I think I have done you a disservice, my father finally said, looking me in the eye. I told you from such a young age that you could be the very best. But I never explained to you that its about aiming for excellence, not about stats. What? I am just saying that when you were a child, I spoke ingrandiosities. But, Carrie, there is no actual unequivocal greatest in the world. Tennis doesnt work like that. The world doesnt work like that. Im not going to sit here and be insulted. How am I insulting you? I am telling you there is no one way to define the greatest of all time. Youre focusing right now on rankings. But what about the person who gets the most titles over the span of their career? Are they the greatest? How about the person with the fastest recorded serve? Or the highest paid? Im asking you to take a minute and recalibrate your expectations. Excuse me? I said, standing up. Recalibrate my expectations? Carrie, my father said. Please listen to me. No, I said, putting my hands up. Dont use your calm voice and act like youre being nice. Because youre not. Having someone on this planet who is as good as meor bettermeans I have not achieved my goal. If you would like to coach someone who is fine being second, go coach someone else. I threw my napkin down and walked out of the restaurant. I made my way through the lobby to the parking lot. I was still furious by the time my father caught up to me by my car. Carolina, stop, youre making a scene, he said. Do you have any idea how hard it is? I shouted. It felt shocking to me, to hear my own voice that loud. To give everything you have to something and still not be able to grasp it! To fail to reach the top day after day and be expected to do it with a smile on your face? Maybe Im not allowed to make a scene on the court, but I will make a scene here, Dad. It is the very least you can give me. Just for once in my life, let me scream about something! There were people gathering in the parking lot, and each one of them, I could tell, knew my name. Knew my fathers name. Knew exactly what they were witnessing. WHAT ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT? GO ON ABOUT YOUR SAD LITTLE DAYS! I got in my convertible and drove away.

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid