A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again

Wallace describes his experience playing amateur youth tennis in the Midwestern US. Between ages 12 and 15, Wallace claims, he was “a near great junior tennis player” (3). However, Wallace attributes his success in tennis not to physical or technical skill but to his skill in math and his familiarity with the difficult conditions of play in the area, having grown up in Philo, Illinois. Since he knew his limitations and those of the playing environment, Wallace claims, he played his best tennis in bad conditions.

Tennis courts in the Midwest were badly affected by strong winds, high humidity, and uneven playing surfaces. Since Wallace was used to these conditions and was a talented mathematician, he realized that he could compensate for the uneven asphalt courts and the effects of the wind, while his constant tendency to sweat helped him avoid the effects of humidity. He developed a talent for geometrically visualizing court conditions and used it to his advantage, adopting a defensive style of play that centered on returning volleys until his opponent made a mistake, became exhausted, or quit in frustration. Wallace’s pragmatic playing style contrasted with his more traditionally talented rival, Gil Antitoi.