Monday, March 17, 2008
4 days and counting to Gallery Open
Time for a new discussion stream. I still have not seen the actual draws but I have read everything you guys have posted. There was no way the seeding in 5.0 would make everyone happy considering how strong the field is so I would not fault the committee too much. There would be just as much bitching if they had seeded Reggie Black and not Amit Garg. Based on skill and reputation, Amit is far more the more deservant player. It may not be fair that Black has to play Reader in the 1st round but would it be any more fair if Reader had to play Amit? Kallus and Leach are just as much victims of the draw in 4.5 having to face Phi Hunyh and Sarosh Ahmed. I don't see Kallus pulling that one off but Chris just might have a chance cause he has nothing to lose and without all of the hoopla anything less than making the finals will be a disappointment for you Sarosh fans. He just might feel that pressure against a strong opponent like Chris in the 1st round. If he were to pull it off, I would not be suprised to see Chris be the victim of fatigue in his second match. 5.0s, Green has got it pretty bad for a self-rationalized 4.0 player like he claims to be. That would be an impressive run. His matchup with Dibua would be quite a match to see. Having had the opportunity to hit with Brian Smith a few years back I would also agree that he could emerge as the dark horse and take the whole thing. 4.0, the big question will be whether or not Ansari can bring an end to his 4 match major zone losing streak.
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103 comments:
First comment. Let the anonymous bashing begin.
seems like the Great Sarosh's bandwagon has left him. after they saw the draw, his troops deserted him.
Even if Sarosh beats Leach, he'll have play Trautmann or Rodriquez in the quarters
whats funny is no one is mentioning hunckler here. smith may have been a very good player in the recent past--but his loss to a kid in 14's is also pretty revealing as well. he may not be in the best of conditions--which is not a fault, just a fact as it is with most of us weekend warriors (thats what we are--so dont quit your day jobs). hunckler may make that match interesting. green got screwed with the draw, as did black, but ill have to agree with journeyman on this one. garg vs. reader in the final--
regarding 4.5, after looking at the player histories, it is somewhat obvious that rodriguez will come out of that half. the question is, can trautmann show up in the form that wooped Reader 6-0, 6-2. My guess is rodriguez in the final against a surprise finalist
i think youll see rich ryu have a good tournament and beat gound
Ryu will make an interesting first match for Gound. Gound may be playing the Coke from the consolation draws like he did at Sectionals. Honestly, I dont pick one over the other, but it will be a good match to watch.
The consolation draw of the 5.0s will be every bit as interesting and strong as the main draw.
how about gound vs reader? if gound gets into the match and keeps rallies going--he will wear out reader-thoughts?
the consolation for 4.5 will be interesting also. Sarosh vs. Kallus
Sarosh will beat Chris Leach 6-3, 6-1. Chris will then join the Sarosh band wagon.
I think James Bui is going to the finals....has anybody seen him play....?
Christian Setevens is always an outside threat when he is playing well.
Gentlemen, this is Brandon Halm, Quack Bui just gave me the address to this blog today, it is a pleasure to join. I am entered in the 4.5 draw, best of luck to all. I drew a guy named Ben Hawkins first round, anybody familiar with his game....?
Christian Stevens? Did you just pick a name from random from the entrants. He always has a losing record and is like 0-5 lifetime against Kallus, or something like that. Has the guy ever even made it out of the 1st round of a tournament? Someone joke about Dennis Hilsmeier but I would give him about as legitimate a chance as Stevens. Alfonso Rodriguez will be the 4.5 winner. 5.0 is too stacked to call. Are there no 4.0s on this blog? I have not read one 4.0 comment or prediction yet.
I do know that Christian Stevens and myself are the only avid smokers on the 4.5 circuit. I have been trying to kick the habit for years, even wore a patch when playing tennis.
Oh, I'm already on the bandwagon. Why not, seems like the place to be.
I gotta go with my buddy Gound against Ryu.
Martin/Nguyen will take 4.0 dubs, Nguyen/Dutchover will go out early.
Eddie Hill will make a run but not all the way to the final and I like Donald Allen of Dallas to make some noise in the this draw. Overall not that strong of a draw.
Freeman could take the consololation prize if he loses his 1st match.
Martin/Nguyen won't make it to the quarters.
