Wednesday, March 19, 2008
And the countdown stands at two....
Time to reload with a fresh discussion stream, especially since that last one just deteriorated into a battle of "yo momma" insults. Poll currently indicates that Quack is the non-seed with the best shot at going far. If you haven't voted, please do, it's about as close as we can come to seeing how many people are visiting the site. Back in December, the polls were usually topping out at around 10 total votes, so 50+ shows that we are starting to get some traction on this blog. I have been blasted in the past for not commenting more on 4.0 or Open, two levels I have admitted I do not know much about. However, there must be someone coming to this site who does. So please feel free and share your opinion on these draws as well.
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I dont see any notable 4.0 players this year. Thoughts anyone?
5.0 is where the action is--dont you know that? forget about 4.0 or the open draw. hell forget about the us open. 5.0 is bumpin...
Benjamin Kfir will win the Men's 4.0 singles because he has a good solid game and can run all day with the best of them!
Go Ben Go.
Well open is quite stacked this year too. Easy to see when Sunday is seeded in the >10 range. There are definitely a few people who shouldn't be playing the open draw, but for the most part you've got people on a legitimate open level. It's a really tough call, Wooten, Markes, Jegedes, Valdezes, Mambetov (I have no idea who Hoover is but if he's seeded 1 above Adrian that's got to count for something) and many others seem to have a shot at the title. This Corduneanu is supposed to be very good as well. It's sort of like the 5.0 draw... Crazy...
From what I hear there should also be some crazy competition in 3.0 singles. Look for a dark horse to emerge in this draw because I heard that there is a guy who signed up who is not 200 pounds overweight or over the age of 65 and wearing two knee braces. Two bad that draw won't be taking place out at Homer Ford so that we can keep tabs on the action.
Yep there is not top players at 4.0this year but shockingly people that are actually playing at their true level so 4.0 should be great this year. I hope I can play a tourney or two.
So there doesn't seem to be anyone who will just collect points like crazy and blow everyone out.
I look forward to seeing who emerges out of the 4.0 scene.
I'm looking forward to the webcast of that 3.0 action. Go Rockets! Oops!
Hey Man,
No 3.0s allowed in this blog. They are still trying to figure out which end of the racquet to hold.
SO BUZZ OFF.
lol, nicely said
Can you imagine a blog dedicated to 3.0s breaking down match ups: "Bob may have the advantage in fitness because he has one knee that still bends and has only had a single mild heart attack but Dave has a much more consistent game and can often keep the ball in play up to 3 hits during a single point. This match should go down to the wire."
Benjamin is a nice, average 4.0 player who will be lucky to get out of the 1st round. Hirshey is no slouch.
Ansari should do well with an easy draw. Ontiveros won SA MZ so I expect him to make a run at the semis where my guess is he'll play Strasser.
The 4.0s are very weak as compared to years past. However, it does make for more competitive tennis throughout the draws and even in the early rounds.
The 4.5 and 5.0 draws are much more interesting this year.
"Bob reached the semi-finals but was then disqualified as he forgot to string his racquet"....."No Bob No, a golf club will not work instead".
Although this blog centers around 4.5/5.0 (and 5.0 only b/c 4.5s are playing in 5.0) you wouldn't beleive the amount 3.0/3.5 mens/women discussion on nationwide message boards such as tenniswarehouse. You can't find anything about 4.5 or 5.0 tennis. Amazingly it is still sometimes interesting.
The 3.0s and 3.5s typically have the most $$$$ though : )
I'll trade my 4.5 rating for some cash any day.
Not sure what to make with that comment. 3.0 and 3.5s are also barely still alive.
Why the hell is John Cox playing Open singles?
Who is John Cox?
exactly.
Lets play march madness. What players will be upset first in the 5.0?
Tough round of 16 matches will be Gound vs Ryu, Green vs Dibua and Hunckler vs Smith.
Tough quarters should be Gound or Ryu vs Cooney, Morton vs Reader, Green or Dibua vs Garg and Ballesteros vs Hunckler or Smith.
