4.5jumping to open in pursuit of 1glorious atp point

[GRANITECHIEF]

Great job making the draw Tony. And i see you play another qualifier.

Best of luck to you. I see my buddy Sekou is in the draw. Hopefully you guys will meet, which would mean a semi!

[Inner Game]

Originally Posted by yonexpurestorm

i think you have missed the point.

I get it....but lets face it this is recreational tennis...not even D 1 college level. Everything is relative in tennis as in life...
Sure I commend the guy for trying to improve...That's great...that is what tennis should be about....improvement and raising your game to the highest level you can given your skill sets.

I hope he achieves his goals...

But just like in life...everyone has equal opportunity but everyone is not equal...and recreational tennis is recreational tennis...and I'm betting 99.8 % of the BM's have never competed at a level above 4.5....
Just enjoy the game.

For what is worth

[tenniscasey]

Originally Posted by Inner Game

I get it....but lets face it this is recreational tennis...not even D 1 college level. Everything is relative in tennis as in life...
Sure I commend the guy for trying to improve...That's great...that is what tennis should be about....improvement and raising your game to the highest level you can given your skill sets.

I hope he achieves his goals...

But just like in life...everyone has equal opportunity but everyone is not equal...and recreational tennis is recreational tennis...and I'm betting 99.8 % of the BM's have never competed at a level above 4.5....
Just enjoy the game.

For what is worth

You're completely missing the point of this thread.

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

InnerGame, you do realise our man is competing at Open level and has already had matches against ATP ranked opposition?

I don't think dismissing it as 'recreational tennis' is remotely accurate.

in fact, what does that even mean? When one of my former pupils is home from college in the states and we have a hit, is that 'recreational tennis'? He plays number 2 singles at a Texas DII school and I have a national open ranking, but there is nothing riding on it except for who buys the beer.

Yonex is trying to achieve something cool, and he moves ever closer to it, snide remarks about 'recreational tennis' miss the point by a very long way

[Inner Game]

Originally Posted by Timbo's hopeless slice

InnerGame, you do realise our man is competing at Open level and has already had matches against ATP ranked opposition?

I don't think dismissing it as 'recreational tennis' is remotely accurate.

in fact, what does that even mean? When one of my former pupils is home from college in the states and we have a hit, is that 'recreational tennis'? He plays number 2 singles at a Texas DII school and I have a national open ranking, but there is nothing riding on it except for who buys the beer.

Yonex is trying to achieve something cool, and he moves ever closer to it, snide remarks about 'recreational tennis' miss the point by a very long way

Open level doesn't equate to professional levels in most cases.

But, yeah I apologize for not reading this post in depth..it's on me.

Good Luck...

[yonexpurestorm]

Originally Posted by Inner Game

Open level doesn't equate to professional levels in most cases.

But, yeah I apologize for not reading this post in depth..it's on me.

Good Luck...

no worries inner game. i actually do agree with you that i am playing tennis recreationally. i dont plan on going pro and making a living from tennis. i do it strictly because it is fun for me. and playing at the highest level i can makes it even more enjoyable. i guess you could say i play tennis recreationally in a very competetive environment. a lot of the guys in these tournaments are like me, but most of them are college players, guys that tried the tour, coaches, juniors and ex college players. sometimes its crazy to see the level of play that shows up at these tournaments. this last tournament i played the winner received somewhere around $ 2000, and the guy i lost to 2-6 3-6 lost in the final to an ex UCLA player. while i do play strictly for fun, i do think most of these other guys would think differently.

for me, i did probably set an unattainable goal to get a point. i know it will probably not happen, but i do have mini goals along the way that i mark off as i go. the point is not to game the system to get a point in iran or something. even though if i am ever in iran or asia and have a chance to enter a tournament im sure i would, but the point is to improve my game to the highest level possible and thought it would be interesting to document my progress on TT. im turning 28 this year and figure i have a few more good years to improve before my body wont allow it anymore. just look at Tony Larson, a few years ago he was playing for fun and now has a chance at getting a point today. guys like that prove that perserverance is key for success.

[Inner Game]

Originally Posted by yonexpurestorm

no worries inner game. i actually do agree with you that i am playing tennis recreationally. i dont plan on going pro and making a living from tennis. i do it strictly because it is fun for me. and playing at the highest level i can makes it even more enjoyable. i guess you could say i play tennis recreationally in a very competetive environment. a lot of the guys in these tournaments are like me, but most of them are college players, guys that tried the tour, coaches, juniors and ex college players. sometimes its crazy to see the level of play that shows up at these tournaments. this last tournament i played the winner received somewhere around $ 2000, and the guy i lost to 2-6 3-6 lost in the final to an ex UCLA player. while i do play strictly for fun, i do think most of these other guys would think differently.

for me, i did probably set an unattainable goal to get a point. i know it will probably not happen, but i do have mini goals along the way that i mark off as i go. the point is not to game the system to get a point in iran or something. even though if i am ever in iran or asia and have a chance to enter a tournament im sure i would, but the point is to improve my game to the highest level possible and thought it would be interesting to document my progress on TT. im turning 28 this year and figure i have a few more good years to improve before my body wont allow it anymore. just look at Tony Larson, a few years ago he was playing for fun and now has a chance at getting a point today. guys like that prove that perserverance is key for success.

As long as you have foot speed you can play (at the local open levels) into your mid 40's but once you lose a step or 2....time to concentrate on doubles. I have been a USPTA Pro since 1980 so I have played hundreds of matches against nationally ranked and some world ranked players hovering in the 300-500 range...
At your age if you have the desire and skill you will start to learn how to win...once you learn how to win...tennis becomes a lot easier. I think all of us in the beginning even if we had better strokes lost to lessor skilled players. But like I said once you learn how to win and how it feels to win you will set yourself for about a decade of winning 90% of your matches.
Good luck keep us posted..

