Each year, I excitedly wait for the U.S. Open to come to New York, always making sure I attend at least one game. When it’s still months away, like right now, I enjoy keeping up with other tournaments around the world on television. I vicariously live through the players on the courts because even though I try to play at least three times a week (and despite how damn cute I am in a flouncy little tennis ensemble), I’ll never get to pro status.

Growing up in Pittsburgh, my family regularly took trips to the inner city courts to play, and I continue with that tradition on the courts of our fair city. Though the game remains the same, the experiences that go along with playing tennis here make the game an only-in-New-York experience.

When my mother visited this past weekend, for example, we decided to head downtown and play a few sets. As we sat and waited our turn, a tall, thin woman walked in front of me onto the court and talked to the guys at the front of the line. Though my mother and I both commented on how beautiful this mystery tennis player was, neither of us noticed until she turned our way to go hit the court. It was none other than Gisele “Previously from Victoria’s Secret” Bündchen. She chatted up a few gents nearby and joked around about heading onto the courts to kick her dad’s ass.

Of course, one celebrity sighting in New York is about as common as a morning bagel, but soon enough we got a double-header. Gisele’s boyfriend Tom Brady, the New England Patriots’ quarterback, joined his honey soon after for a little 30-love round. When he joined her on the court, she gave him a huge kiss, and they both seemed genuinely happy and friendly to everyone around. They probably shouldn’t quit their day jobs, though. Gisele lobbed a ball over two fences during one particularly “heated” round, and it nearly smacked me in the head!! She apologized profusely, and I understood - don’t worry Gisele, I could never kick my mom’s ass either.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007 at 12:15 pm and is filed under Sports, Celebrities, Glamour, New York City, Only in New York. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.