Thursday, December 3, 2009

Guess 4.0 Draws were too big....

....that's the only reason I can see for bumping up a ton of 4.0s and pretty much leaving everyone at 4.5 untouched. Too bad, cause it is the 5.0 draws that really suffer from lack of players. The reality is we are thinking like tournament players and I am sure this "mass" re-rating has everything to do with league play. If it is true that 40 of the top 50 4.0s were bumped up, it seems ridiculous that not even 5 of the top 10 4.5s were not bumped up. USTA has done a lot of bone-headed things the past few years, yet it appears that overall USTA tennis participation continues to rise. It will be interesting to see if a backlash against the new ratings and the ridiculous level of entry fees have an adverse impact in 2010.

66 comments:

Anonymous said...

I for one have decided to cut my tournament play in half and just play the local events for next year. It is not worth spending the time and money in another city just to get whipped by the top 4.5 players in early rounds who should have been bumped up to 5.0 for next year. Greed is not good my friends.

Anonymous said...

I assume you were one of the guys bumped up from 4.0 to 4.5? Welcome to the club. I have not had fun playing tournnaments ever since I was bumped up. I don't expect I should be able to win every match let alone every tournament, but if I am rated a 4.5, I should at least have a fighting chance to win matches. Otherwise what's the point. I cannot stand having to play against guys who are obviously sandbagging below where they should be and are actually smug about while they are whipping up on you. Even in the case where they are nice guys, I don't like it. Sanchez, Moser, Luetke - all these guys make it very obvious that they think they are pretty damn good players. Fine, then step up and try your luck at 5.0 and let some of us lesser players have a chance at being competitive at the level we are REQUIRED to play at, i.e. don't tell me I am a 4.0 and I shouldn't be playing 4.5 if I don't like losing when I am only playing 4.5 cause USTA tells me I have to. Venting complete.

Anonymous said...

Amen to that man....Well put....

Anonymous said...

Oh man, now I have to lose 20 lbs and get in shape to play in 4.5s, that ain't fair.

Anonymous said...

USTA sucks. It's a wasted year getting bumped up to 4.5. Definetly not worth going out of town to tourneys when it is highly likely I'll get dropped badly in the first match. Another tennis year wasted and I'm not gettign any younger.

The USTA will be getting less money out of me. I hope they fail. Bunch of F'ers.

Anonymous said...

Ratings are all about league results from the national championships on down. Basically, if you were a 4.0 and did reasonably well (in league or tournaments) against either the top players on the top teams from Houston or Dallas you got bumped. It does not have to be a direct line - you maybe played someone who played someone who played someone.

Juan D. gets bumped to 5.0 - he beats Tim Green (national benchmark) 6-0, 6-0 and goes 3 sets with Ismael Dutchover - so if you have played Ismael close in the last couple of years (in 3.5, 4.0 or 4.5) then you were probably adversly effected by their 3 set match. This is just an example.

Anonymous said...

So when I thought it would help my cause to lose to Dutchover 6-0 in 3rd set, it actually ended up hurting me?
That sucks.

Anonymous said...

I have NO serve.
I have NO forehand.
I have NO backhand.
I have NO overhead.
I have NO volley.
I have NO game, period.
Why am I playing in 4.5s Journeyman?

Anonymous said...

is that you goldberg?

Anonymous said...

How does Juan beat Tim 6-0 and 6-0? I would think more like 6-4, 6-3.

The best tanker:
The art of tanking is not losing on purpose but winning matches very closely. This assures that you stay at your current level.

Anonymous said...

Juan beat Tim 6-0, 6-0 at this year's Sectionals finals.

Anonymous said...

The following people should 'MAN' up and move up to 5.0s next year and let some of us lesser players have a chance at being competitive at the level we are REQUIRED to play:

- Guillermo Martin Del Campo
- Alejandro Sanchez
- Jochen Moser
- David Luedtke
- Ben Hawkins
- Philip Griggs
- Scott Sevin
- Odion Dibua
- Charlie Rivera
- Adam Cherry
- Wayne Morgan

My guess is that my request will fall on deaf ears because of greed among these guys.

Juan DeKruyff said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Juan DeKruyff said...

My match with Tim at Sectionals was just a case of me playing out of my mind and him playing terrible. That's it. It happens to everyone sometimes. My match with Israel was a 2-all, no-ad match, it was extremely humid and my grip was so saturated it felt like vaseline. He played really smart and ran down EVERYTHING and frustrated the hell out of me. I was lucky to get out of that match to be honest. Everybody has good days and bad days and the computer averages everything out and what's left is probably a true representation of a player's ability on an average day. Speaking about Israel, though, if he plays tournaments next year he'll be a force because of his speed and conditioning and the fact that he just started playing tennis relatively recently. So Israel is an up-and-comer who'll get some quality wins next year and anyone with wins or close losses against him will be affected, but only very slightly. Anyone who's rating is within .1 of their prior rating will win their appeal to go back down, so I suspect when people sign up for league next year there will be plenty of appeals getting granted.