[jdubbs]

It's impressive to me...I took off from the game for 10 years before finding it again in my late 30's and have progressed from 4.0 to 4.5 and occasionally beating 5.0's and earning respect from ex-college players, which is pretty cool.
Wish I hadn't taken off so long and really dedicated myself to it earlier.

Jamison has many years of really high quality singles tennis in him and has made remarkable progress through hard work, honest self-evaluation, and a belief in himself. As someone who is never satisfied with staying static, I can appreciate that very much.
I'm on injured reserve now due to a couple of herniated discs and missing the game terribly. It's a setback, but I can't wait to get back out there and will continue to check out Jamison's progress.

[yonexpurestorm]

I havent had much good news to report do to lack of practice during sept. i havent been playing my best lately and it has been showing in my latest results. I recently moved and have been really busy at work which has effected my practice time. I also havent been able to eat as healthy as i would like and i can feel it makeing me more sluggish on the courts.

however, the little bit of good news i have is that i am in the quarter finals of my most recent open tournament and play this sat. my next match is against a college Sr that plays for UCLA. from what i read online it looks like he plays at #5 singles i think. i am hoping to bring my A game and at least create a chance for me to sneak a win.

[TennisCJC]

Yonex, that are a lot worse things you could be doing. Have fun and wishing you the best.

[LeeD]

Life is the best when you get the chance to persue your dream. That's all we can ask for in life, the CHANCE.
Keep up the hard work, and remember to use the WHOLE court.

[GRANITECHIEF]

Originally Posted by yonexpurestorm

i am in the quarter finals of my most recent open tournament and play this sat. my next match is against a college Sr that plays for UCLA. from what i read online it looks like he plays at #5 singles i think. i am hoping to bring my A game and at least create a chance for me to sneak a win.

Why the def?

[yonexpurestorm]

made a dumb mistake and looked at the schedule wrong. i saw my match was at 2pm and automatically thought it was on saturday for some reason. it was actually scheduled for friday at 2. the tournament director called me at 2:15, but i was at work and had to default. it sux, but there is nothing i can do about it now. now im focusing on my next tournement in november which has a really good draw. i dont know why, but it looks like steve johnson is signed up.

[LeeD]

Sorry that happenned, J, but that's the job of your coach. He's supposed to smooth the way, remind you, make sure you're fed and watered, get you to the event on time, and keep your energy up.
I know, you're surmounting your obstacle by yourself.

[yonexpurestorm]

i havent had any tournaments or otherwise good news to post for the past month, but this weekend i was able to put together some decent wins. i played in the la habra tennis center open in the open division and 4.5 division for singles. there was very good competition since first place open received $ 1800 and 4.5 first place received $ 400. in the open division i won my first round, but ended up losing 2 and 3 to the one seed in qualifying. i was happy with my play, but realize my stamina is not quite there yet. the kid i lost to was in one of those camps where they play tennis all day and then get tutored. my game is on par with these guys, but i cannot keep the intensity going without getting gassed. so there is plenty more work to do.

on a better note i took down the 4.5 division without dropping a set and taking the final 0 and 0. i had actually lost to the guy i beat in the final before so i know i am improving. the prize money was the largest ive seen for a tournament so the competition was pretty good, even for 4.5. in the semis i had to go through the #1 4.5 tournament player in so cal.

lastly, in my 6.0 ultimate tennis league i made the playoffs again, but lost in a close match 4-6 6-7 in the first round of the playoffs. i am making improvements, but as anyone around my skill level knows improvements are not linear. my next tournament is next weekend and i will be playing only open singles. then i am going to train all december and prepare for 2013 and hopefully i can put together some good wins.

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Well done Jamison!

You can't understate the 4.5 tournament win, those guys can be plenty tough, just not with the big game. You really have to BEAT them 'cos they won't just roll over and beat themselves..

Fitness!!!

[rufus_smith]

Very nice to win money. La Habra Open loser in the finals Novikov had an ATP ranking 556. Very tough tourneys. Congrats.

[yonexpurestorm]

that Novikov guy was on the court next to me and during changeovers i was able to catch some points. the guy had one of the biggest serves i had ever seen. this kid was trying to return the ball and was just whiffing completely. its crazy how solid these players are as you continue up the tennis food chain.

[CStennis11]

Originally Posted by yonexpurestorm

that Novikov guy was on the court next to me and during changeovers i was able to catch some points. the guy had one of the biggest serves i had ever seen. this kid was trying to return the ball and was just whiffing completely. its crazy how solid these players are as you continue up the tennis food chain.

Just a few questions for you Yonex if you don't mind.
I have noticed that you mention a few of your opponent's serve to be very good and unbelievable.
How big is the difference between their serves and yours before you ventured on this journey when you were a 4.5? What level was your serve at during this your 4.5 level of play?
How much of a difference does exercise, fitness and diet actually matter?
Thanks in advance and I apologize if these questions have been answered before.
Good luck!

[double barrels]

yonex,
your passion for tennis and improving is remarkable.
I completely respect your goal...
I too am trying to get that 1 ATP point, however, my goal is to get it in doubles. If I succeed in singles, that will just be a bonus.
Earlier this year I would consider myself a solid 4.5 player, now I would like to think I am an average 5.0 singles and doubles player (at least in the atlanta area).
I will be 24 before the end of the year, so my singles time is running short, however doubles has many many years before I even peak.
What do you suggest as far as starting the process of tournaments?
I currently play USTA, ALTA (atlanta league) and Ultimate Tennis (flex league).

I plan on trying to enter some ITF tournaments by the end of spring/start of summer, any suggestions on how to go about that?