I woke up this morning and realized - oh my gosh, I haven't done a post about Dad and his love of Tennis! When Bianca Andreescu had her amazing season and won the US Open, I thought - Dad would have LOVED that. Tennis was one of those rare indulgences he'd have if there was a great storyline happening - a crazy personality doing crazy stuff, an underdog going for the top, or an ancient rivalry playing out. Originally Dad played Tennis, and as I would find out, was a really good tennis player.
Dad's Dad William (Bill) Beaton suffered a heart event while playing Tennis in Victoria at the age of 59. He then slid into a coma and passed away. Dad mentioned this to me a couple times when I'd ask for the details of my grandfather's death, but it never seemed to really impact his love and passion for the game in the way you might imagine.
There was infrequent TV watching in our household growing up, but exceptions would be made for the occasional must-watch tennis match. I loved watching Dad watch the game more than the game itself - he would hoot, holler, and exclaim while watching, and sometimes offer entertaining commentary.
When Dad's Mom Marian was sick with cancer and in a wheelchair, I asked her what she'd like to do before she passed away. She thought for a minute and then shocked me by saying "I would love to see your Dad play tennis, just one last time." I asked why, and she said she used to love watching him play his heart out. I seem to recall a story or two about some epic Tennis battles Dad had with his Dad, until he finally was able to defeat him.
Dad was always super humble about his Tennis abilities around me, he never ever boasted or told personal stories about his personal Tennis battles with rivals, or his rise to Tennis fame in the family. I do remember seeing him playing once as a little kid, and seeing him flash around the court - but not knowing what was going on. When it finally wrapped up, I asked him "who won?" and he just said "I did" and we moved on.
For a big chunk of our lives, we lived away from Tennis courts. When I was a teenager we moved to the Victoria area, and Dad introduced me to Tennis. He taught me how to serve and all the basics of volleying forehand and backhand. I should tell you I felt pretty horrible about my skills, and Dad was patient and always mildly encouraging. It is also worth noting that Dad never really "went easy" on me. He never "let" me win like some parents do with their kids (me). I didn't manage to win a single set against him. Once I remember *almost* winning a set, and him grinning and encouraging me, as he defeated me yet again and took the game 5-0, again. I also remember that he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, and his skills seemed god-like.
I never managed to beat my Dad in Tennis. When I was 15 he started to lose one of his major nerves, and he progressively lost the use of one of his lungs until it was actually working against his other lung. The only time I got to see him in his glory (playing against other good players) was when I was in my early 20s. He was living in Duncan and had joined a weekly Tennis club at the bubble. I had been practicing daily with a Tennis friend, who was also very good. I was getting better and better (and was fit), so thought I was finally ready to share a court with my Dad. I bought a super nice expensive racket, and joined the same club in Duncan.
Those days are some of my favourite memories - I would drive the nearly hour there and back to play once a week, and I got to see my Dad play amazing Tennis - on only one lung. He had a very powerful forehand, and a backhand seemed to stretch for miles. He played very strategically and always seemed to be in the right place. The couples teams would be random, but if you won you moved up a court, and if you lost, you moved down. Dad always seemed to be playing up court. Other skilled players respected him. A few times I got to play with him, and sometimes against him, and it was so much fun. I loved it. I loved it because I got to see him play up close, and also because he was a fierce competitor who was never unkind.
Seeing him play with his peers helped my understand why it was such a part of his life. He was skilled and he loved the game. I haven't played tennis much at all since those days in the bubble, but am reminded of him every time I see a Tennis headline in the news. Much love, Jacob.