4.5jumping to open in pursuit of 1glorious atp point

[yonexpurestorm]

i won my local tournament, the HB open, in the 4.5 division today. the final match i won by default because the guy didnt show up. i have played the guy 3 times before, winning the last two. i dont remember exactly when i lost to the guy, but i know i wasnt playing as good as i am today. i feel that i am playing the best tennis of my life. this is actually the first tournament that i have ever won above 4.0. i only dropped one set and it was in the semi's and the guy was really good. he took me 1-6 in the first and i thought i was going to lose for sure. i could not dial in my game. on the set change over i changed my game and started playing more consistent and waited for my chances to hit winners much more patiently. after the match we exchanged numbers so we could meet up and practice and i learned he is a teaching pro at one of the local clubs around here.

after the match was defaulted i hung around and watched the mens open finals. it was fun getting to hang out with my dad at his club. i remember playing tennis when i was really young at these courts, and people i didnt recognize would talk to my dad and say they remember me when i was really small. i was pretty bummed that i didnt get to play because i was excited to win the tournament with my dad and his friends watching. i watched about an hour of the mens open. one of the players' mom was sitting next to me and she told me he was playing at univ of oregon which i think is d1. i know these players arent the highest ranked guys in socal, but they were pretty good. i know if i were to play these guys they would probably beat me, but i know i could hang and get some games. i know with more work i will be competing with these guys soon.

later today i had my usta league doubles match and i was playing really good. usually im not too good at doubles because i need to get into a rythym, but today i was firing on all cylinders. me and my teamate ended up winning 6-4 6-4 i think.

ive been playing a lot and have met some cool people through my craigslist post. one guy i met with was down to meet up twice a week and do drills. friday we worked on my crosscourt bh and service return. this was really helping me get that muscle memory that you need to hit consistent shots. this was exellent practice and realy what i need to get better. theres a few tournament coming up in september. i havent decided if ima play 4.5 or open. if theres a large draw for 5.0 ill probably play that. i plan on playing a lot for practice before my next tournaments. ive been playing around 5 days a week, but plan on training even harder. ill get some video of my bh once i get my tripod thing in the mail. i got some video of the semi final match but only a few points because the court was not and ideal court for filming.

[jakemcclain32]

Congrats man! Now you are moving up!

Who cares how you win. Guy didn't want to show, so you deserve it. Think of it as respect.

I wish I could play as many tourneys as you. Right now I'm relegated to one a month because Georgia does mostly Jr. tourneys. Next year, I'll travel more. Small time at first for money reasons, but it's a start.

Far as you go though, just keep up your winning streak. You never know how far you can take things.

I applaud you.

[JoelDali]

Dude that didn't show saw this thread and LoL'd.

[coachbrian]

Originally Posted by yonexpurestorm

i won my local tournament, the HB open, in the 4.5 division today. the final match i won by default because the guy didnt show up. i have played the guy 3 times before, winning the last two. i dont remember exactly when i lost to the guy, but i know i wasnt playing as good as i am today. i feel that i am playing the best tennis of my life. this is actually the first tournament that i have ever won above 4.0. i only dropped one set and it was in the semi's and the guy was really good. he took me 1-6 in the first and i thought i was going to lose for sure. i could not dial in my game. on the set change over i changed my game and started playing more consistent and waited for my chances to hit winners much more patiently. after the match we exchanged numbers so we could meet up and practice and i learned he is a teaching pro at one of the local clubs around here.

after the match was defaulted i hung around and watched the mens open finals. it was fun getting to hang out with my dad at his club. i remember playing tennis when i was really young at these courts, and people i didnt recognize would talk to my dad and say they remember me when i was really small. i was pretty bummed that i didnt get to play because i was excited to win the tournament with my dad and his friends watching. i watched about an hour of the mens open. one of the players' mom was sitting next to me and she told me he was playing at univ of oregon which i think is d1. i know these players arent the highest ranked guys in socal, but they were pretty good. i know if i were to play these guys they would probably beat me, but i know i could hang and get some games. i know with more work i will be competing with these guys soon.

later today i had my usta league doubles match and i was playing really good. usually im not too good at doubles because i need to get into a rythym, but today i was firing on all cylinders. me and my teamate ended up winning 6-4 6-4 i think.

ive been playing a lot and have met some cool people through my craigslist post. one guy i met with was down to meet up twice a week and do drills. friday we worked on my crosscourt bh and service return. this was really helping me get that muscle memory that you need to hit consistent shots. this was exellent practice and realy what i need to get better. theres a few tournament coming up in september. i havent decided if ima play 4.5 or open. if theres a large draw for 5.0 ill probably play that. i plan on playing a lot for practice before my next tournaments. ive been playing around 5 days a week, but plan on training even harder. ill get some video of my bh once i get my tripod thing in the mail. i got some video of the semi final match but only a few points because the court was not and ideal court for filming.