Anonymous said...

'Juan' is the number 'One' in my book.

Anonymous said...

5.0 is weaker than 4.5. Nuff said.

Anonymous said...

Long live Juan of the rings, not a single cuss word.

Anonymous said...

Hey whining anons, it's time to quit complaining and start working on your tennis game. That is the big difference between 4.0 and 4.5 In 4.0 you could walk out and win with an big serve or forehand, or without practice. In 4.5 that serve or forehand comes back, continuously! You just have to play more shots in a point, period. You actually have to work on your game to be successful in 4.5
As the NFL Primetime guys like to say,....."Come on, man!"

Anonymous said...

4.5 tennis is not nearly as tough as average 4.5 players like to act like it is. Most 4.0s will do just fine in the new 4.5 world.

Anonymous said...

Journeyman, I’m kind of glad that I got bumped up in the ratings because I needed someone (USTA) to kick me in the behind to get me going in the right direction with improving my game. I don’t think I’ll be whipped in my new rating, but I do think I need to get in a better shape to compete with these guys. Nevertheless, it’s been a good blessing in disguise. Change is good.

Anonymous said...

4.5 are so arrogant. Are you guys going pro soon, otherwise get over your attitude. Its recreational tennis.

Anonymous said...

Dear Santa,

My X-Mas wish is to finish in the top ten in 4.5s next year. Top 20 is OK too.

Yours truly,

A 5.0 player

Anonymous said...

juan, you did everyone in houston a favor by whipping green. green is overhyped. juan is a true 5.0 player not green. as for starting at 2-all, no-adds, it's always work in favor of the weaker player.

Anonymous said...

only these players should be 5.0:

- Alejandro Sanchez
- Jochen Moser
- David Luedtke
- Odion Dibua
- Charlie Rivera
- Adam Cherry

Juan DeKruyff said...

I'm not sure what Green's reputation is in Houston, but he's a legitimate 5.0 player. His serve and volley game is too good for 4.5's. He's even better in doubles than singles. He needed to get bumped.

Anonymous said...

obviously his serve and volley was not that good if you whooped him 0,0

Anonymous said...

Tim's classic stroke style can't handle Juan's massive topspin.

Anonymous said...

But I still think he is a 5.0 player.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone have a proven remedy to combat tennis elbow? Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Anonymous said...

don't use poly strings. lower your string tension. go with a racquet that is not stiff. eastern forehands normally will give you elbow problems. jerk off with other arm

Anonymous said...

The last comment was totally not necessary, but thanks for the tips man.

Anonymous said...

actually the last comment was the best advice

Anonymous said...

'I'm ready to kick that fraud Foad's ass in 4.5.'

why so much hate and anger towards a 4.0 player dude?

Anonymous said...

foad is a non-factor in 4.5. he can't even get out of his first match in 4.0

Anonymous said...

Did Foad claim to be a factor in 4.5? Then why attack him? Same thing with Kallus and Arya. Don't see these guys ever saying anything about how they think they are "factors" in their respective levels. Yet, both are constantly attacked for playing at the level USTA has them rated, rightly or wrongly.

Anonymous said...

Picks for this weekend's Casa Ole:

Open - Pete Taylor
4.5 - John Patch
4.0 - Greg Brown

Anonymous said...

Juan is the number 'One' in 5.0s next year.

Anonymous said...

casa ole

open- moser
4.5- hernandez
4.0- brown

Anonymous said...

there are two Brown in the 4.0 draw. which Brown you are picking?
Jim or Greg?

Anonymous said...

Congrats to all the winners at Casa Ole. You guys had to put up with the weather and your opponents.
open- Will Taylor
4.5- John Griffin
4.0- Aaron Smith

Anonymous said...

Picks for Missouri City CTA tourney:

Men Open - Toney Franco
Women 4.5 - Donnetha Johnson
Men 4.0 - Richard Merritt

Anonymous said...

Anyone think Roger's been screwing around too since he and Tiger are such good friends? Plus Tiger's wife is way hotter than Mirka so Roger has even more reason to stray.

Anonymous said...

Roger is not as rich as Tiger. Tiger is worth $1 billion. He makes $110 million in ads per year. Plus he is way better look-in than Roger. But I have to agree with you that Tiger's wife is way hotter than Mirka so Roger has even more reason to stray!

