Secondly, as an insight to the ratings provided.
The first guy whom I played, played in a 5.0 league 6 years ago, and is currently unrated. I would consider him a 5.5 based on his Futures qualies, and National open rank. But you could make a case that he is a 5.0 because he lost to other players with 5.0 ratings. I suppose it depends on your view of the ratings, and if you really consider the people who play the singles spot on a 5.0 team, 5.0 players. I assume it is the same around the country, but here if your 5.0 team doesn't have a legitimate 5.5-6.0 player in the singles spot, your team isn't going anywhere. (If a freshly graduated or currently enrolled top 75 DI starter is playing on a 5.0 team, what do you consider them, I suppose is the question.)
The guy I played most recently last played on a 4.5 team 5 years ago, finished last year 18 in the east in Mens Open with a 12-6 record including numerous wins over 5.0 rated opponents. So he is clearly in the 5.0-5.5 range depending on your criteria.
I am sorry if I seem pissy, but a lot of these people whom I play are my friends, or if not close friends at least people I am friendly with. I have since practiced a couple of times with the first guy I played, and we became pretty friendly I drove out to his club 2 weeks after the tourney, played some GS games and a practice match, and will again. (I won the groundstroke games, he won the sets). And even the one or two who are jerks that I don't associate with unless forced to also have busted their tails to get to whatever level they are at. And it bothers me when people degrade them just to make me look worse (not specifically in this thread, and TFM is a cool guy, but in the past when I lost to a legitimate 5.5-6.0 player who is very highly nationally ranked and playing Future/Challenger qualies, who happens to be my friend, and people said that he was a 4.0 to make me look like a 3.5, that bothered me. When I lost to a guy who clobbered someone ranked 1200 in the world 6-0, 6-3 in a future qualy, and he was listed as a 5.0, that bothered me too).
So, that is really my only request, if you want to say something detrimental, please say is about me, or to me, and I will just laugh it off. But to degrade someone whom you have never met, or even seen play, and who has absolutely no stake in this is just lame.
Thanks for all the kind words, and I promise one way or another I will fix this lame first set problem, or die trying. Stupid January weather/lack of practice time.
J
Where is the loyalty???
