Matt Schneiderman - I am playing tennis because it's fun

We checked in with Matt Schneiderman and here's his story.   Matt's Profile:  https://www.tennissf.com/85949/profile

Which league are you a member of?

TennisSF.com

How long have you participated in your league?

4 years, since October 2016

How did you first learn about it?

Google search

How often do you play?

Twice a week, ideally

What do you like most about the league?

Competitive matches with genuinely nice players

Tell us about your most memorable match(es)

A recent 3-set match that kept going and going... We had a 1-hour court reservation and thought we'd have to stop after the first set -- but no one showed after the first hour, so we played on. Split the first two sets (one in a tie-break) and expected to get kicked off the court -- but again, no one showed to take the court, so we played on. The third set went long, too, so we wound up playing a full three hours before we finished. Exhausting but so much fun. 

Who are your favorite rivals in the league? Why?

Marty Pye. Super nice guy, good matches, and he plays net so effectively — and I suck against good net players. It's a good challenge to play against a style that I struggle with. He's also been OK about my minor temper tantrums. 

Do you have any other interesting comments about your experiences with the league?

I lost 40 matches before my first win. I hadn’t played much before moving to SF and joining the league — playing in NYC seemed too complicated. I didn’t really know how to play, but my opponents didn’t seem to mind crushing me. Still, I kept playing and took some lessons to improve, and after several seasons the matches became closer. I try to keep my beginner’s mind mentality even as I start winning more often, and remind myself that the fun is in learning. 

How did you get started playing tennis?

Played in middle school, and then not again until I moved to SF in 2016 when I joined the league.

Do you play to compete, or for fun?

Both 

What level player are you? (NTRP rating)

3.0

What do you love about tennis?  

I love learning — how to improve physically and mentally and how to deal with challenges. I've learned the most from the matches that were the most challenging — sets or even games I've lost that I felt that I shouldn't have, which frustrated me to the point where I threw my racquet down in disgust. Feeling frustration and recognizing it for what it is, then reminding myself I am playing tennis because it's fun.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, for example: What do you do? Where did you grow up? What are your hobbies (besides tennis)? (Feel free to share any interesting details about your life.)

I’m a 45-year-old single father to a 4-year-old. Besides tennis I enjoy puzzles, board games, and running — mostly after my kid.