NOT LONG AFTER BEATING MR. BROWN, I play a practice match against my father at Caesars. I’m up 5-2, serving for the match. I’ve never beaten my father, and he looks as if he’s about to lose much more than $10,000. Suddenly he walks off the court. Get your stuff, he says. Let’s go. He won’t finish. He’d rather sneak away than lose to his son. Deep down, I know it’s the last time we’ll ever play. Packing my bag, zipping the cover on my racket, I feel a thrill greater than anything I felt after beating Mr. Brown. This is the sweetest win of my life, and it will be hard to top. I’ll take this win
...more
