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Med sat in the locker room, regripping his racket slowly. Sitting with his coach and team, they talked absentmindedly about tennis, Indian Wells and what restaurants they wanted to try in Tennis Paradise.
Med was going on about getting burgers later when he heard movement at the front of the locker room. Med smiled instantly when he saw who was approaching at the head along with the rest of his team, Learner Tien.
“Hey Learner, nice match today!”
“Oh Daniil, were you watching?” Tien grinned in response, greeting and clapping hands with Med.
“Eh, just a little bit here and there” Med shrugged “but you know, I’m sure the match was good.”
“Yeah, shame that Ben was kinda sick though” Tien put his bag down and took out his rackets, sitting down and regripping them along with Med. “Anyway, I’m looking forward to the Doubles, wonder what it’s like.”
Glancing at where their coaches were talking, Med saw Michael Chang frown a bit. Tien noticed where Meds eyes wandered.
“Don’t mind Chang, he wanted me to focus on Singles but was fine with this when I convinced him we weren’t going to take it seriously” Tien laughed. Chang overheard this and shook his head, turning back to talk to Johansson.
Med chuckled “Yeah, will be interesting going out there without preparation. Hope you guys weren’t too surprised when Johansson called. But really, thanks for accepting, I hope we both have a good time.”
“Me too. I did turn some other doubles offers down y’know. Thought this would be interesting.” said Tien.
-
“Do you want to be at the net?” Med asked Tien suddenly.
They were minutes away from playing, their bags packed, the two of them walking over to their assigned court and they were formulating their doubles “game plan” NOW.
“Not really… I kinda suck” said Tien, smiling awkwardly.
“I mean, I’m not great either.”
“Sooo… like should we both be on the baseline then?” Tien inquired.
Med pouted and nodded his head at this thought. “Yeah why not, what have we got to lose?”
-
“Dude, how many times did those ball go past us down the middle?” Tien snickered. “We missed SO many balls.”
They were walking out in the corridor with their bags right after their loss to Vacherot/Rinderknech, in high spirits regardless. They had played loosely but had fun with every point, and had a surprisingly easy-going chemistry together during the match.
“Nah, I thought we did well.” Med smiled, dismissively waving his hand. “We tried! You did some great shots today, some great points.”
“Thanks” said Tien. “You were very into the match as well, kinda thought you wanted to win.”
“Well I wanted to do my best. Couldn’t be outdone by your shots either, I’m older and I’ve won more than you, got to show you how it’s done.” Med chuckled.
He remembered a point during the doubles where Tien aimed a very precise shot right at the baseline to win the point, and not wanting to be outdone, Med did the exact same thing in the next point.
“Yeah of course. We do have the same playing style, and I do respect what you’ve done with your career, hope mine can be sort of like yours… The way you think on court is so good.” Tien said.
“Oh… thanks” said Med, surprised.
He liked this kid, all of his composure and easy-going personality made him relaxing to be around, but he had some jokes and jabs as well. He also appreciated how smart Tien was, and watching someone play a similar style to him, trying to rise in the rankings, reminded him of himself.
Med’s respect for Tien also increased when Tien showed himself as a consistent challenger and winner in their many struggle matches. Tien’s lefty serve and IQ were hard for him.
There was a pause as they walked over, spotting their teams waiting in the distance.
“Hey, do you wanna get some food later?” Med blurted out suddenly.
“Uh, sure?” said Tien, craning his neck to look up at Med in the eyes. “Actually, I have an idea.”
“Go on…”
“I overheard you talking to your coach about burgers. How do you feel about Animal Style Burgers?”
“Animal what?” Med was puzzled.
“You know In-N-Out? Just come there with me, its fifteen mins away, I know the best order!”
“Ahhh yeah I have been there a few times, it’s nice. Never tried this burger. Yeah, let’s do it.” Med nodded.
-
“This is a pain in the fucking ass” Med whined.
Changed into casual slacks and a Lacoste hoodie, he was driving the rental car to where Tien was staying with his team and he was reminded of how driving around Indian Wells was an exhausting endeavour.
He pulled up to the location, texting Tien that he was here.
A minute later, Tien opened the door and buckled in the passenger seat. “Hey, sorry to make you wait. Okay, let’s go!”
Tien was also dressed casually, the familiar sight of his cap gone, with just his hair. He had on a light grey t-shirt and shorts on along with a tasteful necklace and bracelet.
“Hey Learner! Finally!” Med muttered. “You Americans love making driving here so complicated” he sighed.
“Well, I can’t drive yet so sorry about that” Tien laughed. “But Indian Wells does suck a bit I guess.”
Med started the car and checked the dashboard. 9:30pm, not too late for dinner.
“I’m so hungry, any idea what order you want to get there Learner? Cause I don’t know the place well” Med commented.
“Oh yeah, of course” said Tien “But it’s my treat so I’ll order for you.”
“Oh cool, looking forward to it.” Med drummed his hands on the steering wheel and started cruising along. The vibes were a bit awkward since they didn’t know each other well so Tien decided to break the ice.
“Hey Daniil…” Tien started “why do you sometimes call me LEEEARner?”
“That is your name, right…?” Med frowned.
“No, my name is Learner… like ‘learning’ something. Like in a school.”
“Ahhhh okay, sorry. Maybe I should get your name right if you’re treating me” he smiled. “You are saying my name right, by the way.”
