Smash to the Heart

Third Set

The tension was palpable as both players prepared for the third and final set. 

The first set had gone to Aerin, the second to Margo, and now everything was up for grabs. 

The crowd was buzzing with excitement, waiting to see who would come out on top. 

Margo wiped the sweat from her brow, her face a mix of determination and fatigue. 

Aerin, on the other hand, was focused, her eyes narrowing as she prepared herself for what would be the most crucial set of the match.

The umpire’s voice broke the silence. “Final set. Play.”

Margo served first, the ball hurtling across the net with a powerful thud. 

Aerin anticipated it perfectly, returning the ball with a deep forehand cross-court. 

Margo was quick, but Aerin’s shot had placed her on the defensive. 

The rally continued, each player testing the other’s limits, each point more crucial than the last.

Margo’s next serve came in fast and low, forcing Aerin to stretch. 

A quick slice return from Aerin caught Margo off guard, and she couldn’t quite get to it in time.

1-0, Aerin.

Aerin smiled briefly to herself, but she knew it wasn’t over. 

Margo was just getting started.

The next game began with Margo serving. 

She hit a powerful ace, sending the ball whizzing past Aerin’s outstretched racket. 

Aerin nodded, accepting the challenge, and adjusted her stance. 

The next rally was intense, both players moving back and forth across the baseline, trading long, powerful shots. 

Aerin managed to force Margo into an awkward position with a sharp angle, but Margo responded with an incredible reach, stretching just enough to get the ball back. 

Margo then sent a blistering forehand down the line, catching Aerin off guard.

1-1, Game Margo.

The match was neck and neck now, with neither player willing to let up. 

Aerin’s serve came next, and Margo returned it with speed. 

The rallies grew longer, their movements more frantic as both players battled for the upper hand. 

Aerin had a slight advantage in the rallies, using her agility to get to difficult shots, but Margo was unrelenting, her power making every return a challenge.

In the fourth game, Margo made a mistake—a rare one. 

She double-faulted on a critical point, 
giving Aerin an easy break opportunity. 

Aerin wasted no time, charging forward and smashing a forehand winner down the line. 

Margo tried to reach it, but it was too late. 

The crowd let out a cheer as Aerin broke Margo’s serve.

2-1, Aerin.

Aerin’s momentum was building now. She had the advantage, but Margo wasn’t going to give up without a fight. 

The next game saw Margo digging deep, her serve faster and more aggressive than before. 

A deep return from Aerin put her in the lead momentarily, but Margo responded with a volley at the net, sending it just out of Aerin’s reach.

2-2, Game Margo.

With every point, the intensity of the match only grew. 

Both players were exhausted, their bodies showing the strain of a nearly three-hour battle. 

Sweat drenched their shirts, and every breath was labored, but neither player was willing to show weakness.

In the sixth game, Margo’s serve was powerful, and Aerin had a tough time keeping up. 

Margo pushed her to the back of the court with a deep forehand, and then, taking full advantage of Aerin’s slight misstep, she pounced with a net rush and a clean volley, sending the ball past Aerin’s outstretched racket.

3-2, Margo.

It was a blow to Aerin, but she wasn’t about to let it derail her. 

She refocused, serving with renewed determination. 

She hit a powerful first serve, followed by a strong rally that saw both players exchanging shots from the baseline. 

A long, high rally saw Margo move toward the net, but Aerin caught her off-guard with a lob that soared high over her head, landing just inside the baseline.

3-3, Game Aerin.

The match was tied once again. Both players had their eyes locked on the prize, neither willing to back down. 

The crowd watched in rapt attention, each game more thrilling than the last.

Margo had her serve again in the seventh game. 

She hit it hard, and Aerin struggled with the depth of her return. 

A series of exchanges followed, with Margo consistently forcing Aerin to the corners. But Aerin wasn’t backing down. 

She returned every shot with precision, using her speed to close the gap. 

Margo went for the kill shot, but Aerin managed to scramble and get a clean return.

The rally was long, each player pushing the other to their limit. 

Margo finally hit a powerful forehand, one that Aerin couldn’t reach in time. 

The ball landed just inside the line.

4-3, Margo.

At this point, it was clear that the match had reached a tipping point. 

The players were neck and neck, the tension between them palpable. 

Every point felt like it could be the deciding factor.

In the eighth game, Aerin had a chance to break Margo’s serve, but she was forced to fight through a barrage of aggressive returns. Margo wasn’t making it easy. 

The game dragged on, both players refusing to give up. 

A deep rally ended with Aerin sending a forehand that Margo just couldn’t handle, sending the ball out of bounds.

4-4, Game Aerin.

With every point, the match became more of a mental battle than a physical one. 

Both players were exhausted, their bodies pushing beyond their limits. But neither of them was willing to let go.

It was now 5-5, and the match was tied.

A deuce.

Aerin’s serve was a masterpiece, fast and precise, forcing Margo into a defensive position. 

Margo’s return was off, and Aerin capitalized immediately, sending a forehand winner down the line.

6-5, Aerin.

It was match point. 

The tension was unbearable. Aerin knew that this could be her moment, but Margo wasn’t about to give up. 

The crowd was on their feet, watching in silence as Margo served once more.

Aerin returned the serve, and the rally began. 

The players exchanged shot after shot, both of them pushing harder and harder with every swing. 

Margo moved to the net, hoping to end the point quickly, but Aerin saw the opening and lobbed a shot over her head. 

Margo scrambled to get back, but it was too late. 

The ball dropped in, and Aerin had won.

7-5, Aerin.

The crowd erupted in applause, but all Aerin could hear was the sound of her heartbeat pounding in her chest. 

She had done it. 

The match was hers.

Aerin sank to her knees, exhausted but victorious. Across the net, Margo collapsed on her knees, her chest rising and falling with each labored breath. 

She sat there for a moment, her eyes unfocused, still processing the loss.

The sting of defeat was sharp, and it settled in her bones. 

Aerin stood, extending her hand toward Margo, but Margo didn’t reach for it. 

She simply nodded, her expression a mix of disappointment. 

Without another word, Margo pushed herself up, grabbed her racket, and walked off the court. 

She didn’t look back, leaving the match behind as she disappeared into the crowd, her thoughts consumed by the weight of what had just transpired. 

The noise of the cheering crowd was distant, and for a moment, the only sound Aerin could hear was the thudding of her own heart. 

She stood there, watching Margo’s retreating figure, the victory feeling somewhat bittersweet.