Anonymous said...

Roger is so competitive that I think he will go out and get himself 15 bitches so that he can outdo Tiger in the "playa" rankings. Safin is impressed cause Tiger's lineup of ho's are almost as hot as the collection that he has banged over the past 10 years. Obviously, in his case there was no harm done.

Anonymous said...

...Except to Safin's tennis game. Trading success on the court for success in the bedroom. I'd take it.

Tiger Woods said...

"I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children." "I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try."

Anonymous said...

Tiger Woods had more than 16 Hos. They haven’t even looked at the other continents he golfed at. I reckon by the time it is all said and done, the tally be around 50 to 75 Hos. I just wonder when did he have time to practice golf...damn.

Anonymous said...

The goal of golf is to stick it in the hole so banging chicks probably does count as practice. I can just imagine the Persian and Asian chicks this guy has banged. It's too bad they don't play tournaments in Brazil cause that's high quality poon too.

The Journeyman said...

Anybody notice that Abilene Major Zone and Mabry Classic at Newks are going to take place on the same weekend this year? I find it strange that USTA would schedule a 200 pointer and Major Zone on the same weekend. Wonder if that is going to make Abiline even more of a ghost town event.

The Journeyman said...

Or maybe they are going to follow the ATP model of multiple tournaments on the same weekend to accomodate the fact that this year's mass bump-ups are going to swell the ranks of 4.5 and 4.0 players. They will continue to only need 1 available court per day to accomodate the 5.0 draws.

Anonymous said...

Is Mabry back at Newks?

Anonymous said...

No, it's going to be at McFarlin Tennis Center, 1503 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212.

Anonymous said...

"If you're losing, just be a man, be a man and lose as a man. Don't pretend that you are injured and then you start running around and start to hit winners, and then all of a sudden you pull the hands up in the air after winning the match. I mean, what kind of sportsman are you? What kind of man are you?"

-- Marat Safin, after losing to an apparently injured Tomas Berdych at Shanghai.

Anonymous said...

"I regret he didn't retire earlier."

-- Marat Safin, asked to reflect on the retirement of Fabrice Santoro, against whom he has a 2-7 record.

Anonymous said...

On trying to keep track of all the new players, Serena Williams said:

"I just know the standard: Everyone is from Russia. Sometimes I think I'm from Russia, too."

"There's like 12 Russians in the top 10."

Anonymous said...

Serena Williams to a U.S. Open lineswoman who famously called a foot fault at a critical moment:

"I'm going to take this f------ ball and shove it down your f------throat … you don't know me."

Anonymous said...

ATP Quotable Player of the Year: Marat Safin after his last career match:

"Now I have no schedule, no practices, nothing. I belong to myself."

Anonymous said...

On whether he'll write an Andre Agassi-type memoir, Marat Safin said:

"I'm not writing a book, no chance. All my memories, all my secrets will stay with me."

Anonymous said...

50/50 Marat has screwed some of the same women that Tiger banged. Even though he never lived up to his potential, if I could be any pro player it would be Marat Safin. If not him, then Carlos Moya. Those guys have banged the hottest chicks across the world. Seems like I can't even get the one woman sleeping in my bed every night to bang me.

Anonymous said...

Don't laugh!" Sarosh said.

"Of course I won't laugh," the doctor said. "I'm a professional. In over twenty years I've never laughed at a patient."

"Okay then," said Sarosh, and proceeded to drop his trousers, revealing the tiniest penis the doctor had ever seen. It couldn't have been bigger than the size of a AAA battery.

Unable to control himself, the doctor started giggling, then fell laughing to the floor. Ten minutes later he was able to struggle to his feet and regain his composure.

"I'm so sorry," said the doctor. "I really am. I don't know what came over me. On my honor as a doctor and a gentleman, I promise it won't happen again.

Now...what seems to be the problem?"

"It's swollen," Sarosh replied.

Anonymous said...

too funny!

Anonymous said...

Anyone playing in Dallas?

Anonymous said...

Pick for COTTON BOWL CLASSIC:

Men's Open - T.J. Tisdale
Men's 4.5 - Jason Kern
Men's 4.0 - Bob Somabut

Nuff said and Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

I agree with the Kern pick but Somabut is only good for 1 set, much less a whole tournament. He will be tanking in this one. Everyone's trying to get back down to 3.5 and 4.0.

Anonymous said...

I really don't need to tank any matches because I truly S-U-C-K in tennis.

Anonymous said...

Any picks for Houston player of the year? My vote is for Kallus.