Does Kallus still stand by his margarita-induced pledge that he would go at least 2 rounds before losing? Don't see him beating Phi, but he could have a very good run in consolation. Leach would look to be the toughest competition. Would Sarosh even play consolation if he lost 1st round. No one knows because he has never lost a tournament match.
The top side of the 4.5 draw is stacked with probably the 4 best players in the draw, shame they all have to face each other rather early.
Another question is will Schmucker show up? He has a very easy draw.
My pick for 4.5 doubles is Rockey/Brandt. What does everyone else think?
Rockey is an ex 5.0 playing w/ a very weak lefty. Brandt sucks and has a patty cake 1st and 2nd serve. They might not make it pass their 1st rd if Patton plays well, let alone win the whole thing.
No ones talking much about doubles, but I think the seeding committee screwed up in 4.5 doubles just as much if not more than in 5.0 singles. In a 32 draw, there should be more than 4 seeded teams. At the professional grand slams there are 32 seeds in a draw of 128. For a draw of 32, HTA should have had 8 seeded teams if you ask me. The number #2 seeds Rothe/Hall have to play Kallus/Miles in their 1st match. Miles did not play much doubles last year but Kallus did well partnered with Jochen Moser and ended up tied for 5 or 6 for the year. If teams do not have enough combined points, a player with a strong ranking should get some consideration. Don't seed a team like that in the top 4 seeds but if you go in knowing you want to have 8 seeds in a draw of 32, there is room to seed appropriately. Same with 5.0 singles. So maybe the draw is not the biggest, but does the HTA not have the disgression to use as many seeded positions as they see fit to ensure a proper draw?
So you think Kallus should be seeded in doubles? Who would your top 8 seeds be?
I think the finalist for the bottom of the 4.5 doubles draw will be an unseeded team. The seeds do not seem that strong to me and there are several unseeded teams that might do some damage.
To answer the previous question about seedings, No, HTA cannot make as many seeds as necessary since USTA dictates the number of seeds based on the number of players.If there were more 5.0 players manyt more good players could have been seeded. One extra player could mean 4 extra seeds if it goes over that amount. People sure complain a lot about the seedings, but I don't see anybody volunteering their time to help out with HTA events and the seedings are not based on rash decisions or favoritism but on a number of things.
The rule for seeding is one seed for every 4 entries - it is not based on the draw size required for all the entrants because in this case they would have had to seed almost half (8 of 18) of the entries in 4.5 doubles which is ridiculous. Besides, anyone who plays tournament tennis knows the seeds don't carry too much weight because of the point system that rewards players for just showing up at tournaments. The draw is mostly luck.
Having said that, it certainly looks like the bottom half of the 4.5 doubles draw is loaded with name players. Of the 9 teams in the bottom, it would not surprise me to see any of 7 different teams reach the finals. The Giordanelli's would seem to be the favorites in the top half of the draw but there are some unknown quantities which could make things interesting.
Anyone know anything about the guy Freeman is teaming up with in 4.0 doubles? Ringer?
Does anyone out there really cares that much about doubles?
To me doubles is an after thaught! Something to do in case you get knocked out early in singles.
Did I ask how you felt about doubles jackass? If you have nothing of substance to contribute to a conversation just shut your trap.
Doubles requires much more skill than singles. Doubles is more fun to watch and play.
i see your point... that's why they don't televise doubles on TV. the prize money is small. people that can't make it in singles typically play doubles.
I wouldn't say doubles requires more skill than singles but it is more of a craft and definitely a lot of fun to watch. This should be a fun tourney with great matches from 4.0 to 5.0. Good luck everyone.
I've seen him hit up at the Met, not a ringer but is a decent player.
Doubles is simply more fun to play.
Obviously the singles scene dominates the tennis circuit throughout. However, it is not a popularity contest. I have just as much regard for a great doubles player as I do for a great singles player. It takes skills for both....to each his own.
It is funny watching egomaniacal singles players with no volleys (nothing but fitness and big ground strokes) try to play doubles.
Who are the best 4.5 and 5.0 doubles players?
Look man, lets keep it civil. I play doubles too, but mostly because I don't think I will go very far in singles draw and that's another opportunity to keep playing tennis.
Playing singles improves your boubles, not the other way around.
