Booked & Busy ? Devin Booker

Whitney stood at the baseline, taking a deep breath as she prepared to serve. The energy at Stade Roland Garros was electric, with the crowd predominantly American, many dressed in Team USA gear. Their support had fueled her throughout the match, keeping her in control as she led the second set 4-2. Only two more games stood between her and a glorious win for her first match in the 2024 Olympics.

Her serve was quick and powerful, zipping through the air with impressive precision. She'd spent the entire spring working on her serve, which seemed to pay off as the average speed over the last 3 matches had clocked in at 111 mph.

Whitney watched with a determined intensity as her opponent returned the serve, the ball landing directly in front of her. With her competitor standing on the left side of the baseline, Whitney returned the ball to the right, which her opponent couldn't reach in time. She knew her opponent was growing tired and Whitney was taking advantage of her weakness. She planned to finish quickly as she only needed a single point to finish out this set, bringing her to a 5-2 lead.

As she prepared for another serve, Whitney's concentration was interrupted by a familiar voice cutting through the noise of the crowd. "LET'S GO WHIT! CLOSE THIS OUT!"

It was Devin's voice, unmistakable and clear as day. In a screaming crowd of 100,000 people, she would always be able to pinpoint his voice.

Her head snapped to the left, and she immediately spotted Devin and Tyrese seated in the stands. Devin's eyes were locked on her with a fierce intensity that made her heart skip a beat while Tyrese's encouraging smile contrasted his serious demeanor. She could see the need for her to win in Devin's eyes. He wanted this for her.

Although her eyes lingered longer than she intended, Whitney quickly forced herself to refocus on the court. A true competitor through and through, nothing could shake her concentration—not even the resurrection of Michael Jackson.

Determined to close it out, Whitney pushed through the final two games with ease as her opponent succumbed to the pressure with numerous unforced errors. When she secured the match, the crowd erupted in cheers. Whitney had claimed her first win at the 2024 Olympics, but the work wasn't done yet. Tomorrow, she'd face her next challenge: her doubles match with CoCo Gauff.

Whitney spent the next few minutes hitting game balls into the crowd, savoring every moment. She resisted the urge to think about Tyrese and Devin until she was down to her last ball. Finally, she turned toward the section where her surprise guests were now standing, a small smile forming on her lips at the way Tyrese looked at her. She'd met him less than 24 hours ago, yet he already looked at her like she was the only woman in the world.

As soon as she gave him her attention, Tyrese's grin widened, and he gave her two thumbs up, making her laugh audibly. When she glanced over at Devin, his expression was cool and stony— as if he hadn't been cheering for her just 10 minutes ago. Despite his aloofness, she felt grateful for his support, and for Tyrese's, who radiated light and childlike joy even though they hardly knew each other.

Whitney waved to the fans who were cheering and hit the last ball toward the middle of the stands, where a middle-aged white man caught it.

Exhausted but excited, she spent the next 5 or so minutes taking selfies with fans before heading off the court. The presence of Devin and Tyrese had added an unexpected layer to her victory that she would have to address later. For now, though, the match was over and her focus would shift to the next challenge awaiting her in the Olympic arena.

As Whitney walked off the court, the roar of the crowd gradually faded. She'd conquered the first round of many in her race for a gold medal. Satisfaction and relief coursed through her veins but she knew she couldn't get too comfortable—not with so many more matches standing between her and the medal she sought.