That's a twist on Fantasy Island in case you missed it. Anyway, Sectional Draws are out and as is usually the case, there will be some very interesting early round matches on tap for 4.5 and 5.0, probably 4.0 too but as usual I just don't know the names and can't really discuss. Within 5.0, there are 3 exciting Round of 16 matchups as Pat Abshire will have to play the unseeded Chris Hunckler (downside of the small 5.0 draws as there are not enough seeds to go around). That one is a toss up. Chris Leach will have his hands more than full with Mark Hilderbrand in a matchup of unseeded but strong players. Finally, Herb Morton and Jorge Vazquez will make an interesting matchup in which no one should expect rallies beyond 4 or 5 shots.
4.5 is loaded as you would expect with all of the top guys (all of the top 16 I believe) taking part. Moser may get an early test from one of the top guys in 5.0 last year Kory Brown (also of Tennis Channel's Bragging Rights fame). JD Miles and Daniel Kallus could clash in the round of 16 (JD holds a 3-0 advantage in head to heads). Last year's #2, Philip Griggs gets to play dark horse Alfonso Rodriguez from the valley, a player that was very strong in 4.5 a couple of years back, including a Houston Coke victory over the (in)famous Tim Green. This would be a Round of 32 match up and if Griggs loses he can kiss master's cup goodbye. Winner of that match will most likely face angry ex-Baylor women's coach David Luedtke in the round of 16. Thomas Reader is in the same half with all of these guys and he would be my pick to reach the finals from this group, though if Alfonso has progressed from where he already was a couple of years ago, that match up could be somewhat of a challenge. No offense to all the other players but Reader is that strong plus he was already bumped midyear to 5.0 so he probably wants to go out in a blaze of glory. Yes, he is fat and likes to smoke the doobie so that might be his downfall if there is one in a tourney of this size.
In the bottom half, the just back on the circuit Mario Gloria gets a second shot at Jacob Casas in the round of 32 after going down meekly to him in July. Schmucker looks to have an easy path to the semis unless there is an unknown lurking in this quarter. Reader buddy James Regmund gets to go at John Trautman in the round of 16, and current odds are 50/50 Trautman comes down with a shoulder injury if he is down a set and behind a break. Alejandro Sanchez gets to go with Reynaldo Leija in the round of 32 who may be a much stronger player than early year results would indicate after beating Kallus and Schmucker a couple of weeks ago in Beaumont. If he survives that he gets to be the victim of Odion Dibua. Dibua should take Schmucker in the semis but it should be a very good match.
That gets us to the matchup I have been expecting to see unfold though I thought it would happen earlier, Reader vs. Dibua. This is a "you pick 'em" matchup as Reader has the shots and the strategy but Dibua has the athleticism and endurance to counter balance. There could be some sparks flying if this match occurs as neither of these guys are the type to back down and it should be expected that Reader makes a couple of "I can't quite get to that ball so its just gonna be out" calls as I am sure he wants this tourney badly enough that all the best cheating skills that are instilled into most former junior champs will come into play (a general statement about juniors, not an attack on Reader personally). Anyway, this match will be a matchup of the true #1 and #2 4.5 tourney players in the state.
In doubles, the only early round match worth highlighting will be the Hunckler/Leija round of 16 match with Reader/Regmund who I believe have not lost a doubles match as a team this year and should be the favorites to win the doubles.
The interesting fallout of all of these matches is that there are likely a couple of guys who probably assume they were shoe-ins for the master's cup but are going to lose points they gained from going deep at sectionals last year and end up just outside the top 8. Expect at least 1 "on the outside" bubble guy to sneak his way in.
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Are there any 4.0s visiting this site? Just surprised that no one from the 4.0 ranks has anything to contribute since the blogger seems to only know 4.5 and 5.0. Is there anyone in the 4.0 draw that can really challenge Kern?
how would ismael, now a 4.0, on freeman's 3.5 do against kern?
Ismael would lose 6-0, 6-0 to Kern since Kern serves and volleys so well. However,Ismael would hold his own against any of the baseliners in the 4.0 draw.