Good win, or win by default. I think you need to start working up towards "hanging" with the Open Division. Your playing a 4.5 division for goodness sake, in which the winner of the 5.0 division of your tournament beat you last year 6-1, 6-1 if I am correct? It sounds that you have all the confidence in playing at the high level, but maybe your game isnt developed enough for you to post wins. Playing on paper, is totally different then putting it on the court.

I think the best solution, as many have posted, is to train, shed some pounds, and really practice hard. Start working your way up a division at a time. Not bouncing all over the division board.

[yonexpurestorm]

Originally Posted by coachbrian

Good win, or win by default. I think you need to start working up towards "hanging" with the Open Division. Your playing a 4.5 division for goodness sake, in which the winner of the 5.0 division of your tournament beat you last year 6-1, 6-1 if I am correct? It sounds that you have all the confidence in playing at the high level, but maybe your game isnt developed enough for you to post wins. Playing on paper, is totally different then putting it on the court.

I think the best solution, as many have posted, is to train, shed some pounds, and really practice hard. Start working your way up a division at a time. Not bouncing all over the division board.

i actually remember that loss quite well. that was the loss that determined me to get better. that was a year ago when i was demoing racquets and thought my game was the best thing since sliced bread. i thought i could handle any racquet and was using the blx 6.1 90. i remember the crippling tennis elbow that thing gave me. i broke a string the match before and i took it into a big box store and told the stringer i broke strings alot. so they gave me kevlar at 60lbs( i dont reccomend this to anyone). needless to say i sold that racquet and went through many other racquets untill i found the pstgt. i have my own stringer now and know much much more about tennis and i dont get tennis elbow any more. about 6 months ago i did get a chance for a rematch against keith in my ultimate tennis league. the score was 6-7 0-6 and i have improved a great deal since even then. i think then i was using the yonex rdis 100 mid. im fairly certain if i played him now i would win or at least go 3 sets.

but i know what your saying about the level jumping. the problem is that the 5.0 and 5.5 levels never bring a good size draw. its usually like 4.5 has 20-30 ppl open has 25-35 ppl and if there is a 5.0 or 5.5 draw its like a maximum of 8ppl. so its either get my moneys worth at 4.5 or get a lesson at open.

[coachbrian]

Originally Posted by yonexpurestorm

i actually remember that loss quite well. that was the loss that determined me to get better. that was a year ago when i was demoing racquets and thought my game was the best thing since sliced bread. i thought i could handle any racquet and was using the blx 6.1 90. i remember the crippling tennis elbow that thing gave me. i broke a string the match before and i took it into a big box store and told the stringer i broke strings alot. so they gave me kevlar at 60lbs( i dont reccomend this to anyone). needless to say i sold that racquet and went through many other racquets untill i found the pstgt. i have my own stringer now and know much much more about tennis and i dont get tennis elbow any more. about 6 months ago i did get a chance for a rematch against keith in my ultimate tennis league. the score was 6-7 0-6 and i have improved a great deal since even then. i think then i was using the yonex rdis 100 mid. im fairly certain if i played him now i would win or at least go 3 sets.

but i know what your saying about the level jumping. the problem is that the 5.0 and 5.5 levels never bring a good size draw. its usually like 4.5 has 20-30 ppl open has 25-35 ppl and if there is a 5.0 or 5.5 draw its like a maximum of 8ppl. so its either get my moneys worth at 4.5 or get a lesson at open.

I understand what your saying. But are you trying to get better? So playing a smaller draw with better players wont get you better? It looks like Keith just walked his 5.0 draw if im not correct? It sounds like you are looking for quantity and not quality.

Wether you win vs Keith or not, it looks like he is moving up, and your still at your level. Right?

[ahuimanu]

Agree with coachbrian...just played a few sets of competitive doubles against a couple of former ATPers and wow, what a treat! I usually play against 4 to 5 + players all the time but this level is so much different (quality of shot, placement, consistency etc.).

Got killed early on until we started playing smash mouth to keep up.
It's all about levels and it happens at the top too. Recall hearing Fed saying how he plays better at the later stages as the guys hit a "cleaner" ball.