This sounds like a discussion between Schmucker and the doubles community. Anyone willing to confirm that I am right with that guess?
Who comes out of the 4.0 and 4.5 singles? Thoughts anyone?
doubles is definitely fun to play, but when your opponent starts to screw up, then it's throwing off your game. now doubles overall is more fustrating then singles due to that fact.
Doubles is fun and you can always blame it on your partner if you lose the match!
Good luck to everyone this weekend.
Fight hard and die harder.
You could be someone like Kallus and suck at singles and doubles.
Yeap, whatever dude.
With regards to Brian Smith losing to a kid in the 14's...are you talking about Robin Chou ? Because you might take into consideration that Chou just played in the qualifying draw of a futures event in the valley, he's not your average junior player. -AT
Wow...I never remembered calling myself a 4.0 player! I will have to stop talking in third person if I am rated 4.0. I think Tim would have to be ratd 5.0 to speak in third person. (haha Chris)
Who do you guys like between Huffman/Loup vs the Dibuas in 5.0 doubles? I think that could be a very close match if Chad brings his "A" game.
Also, Red/Torres vs Garg/Reader could be a good match.
This is the best I can remember seeing the 5.0 singles in a long time.
Dinker
Ronnie Johnson is taking on Reader and Garg by himself in doubles! That is one brave guy.
Dinker
Tim, I might have exaggerated a bit but my "4.0" comment was related to some of your rating rationalizing comments that you have made in the past on the league blog. It was just a joke. I wish you well and know you have pulled off runs like this before.
Ouch!!! In 5.0 four players have to play a first round match. Three of the four are major zone finalist from this year. That is a real bummer.
Dinker
Come on Dinker. I have faith in you! You can do it buddy. Just play it one point at a time like it's match point.
For what it's worth, I would say I suck more at singles than doubles.
Come on Kallus, don't be so hard on yourself. Go and have some margaritas. We like your margarita-induced pledge that you would go at least 2 rounds before losing!
Son what are the Vegas odds now that Schmucker will not show up?
Schmucker should show up. It's a Houston Tourney and he has a good draw. But you never know with him sometimes!
Journey Man,
Dennis Hiilsmeier will win Men's 4.5 singles if he doesn't have a heart attack first!
I've never seen a guy call a ball out when in fact it was 6" inside the line.
If he has a heart attack on the court, you can count me out as a First Aid/CPR responder.
Yeah I wish I had Schmucker's draw. Really no one in that half he has to worry about. Cakewalk to the finals if you ask me.
INteresting that no one sees Phi as a threat in the Quarters for Schmucker.
Yesterday, this blog got twice as many views/visits as any previous day since it started last July. People are loving them some Gallery talk (I am trying to break myself from calling it the Coke). If nothing else, us Houston players can sure thrash each other better than any other city in the state. Each your heart out Austin and Dallas, with your blogs all full of colorful pictures yet no comments.
hi oldschool--good point. looking at his recent results--he pulled out of a match due to injury earlier this month so he may not be healthy. should be interesting tournament
That's the problem with Houston. All you do is talk a good game. Dallas players will dominate this tournament.
Dallas, you can have 4.0 since that still borders on tennis with training wheels. I don't see who you think is going to emerge from the Dallas group to do any damage at 4.5 or 5.0 this weekend. The winners at these levels will come from Austin, San Antonio, or Houston. Oh yeah, and you now suck at basketball compared to us as well.
Well said.
Thank you.
can we keep the trash talking local please--only after we fully tear each other down to a pulp should we begin attacking other cities
SAROSH....nuff said
Houston will also dominate the 3.5s and 4.0s (although a San Antonio guy will probably win the 3.5s).
I am still picking Rockey/Brandt. What unseeded teams are you guys thinking will make a run? I don't see any.
Who will come through in the 4.0 this weekend?
I see all this trash talking about Sarosh.....I consider myself to be a halfway decent player and he demolished me a few months back at the Strawberry. Maybe it was what I ate or mentally I wasn't in to it, I am not sure but this guy had it all....good inside out forehand, solid returns, excellent volleys, etc. Not someone to take lightly.
after that remark all I have to say is Halm and Sarosh sitting in a tree...
