He makes a mild volley,
teasingly, with a wry smile,
condescending to her female fragility,
but she strokes a rather sharp return,
whereupon he responds a little harder,
frowning at the unexpected audacity
of her smart reply.
She sneaks a shot into a dark corner,
dangerously close to the foul line,
a shot that makes him flounder,
forcing a clumsy response;
whereupon she seizes the chance
to make a vicious slam
that hits him below the belt.
He puffs loudly, turns purple,
and staggers off the court
to seek a different racket.