“Ok when I say, go to the net.”

He fired a few more base shots are her.  “Attack.”

She sprinted to the net, set her feet and volleyed the first 20 shots perfectly but the last 5 either just missed the base or went too wide.

“ok stop!”  Rico yelled with exasperation.  “What the fuck is going on?  This isn’t your game.”

Bette whipped her wristband across her forehead to reduce some of the sweat..  He wasn’t telling her anything she didn’t know.  After 20 years, she knew her game and what it was that brought her to win 5 Grand slams tournaments.  She should be at the zenith of her career and while she was in the best shape of her life having undertaken an strenuous bodybuilding regime, her head wasn’t in it.

“Is this about Jody or you having lost Lisa?”  Rico asked.

Lisa had been her personal assistant for three years but she had left two months ago to go back to school for her masters.  Jody was another matter.  Her husband of 3 years, she met him on the circuit but she was number 3 in the world and he was 50.  It didn’t matter to her but more and more, she was realizing that it mattered to him.  And where he wasn’t able to increase his ranking, he was able to elevate himself in other ways.  He took it upon himself to establish himself as her personal manager.  Lately, she found herself wondering whether he had her best interests at heart, scheduling her for ridiculous interviews that cut into or jeopardized her training.

“I’m sorry Rico.  I guess its both.  I’ve got to talk to Jody about reducing the interviews.”

“Cabron.”

“Rico!”  Bette admonished.  The Puerto Rican sometimes forgot that she grew up in Argentina and was fluent in Spanish as well as Portuguese.

“Lo siento.”  He apologized half heartedly.

“De nada.”  She shrugged.  “Look, why don’t we break for lunch.  I’m meeting Dana.”

“Fine.  Hopefully she can give you some advice.”  He said and turned to leave, not specifying what type of advice.

Bette gathered her rackets and headed for the clubhouse, not bothering to hit the showers for the time being.

“Hey Bette.”  Dana waved from their regular table.

Bette smiled, glad to see a friendly face and let go of the pressure for a while.

At this time of day the place was pretty much deserted except the older lunch stragglers and a few groupies trying to covertly capture Bette’s picture.  She was beyond noticing.

She reached the table, dropped her heavy stuff on the floor beside it and leaned down to kiss her friend before seating herself.

“So,” she said.  “How was Newport?”

“You haven’t heard?  I came in second. Not bad for grass.” 

"Wow.  Congrats.  I know clay is your thing.”

“Yeah but for some reason, I was totally on and my speed was there.”

“Lucky you.  I can’t figure out what I need to do and Italy and California are right around the corner.”

“I think I have a possible solution for you.”

“Hey guys.”

Bette looked up to the smiling face of Dana’s friend Alice.  Truth be told, Bette now considered Alice to be her friend too.  Her crazy friend.

“Bette. Looking good.” Alice stated and grinned precociously as she sat down.

“Thanks Al. Even with all the sweat?”

“Especially then." Al smirked.  Bette didn’t take her seriously knowing that Al harboured a not so secret crush on Dana who remained clueless.

“So Al, I was telling Bette about our solution.”

“Tina?” Al asked, to which Dana nodded.

"Tina is one of Al’s best friends and has worked for Marina since she retired last month."  Dana explained.

“Ok”  Bette added, confused as to where they were going with this.

"Bette, Tina is the answer to your prayers.  She can replace Lisa,  She’s excellent." Dana informed.

“Well I've never met her.”

“That can be arranged.”  Al added.

“I’d like to talk to Marina first.”

Al pulled out her phone and dialed a number, then handed the phone to Bette.  "Its Marina.”  Al said.  Bette continued to be surprised how connected Al was but then again she was one of the most recognized sports journalists around.

“Yeah, I’m ok but I’m a bit overwhelmed at the moment.  I lost my personal assistant.”

Bette was listening to Marina.  “I heard.  In fact, Al and Dana suggested I call you about her….Is she that good?”  Bette asked.