I would think Ismael would be the favorite to win the 3.5s with Eddie Hill (Dallas) and Jorge Robles (Austin) right behind him.
Kern should win the 4.0s but he will be tested along the way with Alvin Smith, Kris Knutson, Richard Patton and Eddie Janek. Knutson and Patton "can" beat Kern, so it should be fun to watch.
Ismael would lose 6-0, 6-0 to Kern since Kern serves and volleys so well. However,Ismael would hold his own against any of the baseliners in the 4.0 draw.
I would think Ismael would be the favorite to win the 3.5s with Eddie Hill (Dallas) and Jorge Robles (Austin) right behind him.
Kern should win the 4.0s but he will be tested along the way with Alvin Smith, Kris Knutson, Richard Patton and Eddie Janek. Knutson and Patton "can" beat Kern, so it should be fun to watch.
I'm a little surprised at the lack of players in the 4.5 doubles draw, i.e., it does not appear that anyone "on the bubble" is playing. The top 5 or 6 teams (based on ranking) are all in the draw and then after that a bunch of new pairings. It does not appear that the carrot of making the Masters was enough to bring out the players. Especially surprising given the depth of the singles draw.
what about the 2 seed Jason Warren from Dallas, does he stand a chance?
I agree with you Jason about Eddie and Ismael but someone was picking you my blog. I think you and Eddie would play in the semis, that should be a good match, if you can handle his serve (which you can) you should match up well.
Don't know if anyone has thought about this, but how much stamina will Dibua have for sectionals if Ramadan starts on Friday or Saturday and he cannot eat until after sun down each day. In his case it may not make a difference, but most guys would probably get weak and run out of gas. He may not even be Muslim but I think I remember him saying something about it last year at the Copperfield tourney in September.
Kern is far better player than Knutson. Kern would have to play is absolute worst and Knutson would have to play is very best to beat Jason Kern.
Kern is nearly as good as Tim Green and Mr Green would destroy Knutson 6-0, 6-0.
For being a 4.0, this Kern guy gets alot of hype. If he was really as good as top 4.5 player Green, you would think more league players would be complaining about him being a ringer. He probably in reality is a middle of the road 4.5 at best.
Looks like we avoided the bullet with that storm, even though a washout in San Antonio would have actually been to my benefit cause that way I wouldn't lose my spot in the top 8. Plus if rain caused them to use the 2-2 no-ad format that would have definitely been to the benefit of Reader and Dibua relative to everyone else as their lack of fitness (Reader)and fasting (Dibua) would not have been tested.
So does that last post make Topspin Assasin Mr Moser?????
That's not Moser's writing style. If you check out his blog you will see that.
TRUE TRUE - Topspin's posts are not arrogant enough. So, who are the 4.5 Houston players in the top 8?
whoever journeyman is you should be careful what you say about people. i lost a dear student and friend because of a comment you posted back in september about me liking to smoke "doobies" if youve ever seen me smoke anything besides a forehand let me know. you also hinted at me cheating which disgusts me. i dont cheat nor do i condone cheating by any one of my students. so if you would like a free tennis lesson via a 6-0 6-0 ass whoopin bring it on down to san antonio, im easy to find like you said im fat and you can just follow the smoke signals from my giant "doobie". sincerely yours thomas reader 210 778 7506
Reader,
For that I apologize. There was no ill will intended as I don't know you personally to have any grudge or anything. I was just feeding off some comments that other guys from Houston have made. I never imagined anyone outside of Houston would ever even look at this thing. Maybe it was lost in the way I put it, but the whole commentary was actually a compliment on how good a player you are. Most of the guys here in Houston who faced you last year put you well above the 4.5 level and said your only drawback might be conditioning and an occasional questionable line call. I just fed off of that. Someone made a joke on the most recent entry about Kern blowing Sarosh at the Coke. Maybe not the most appropriate of comments but I know it was only a joke but I am sure someone will be pretty upset about that as well, though in that case I was not the one who wrote it so it is out of my hands. In this case, sorry about any damage done as it was an attempt to be humerous that obviously had an unexpected negative consequence. Knowing me, I will probably do it again, though I will be careful to not post anything directed your way.
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