shoes, tape up my blisters and walk out on the court next to you. I still get an adrenaline rush when I think about coach announcing our names before the match started. I know that even though we aren’t together anymore, I can still come home and talk to you like nothing has ever changed.
Love,
Your doubles partner
