I read the recaps! It's really interesting to see how someone else condenses down the events I've just read.

It's also really nice to have this community read-along to motivate me to get through the manga. I'm an anime watcher (just finished recently), and I suspect if I'd started with the manga I wouldn't have stayed with it the same way; I have trouble following action scenes in manga, and apparently that also goes for tennis scenes.

Also, on a shallow note, in the very beginning everyone seems to consist largely of ears. It's possible the ears wouldn't have kept my attention. *g* But I'm really enjoying reading the story this way, when I already know I like the characters. (And this volume introduces Tachibana An, whom I adore.)