Is there anybody out there?

I think that comes from a Pink Floyd song on the great album The Wall. More importantly, it seems a fair question in regard to this weekend's tournaments. Where the hell is everyone? 5.0 draw in Austin, a joke. 4.5, not much better, 14 guys is the smallest I can remember it ever being. Beaumont, hell 4.5 didn't even make last I checked, let alone 5.0. Where the hell are Kallus and Schmucker and the usual cast of guys who run like made to lesser tournaments (200 pointers) in search of the easy points? At least the 4.0 draws are still well populated....by a cast of guys I know absolutely nothing about so I can't even comment on the draws. I know Sectionals will be the normal draw sizes but I am really surprised by the vacuum of tennis right now. I would love to hear your thoughts on whether you think it is just a fluke or if tournaments other than the 8 major zones and the Master's Cup are the casualty of the point system that really only recognizes results from those bigger events unlike the old system where head-to-heads mattered regardless of the size of tourney and players were also required to play at least 2 OTHER tournaments to qualify for a ranking.

2008 4.0 Major Zone Winners & Finalists

Abiline - Winner: Tuyen Nguyen Runner Up: Bo Bassett
SAPTA - Winner: Fernando Ontiveros Runner Up: James Murray
Gallery - Winner: Roberto Narajos Runner Up: Matthew Schlensker
Corpus - Winner: Ismael Dutchover Runner Up: Scott Flores
Waco - Winner: Forrest Feuille Runner Up: William McKinney
Tyler - Winner: Ismael Dutchover Runner Up: Tuyen Nguyen
Alamo - Winner: Anthony Jones Runner Up: James Murray
FW - Winner: Forrest Feuille Runner Up: James Murray

Two things: #1 Obviously a bit more diversity on the winners list without Jason Kern running all over the 4.0's like he did last year

#2 Where the hell is Foad? Protest to stay down at 4.0 and not make one final? What is up with that?

2008 4.5 Major Zone Winners and Finalists

Abiline - Winner: John Trautmann Runner Up: Adam Cherry
SAPTA - Winner: Alfonso Rodriguez Runner Up: Jacob Casas
Gallery - Winner: Alfonso Rodriguez Runner Up: Leonardo Solis
Corpus - Winner: Alfonso Rodriguez Runner Up: Alejandro Sanchez
Waco - Winner: Alfonso Rodriguez Runner Up: Alejandro Sanchez
Tyler - Winner: Ben Sticker Runner Up: Dustin Viktorin
Alamo - Winner: Brent Gruno Runner Up: Ben Hawkins
FW - Winner: Wesley Longacre Runner Up: Dustin Viktorin

Is it just me, or is it pretty obvious that Alfonso did not play Tyler, Alamo City, or Fort Worth. Ben Sticker? Wesley Longacre? Who the hell are these guys? I am sure they are great players, but not exactly fixtures in the Texas tournament scene. As far as Alfonso, he has not lost a match this year at 4.5 and beat Tim Green rather easily in 5.0 at Alamo City. I would have to put him right behind Brian Smith and Thomas Reader as third best LEVELS (not open) player in the state as I would go with him to have won the four 5.0 majors that Green won had Alfonso played those tournaments at 5.0. Again, just my opinion and not meant as a slight to Tim who is a really strong player. Alfonso is just better. Just imagine how it must feel for Federer to deal with the fact that Nadal is just better than him now.

2008 5.0 Major Zone Winners & Finalists

With only Sectionals and Master's Cup left to go, I thought I would provide a rundown of winners and finalists at the 5.0, 4.5, and 4.0 levels, starting with the 5.0's.

Abilene - Winner: Tim Green Runner Up: Jason Gound
SAPTA - Winner: Thomas Reader Runner Up: Reggie Black
Gallery - Winner: Brian Smith Runner Up: Thomas Reader
Corpus - Winner: Tim Green Runner Up: Joe Schornick
Waco - Winner: Thomas Reader Runner Up: Jason Gound
Tyler - Winner: Tim Green Runner Up: Jason Gound
Alamo - Winner: Brian Smith Runner Up: Thomas Reader
FW - Winner: Tim Green Runner Up: Reggie Black

Of interest, only Brian Smith has beaten Thomas Reader this year and Tim Green has not won any major zone in which either Reader or Smith has played, so though he has won 4 major zones, he would rightfully have to be place third behind Smith and Reader even though he has them on points. Just my opinion.