I believe the semis will be Gound, Reader, Smith and the winner of the Green/Dibua/Garg section of the draw.
Dinker
dinker, who says youll get by parreras much less dibua? recipe for disappointment i say....
Be nice to dinker. His my friend.
Translation....I, Tim Green, expect to win the whole thing, but it does not sound as arrogant when I talk about it in the 3rd person.
Actually, it is worse.
lol, aren't you setting your expectations a little high? Tough draw. In any case...good luck.
I am going to go out on a limb here and predict that 1 4.5 semifinalist will emerge from the following group of players:
Betuel Gabriel
Timothy Schroeder
Trey Dugas
David Zuniga
Dennis Hilsmeier
Phi Huynh
Daniel Kallus
John Griffin
Jens Yates
Richard Saldana
Yien Zheng
Donald Harris
Jeff Wunderlich
Brian Arellano
Greg Schmucker
A bold prediction I know, but I am going to stick with it.
That and I think it is better than 50/50 than Trautman pulls out prior to the tournament or no shows since he would have to face Alfonso Rodriguez very early in the draw.
Top Spin Assassin, you're very funny. love the humor. keep it up!
I would pic Trautman over Rodriguez.
Dinker
Why? Trautman quit after taking Rodriguez to a 1st tiebreak just because he was down 4-1 in the tiebreak. I think he will come to the tourney and hope that someone else beats Alfonso but I fully think Alfonso will win the match after Trautman quits halfway through the 1st set.
Would someone do me a favor and click on one of the ads on the homepage? No one ever does and I am just curious to see how it shows up in the #'s that google lets you track. Believe it or not but this blog has generated over $2.50 in total advertising revenue since I launched it in July. Google issues you a check once the total reaches $100. March-to-date revenue = $0.04. At this rate, my great, great, great grandson Journeyman IV, will be getting the check. I am joking about caring about the $ but I am curious to see what a click is worth.
COx doesnt want to lose at 4.5
John Cox and Arya Majed want a be open players and therefore don't want to lose in Men's 4.5 Singles.
Their pride overrides their common sense. What a Joke!
I agree with the Arya statement. He was losing to one of the worst tennis players in Houston at Lost Forest which was Ronnie Johnson.
Do you really think he would sign up for 4.5. Way too much to lose if Arya lost very early.
I have seen Arya play--he is a pretty impressive player and loves the sport. Everyone has an off tournament; especially this early in the year. I have played him and his topspin and ground strokes are hard to handle when he is on. He also has a pretty mean kick serve.
john cox in open? are you kidding me!!! Hoover is an impressive player. College player who can challenge anyone in the draw.
Trautman is a PU*** for quitting like he did. He should at least respect the guy and finish the match out. As if he is too proud to lose to him. PATHETIC!
Arya does not have a kick serve. What are you talking about? I play Open all the time and Arya should be playing 4.5 not Open. Sorry not trying to come across as an ass, but Arya's results speak for themselves where he should be playing.
Why does everyone pick on the same players around here? Kallas has taught himself to play and look how far it has taken him. He has a great attitude and great sense of humor. He really tries. Greg S is as consistent as they come. A solid player and nice guy. Arya M strives to get better and challenges himself by playing open--its better than sandbagging! He gave Rotimi Juegede a run for his money at sectionals--not bad! In addition, all of these guys are nice people who love to compete.
You must be kidding! Arya has a pretty good kick serve. Very effective as well.
The tournament at the higher levels should be very interesting this year.
Ronnie Johnson is a nice guy and he loves the game. Regardless of his results, he doesnt derserve to be called one of the worst players in houston. There are many people who dont have the balls he does.
That's right, i respect players has the balls to play up and lose with honor, rather then players who play down cuz they're afraid of losing.
its not about sandbagging or playing up. its about having respect for the game and its players and giving it your best--and most of all, enjoying yourself and the company of others.
AG
There is not that big of a difference in sandbagging and inappropriately playing up. Both show a lack of respect for your opponent. That is why we have we have the NTRP levels, so that people can sign up for a tournament and get good competition without wasting their money and time playing someone out of level - up or down.
