I'll Tell You About Tennis

APRIL 24—ORLANDO

Why do I even play tennis? Tonight I lost in three sets on my worst surface to a 15-year-old. I couldn't have played more uptight if I had a gun to my head. I totally whiffed one overhead—I can't remember ever doing that—and still, I had a point for the first set only to mishit an easy backhand volley.

I'll say one thing for Maleeva: At 15 this kid is a veteran at stalling and interrupting the flow of play. She knows all the tricks. Now, I'll admit that I was obnoxious myself at times, but I'm 22 and I've been playing for seven years. I'm allowed to be obnoxious.

After the match, I made poor Hank go into the bar with me. I'm not much of a drinker, but I started with a black Russian and then had a strawberry daiquiri. You can tell I'm not much of a drinker if that's what I'm ordering back-to-back.

Now it's 2 a.m., and I can't sleep. I'm writing this on the toilet because I'm rooming with JoAnne Russell, who's asleep. Given the state of my game, it's an appropriate location for me.

APRIL 27—ORLANDO
Martina beat little Maleeva 6-1, 6-0. Katerina sure didn't have the nerve to hold up play and stall against Martina the way she did against me.

APRIL 28—CAMP DAVID

More in the saga of Pamela H. Shriver, fodder for teenagers one day, partner for the Vice-President the next. Marion, my older sister, drove up from Baltimore with me, and Vice-President Bush greeted us when we arrived. He must be the most pleasant, easygoing important person I've ever met. I played tennis with him as part of a whole Bush family get-together. The Vice-President is a good athlete, too. We beat his son, Jeb, and his brother, John, 7-5. After swimming (I even dove) and lunch, we shot some skeet. The Vice-President hit 19 of 25 targets, while I was nine for 25. Then Marion and I watched him as he took off for Washington in his helicopter.

Second most memorable day.

APRIL 29—LUTHERVILLE