インターハイ予選シングルス１次予選

晴天の中ダブルスの予選とは打って変わり、シングルスの予選は雨の中行われた。中断や中止が相次ぎ、結局多くの会場で最後まで試合を消化することができなかった。残りの予選の試合は５月３日に延期となった。試合をすることができた選手の中では、高校最後の試合になった３年生もいた。負けてしまったが、今まで自分が積み重ねてきたものを出すことができ、悔いのない試合をすることができた。２年生はシードを守れず予選落ちしてしまうものもおり、３年生が引退した後の新チームに不安を残す結果となってしまった。予選を上がることは容易ではないが、上位の学校を倒すことを目標にしている以上、結果にこだわることは必至である。普段の練習、練習試合から技術ばかりに目を向けるのではなく、勝つということを絶対目標に掲げ、精神的にどの状況でも自分の力を出せる選手になってほしい。明日、明後日は宮崎・佐土原高校に来ていただき太陽が丘にて練習試合を行う。予選は終わっていないが、本戦に備えてしっかり調整していきたい。

The qualifying round of singles took place today.  Due to rain, many of the matches were suspended and postponed.  Those which remain unfinished are to be completed on May 3.  Among those who managed to complete their qualifying matches was a third-year boy who finished his last match as a high school student.  He lost and couldn't reach the main draw, but he did his best and showed how much he had grown and improved since he joined the tennis club.  Two of the seeded second-year boys couldn't live up to their seedings.  It was a must for them to reach the main draw so that the new team could make a good start in June, so their losses are disappointing and a big set-back for the next team.  I hope they have learned a lesson and won't repeat the mistake again.  Time is running out for the second-year boys.  They should be ready to take over from the third-years, but today's results show that they are still immature.  Many of the boys still have qualifying matches to play in a few days.  They will make the best of the remaining time to be best prepared for the matches.  We will take on Sadowara High School from Miyazaki for practice matches tomorrow.  It should be a good chance for the boys to tune up for the main draw.  I hope they will play well then.