Can we get some Knee Pads for Halm
Very funny....I was merely trying to point out that he is a damn good tennis player...thats all. I would love to beat him if we met up in a tournament, but I do not desire him sexually. I am not gay. On that note, I am extremely single in case there are any women trolling this blog.
keep working on the game---regarding women, not tennis
Brandon,
From what I know of you, you are a funny guy. Unfortunately, as you will see you are not allowed to make complimentary statements on this blog about other players' tennis skills without being either gay or just wrong. Of course, no one has a problem pointing it out if they think you suck. I am sure there have been at least 2 posts just today about how bad I suck. I could care less, I think it is funny.
Brandon,
Welcome to this this shitty but sometimes interesting Blog where real men post anonymously and frequently
Brandon,
Keep working on the game---regarding tennis, not women
Indeed, I am a funny guy, my sarcastic humor has found a new home in this blog. I saw a previous blog in which somebody leaked I was a Federal Agent. I am hoping that anybody in these tournaments that has a criminal record doesn't slash my tires..:) By the way, Kallus....how did you do in that small tournament last week, did you win...? I had to default, otherwise it would have been a good match between us.
Yeah Dude, I'll be there, whatever. I am kinda hurt but dudes I will win anyways.
Greg S.
Quack, I know you are lurking on this blog....fess up about that poll on which unseeded player will do the most damage. You are having all your co-workers log in at work and voting for you so you can take the lead.....!!!!
Not sure who the tard is trying to post the following, but I will assume he/she is talking about me:
Yeah Dude, I'll be there, whatever. I am kinda hurt but dudes I will win anyways.
Greg S.
Never posted that. Strange how this blog is turning into lets bash every Houston player.
Sorry Bradon regarding not calling you so we could hit after my league match with Quack on Monday. Perhaps we can hit during the week.
Schmucker
PS
Kallus is a good player............very good for a self taught player. Why does everyone bash him on here. Kallus just enjoys the sport that is tennis, but it seems people are always putting him down.
Sad.
Headline News:
Leach def. the Great "S" in first round of Gallery Furniture. The score will be broadcasted Friday morning.
Keep toned in.
Leach has the game to beat Sarosh, but its going to come down to fitness and who wants it more. Chris is a good guy, but i have to go with the "Great S" on this one.
OK, I will finally post for the first time. I did vote once for myself, but it was an accident. no predictions on who's going to win 4.5 singles, but i'm going to focus and fight for every point. Just trying to get through these annoying injuries, but i'll be 100%ready.
Good Luck to Everyone!
I'm huge!!! no, really, i'm big.
You saying I'm not fit!?! I'm in perfect shape......round.
Round but a real cool dude.
You guys must be joking if you think that Leach even stands a chance against the "Great s"...
As usual it has to be someone who definitely knows nothing about tennis but knows a lot about talking crap in an immature manner. There might be quite a few of us that have played against Leach and Sarosh and i'm sure they would definitely agree with me on this.
My prediction, Sarosh wins 6-3,6-3!
I guess we will see about that Friday morning!
Go Chris Go!
my vote is with Sarosh as well. Leach will play close in the 1st but I predict a lopsided 2nd set
great, now we have sa-roach posting about himself again and again...geez
"Sa-roach"...now i get it..that's funny stuff!
Anyone heard anything about Freeman's team(s)?
Wow, looks like you have the mental capacity a coke can. And you even laugh at your own joke.
I have an idea, why don't you post the next message under your name and I'll see you this weekend at the Gallery?!
yo momma, obama
Guys, please cut it out. People posting as anonymous shouldn't be complaining about others doing so first of all.
Lets not make this blog personal and just limit it to tennis only.
Thank you guys!
Michael M.? Great! Did you just have a naming ceremony? Well, in that case, this is Steve C.
Michael M.? Great! Did you just have a naming ceremony? Well, in that case, this is Steve C.
Steve C.
Good luck to this weekend Steve C.
Any notable players in 4.0 this year? I dont see any. Thoughts?
I think the hardest draw this weekend is by far the Men's 5.0 draw. Very good and interesting first round match-ups. Some of those matches I will be watching makes me wish I was playing 5.0, but I am not good enough yet.
Some of the matches I will be playing at 4.5 make me wish I was good enough to be playing at 4.5!
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