It is the 1994 US Open, and the narrator—Carolina “Carrie” Soto—says that her “entire life’s work rests on the outcome of this match” (3). She is sitting with her father, Javier, watching the third set between tennis players Nicki Chan and Ingrid Cortez. Nicki won the first set, and Cortez took the second. It all comes down to this one.

Cortez scores, returning a serve from Nicki. Carrie exhales, and her father reminds her that the cameras are on them, watching for Carrie and Javier’s reactions. If Nicki wins, she’ll have tied Carrie’s record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles, a record Carrie set in 1987 after winning Wimbledon nine times.

Carrie found Nicki easy to beat back when she played against her; however, after she retired in 1989, Nicki began to rack up titles. In the present, Nicki quickly scores three points. Cortez’s coach looks distraught while Nicki goes without a coach, having left hers three years ago. Nicki wins this set with two more to play in a best-of-five matchup.

As the players switch sides, Carrie discusses Nicki's approach with her father. She notes that Nicki is now a strong player and is adaptable to her opponent’s weaknesses.