People should have enough respect for their opponents to play at their proper level.
I also respect RJ. He keeps getting out on the court because he loves playing the game and is not hung up on winning or else. Look at how many supposedly strong players either fake injury and retire when they are losing a match or fake injury and not show up when they are scared they might lose. That is the definition of a pussy if you ask me.
You are also a pussy when you play up to avoid legitimate competition. Somehow people think if they merely sign up and play 5.0 or Open that they actually are at that level. It is sad. There is a reason Ronnie is rated 4.0, not 5.0, because he is 4.0. There are many more just like him, diluting otherwise legitimate draws.
Until USTA has a solution to this dilemma, there are going to be players playing up & down the NTRP scale. Some just want to improve their game by playing up, and others just don't want to lose by playing up.
I'm really surprise that USTA has not done anything about this all these years!
I like this topic and I agree it affects tourneys and leagues equally. There are too many that fill up teams that "play up" and while there are a handful that this strategy works for I think the majority just learn how to lose effectively.
I have seen cases here in Dallas where 4.0s sign up for open, I mean you might as well just make a donation to the USTA. You are wasting the time of the upper level tourney players. Some might have to take off work early or change plans just to give a double bagel to somebody. Ridiculous.
Does that mean its the same thing when people sandbag and play down in league? I doubt any of you would complain about it unless its affecting your teams chances of advancing to sectionals/nationals. The USTA is never going to fix this problem, nor can they really ever patrol any system they put in place, so just get over it and stop complaining.
Hard to police. Open pretty much means Open. What are suggesting, that only 5.5 and above can play open? If I'm a 5.0, I must play 5.0? A 5.0 can win most, not all, open division tournaments.
Where is everybody? Nobody is writing today. What's wrong? Y'all getting nervous for your big matches tomorrow? Go Spurs!
Anyone know anything about Jack E. Scholl?
Let's keep this to tennis please! I guess everybody practicing for the big day tomorrow.
The weather is not going to be a factor this year so no 2-2, no-add BS.
Good luck to everyone!
Cheryl just caled me. Sarosh has an ankle injury and will not be able to play this weekend. Its unfortunate, as I was looking forward to playing (and possibly losing to) him. Maybe next time. On the bright side, I get to sleep in a bit.
Way to go Chris! I knew you would scare him away with that round shape of yours!
You are still the coolest dude in my book. Congrats! Now go on and scare the other ones.
I think it could be policed to some extent. Obviously if you are playing up and winning then for whatever your rating needs to be adjusted and will at the next bump up/down. But the issue is with players consistently playing above their playing level and losing. Now if they keep banging their head against the wall and losing then eventually they lose 6-2 rather than 6-0 and before you know it some 3.5 gets bumped to 4.0just for showing up and taking a loss multiple times. Then along comes a true 4.0 and crushes this player who doesn't belong in the league and if he hits players like this enough could end up being bumped up when they haven't truly beat good players at their level.
In tourneys I just think it wastes peoples time when someone truly can't compete when you have to dedicate a weekend and $35+ dollars plus gas and possibly airfare and you end up not getting quality matches. worst case is you draw someone like this in round 1 and then you get blown out in the 2nd round. I would think as a tourney player you hope for your time and effort you get at least two good matches, if not more if you play well.
If you care about about ranking points, you should welcome a lesser player playing up as your first round opponent and be upset if other top ranked players get cakewalk 1st round matches while you have to play someone like...I don't, maybe Phi Huynh, for example. I personally don't mind a couple of cakewalks every now and then to keep the ranking points padded. Who would you rather have to face in the 1st round, Thomas Reader or Dennis Hilsmeier? Pretty easy choice if you ask me. On the other hand, I have no respect for stronger players playing down in order to go trophy hunting and prop up the ego and in the process messing things up for players at that level legitimate doing their best to finish with a good ranking.
Why were the NTRP ratings created? To have players around the same skill level competing with each other. Otherwise, we can all just play age levels.
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