“Oh ok, that’s good” Tien replied. “By the way… My sister’s name is Justice. Just so you get the picture” he grinned.
“Wait seriously?” Med did a double take and stared at him. “Learner and Justice? Your parents named you that? Why?” he said incredulously.
“Yes, they did” said Tien “My father is a lawyer and my mother is a math teacher, so that’s why.”
“Ahhhhhhh” Med raised his eyebrows. “That’s actually super interesting though. Speaking about names, I have two daughters. Their names are Alisa and Victoria. Don’t think that’s as unique as yours though.” Med added.
“They’re nice names though!” exclaimed Tien.
“Yes, I think they are” Med smiled.
They saw the distinctive sign of In-N-Out approaching and Med steered the car towards the drive-thru. Med rolled down the window and upon hearing the cheery corporate voice pipe up, let Tien talk loudly at the intercom across his car seat. “Two Animal Style burgers with two Animal Style Fries please!” said Tien.
Rolling away from the paying window Med shot Tien a curious look.
“Wait, that’s it? Just Animal Style burgers?” Med complained, tilting his head. “I thought you said we were getting something unique.”
“Nothing beats these burgers, Daniil” said Tien matter of factly “and they ARE on the secret menu! It is unique.”
Med got the order from the worker and parked in the parking lot, where they distributed their bags, delicious burger smell wafting from them.
Med unwrapped and stared at his burger as if it was out to get him. “I sure hope this is good, Learner.”
“You won’t regret it, I promise” Tien said, waiting for Med to take a bite and see his reaction.
Med sniffed at it and slowly took the first bite, tasting it carefully. “Yeah…” Daniil nodded, mumbling with a face full of burger. “This is pretty good, honestly.”
“Right?” Tien nodded back, unwrapping his own and scarfing it down.
They sat in silence eating their food, atmosphere a bit awkward as Med and Learner realised it was kind of odd to hang out with a co-worker you barely knew like this, ten years your junior/senior, even if they were both easy-going off court.
“Hey” Med suddenly started. “Do you remember what you said to me in the locker room in Beijing last year?”
“Yeah of course, why do you ask?”
“I don’t know…” Med chuckled. “Not many people would come up to me and say ‘Why do we do this to each other?’ while I’m having full body cramps. Feeling like shit right there.” Med smiled. “That is still on my mind sometimes.”
Tien remembered it well, Med was serving for the match, got broken and then just cramped up. Tien eventually won by retirement but didn’t feel great doing so, as Med was clearly struggling. Tien saw Med cramping in the locker room and just… had the urge to say that, he guessed.
“Can I ask… what makes you so interested in me?” Tien swallowed a mouthful of burger. “You want to play doubles and now we’re getting takeout?” he looked at Med.
Med gave Tien a side glance and shrugged. “Honestly, I have never really talked to you properly before, this is a good chance. I respect you as a player too, I hope you get up there someday. You’re still so young.”
“Oh... Thats nice” said Tien, pretending to be busy fishing out fries from the bottom of the bag.
“Just wanted to keep the feeling going, that doubles match was fun” Med chuckled.
“Yeah it was” said Tien.
They sat there and finished off their meals, both content with their dinner for the night.
“Good choice of meal Learner, shame it will make the rental car smell though” Med sighed.
“Make the rental car smell good, yeah” Tien said jokingly.
They were driving back, this random flash in the pan hangout coming to an end. The whole thing was kind of strange but Tien didn’t want to miss the chance to ask Med one last question.
“Soooo” started Tien, fiddling with his seatbelt “you’re kinda old.”
“Wow thanks” Med smiled wryly
“I mean for an athlete! Like you have experience on Tour for years. I just wanted to ask… like… if there was one piece of advice you would give me, what would it be? I’m curious.”
“Hmm” Med furrowed his brow and seriously considered his next words. “Learner, you already have incredible mental strength and ways of winning matches despite not having huge weapons. I mean this as a huge compliment.”
Tien listened intently. Med had already said this publicly, surely he had more to say.
“I would say… trust your game. Trust that you can reach the next level. Some things might hold you back, sure, but who knows what will happen? Just try to surpass your own expectations every day, it’s how I got to the top. Just endure the pain. Work on your skills.”
Med paused, looking at Tien to see if he was paying attention and spoke hesitantly on his next words.
“Listen… I don’t see myself in you because of your physical qualities, I just think you have something special there mentally and tactically that I like, something that the best players have, and I want to see that… happen. Like with me.” He finished quietly.
Tien blinked. That was a far more in depth and mature answer than he expected from Med, he didn’t know how to respond. He knew Med wouldn’t freely share these thoughts to people and he respected him for that.
Eventually Tien replied “Yeah, I’ll do it. I want to make it happen for me.” There was a steady note of conviction in his voice. “Thank you.”
Med said nothing but nodded, eyes focused on the road.
They went the rest of the way in silence, each deep in their own thoughts. They bid each other a short goodbye as Med dropped Tien off and drove home, the night coming to an end.
Strangely, both had gotten what they wanted from this very unusual meet up and it would stick in the back of their minds for a while as they continued with their own careers, always resurfacing as they acknowledged each other briefly walking past in hallways in future tournaments.
Med continued to watch Tien’s matches with interest, seeing the developments in his game and watching him rise in the rankings. He looked forward to when they would next meet, as he wanted revenge for the last, and most humiliating, loss he had.