Kuangkai Tai waits. As the tennis pros bat and grunt back and forth, he stretches underneath the bleachers. A light squat, some lunges — anything to keep the 54-year-old limber and ready to perform.
“Advantage, set point,” the umpire calls. The crowd hushes. Tai jumps, eagerly trotting toward the gate near the back of the DC Open grandstand. His hands grab the metal fence, leaning over to look toward the far baseline, where the serve draws from. The players exchange smacks, and Tai turns away, stepping to the side, closing his eyes.