To be your best, play the best.

Move up young man!

fo

Originally Posted by coachbrian

I understand what your saying. But are you trying to get better? So playing a smaller draw with better players wont get you better? It looks like Keith just walked his 5.0 draw if im not correct? It sounds like you are looking for quantity and not quality.

Wether you win vs Keith or not, it looks like he is moving up, and your still at your level. Right?

[Govnor]

I think the key for you is that backhand. I played an older guy yesterday who was a good all around player, not as good as you for sure, but just solid. However, he basically only had a slice backhand and I took total advantage of that. He plays in the circles I play in, and wins almost all the time, but I smashed him once I figured out he was so weak on the bh. I would expect those 5.0 players to do the same to you.

[Fugazi]

Originally Posted by Govnor

I think the key for you is that backhand. I played an older guy yesterday who was a good all around player, not as good as you for sure, but just solid. However, he basically only had a slice backhand and I took total advantage of that. He plays in the circles I play in, and wins almost all the time, but I smashed him once I figured out he was so weak on the bh. I would expect those 5.0 players to do the same to you.

+1. The backhand. You have a 5.0 FH with a 3.5-4.0 BH...

[LeeD]

Sorry, but I thought starting at 3.5, everyone picks on everyone else's backhands.

[Govnor]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Sorry, but I thought starting at 3.5, everyone picks on everyone else's backhands.

haha!! True!

[Govnor]

Originally Posted by yonexpurestorm

i actually remember that loss quite well. that was the loss that determined me to get better. that was a year ago when i was demoing racquets and thought my game was the best thing since sliced bread. i thought i could handle any racquet and was using the blx 6.1 90. i remember the crippling tennis elbow that thing gave me. i broke a string the match before and i took it into a big box store and told the stringer i broke strings alot. so they gave me kevlar at 60lbs( i dont reccomend this to anyone). needless to say i sold that racquet and went through many other racquets untill i found the pstgt. i have my own stringer now and know much much more about tennis and i dont get tennis elbow any more. about 6 months ago i did get a chance for a rematch against keith in my ultimate tennis league. the score was 6-7 0-6 and i have improved a great deal since even then. i think then i was using the yonex rdis 100 mid. im fairly certain if i played him now i would win or at least go 3 sets.

but i know what your saying about the level jumping. the problem is that the 5.0 and 5.5 levels never bring a good size draw. its usually like 4.5 has 20-30 ppl open has 25-35 ppl and if there is a 5.0 or 5.5 draw its like a maximum of 8ppl. so its either get my moneys worth at 4.5 or get a lesson at open.

My 2 cents.

If I were you, I would play a couple more 4.5 Tournaments. My reasons are two fold. Most importantly, you have to work on your back hand. Make a conscious effort to get your footwork correct and hit the two hander every time. Don't even think about slicing, unless you're seriously reaching. Don't worry about the scoreboard at all.

Second point would be to solidify in your mind that you are now too good to play at 4.5, and you have earned those spots in the open or 5.0 tourneys (assuming you win...).

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Sorry, but I thought starting at 3.5, everyone picks on everyone else's backhands.

SHHHH! This is the secret to my success! One day, someone is going to notice that my BH is actually waaaay better under pressure than my FH is.

Then where will I be? Until then, I smash big FH winners off short balls and scare 'em onto my BH, hopin all the while that I won't get pushed deep and wide on my FH side, thus revealing my terrible secret!

(ok, it's relative, I have a decent FH and I am good at punishing the short ball, but it isn't as 'safe' under pressure as it could be. Fact)

[yonexpurestorm]

so ive been working on the bh a lot. i just got done with a two hour session of only hitting bh's. ive been hitting with a guy and we do this drill where he only hit bh to me and i hit it and then touch the center hash mark and go back to hit another bh. we did this for about 1 and a half hrs. then for about 30 mins we had him serve to my bh a bunch of times. my game is feeln really good lately. ive played every day for the last 9 to 10 days. i still feel like im strugling with getting my feet set properly when i try and hit a bh cross court with good pace. with the amount im playing lately ill improve much quicker. ive also finally settled on a string setup that i really feel works with my gm.

theres two tournaments coming up in a week and a half. ill probably sign up for the queen of hearts tournament.
http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournamen....aspx?T=104661
im gone all this weekend, but i have practice sessions already scheduled for tues through thurs. ill probably take friday off to rest and then have the tournament this weekend. i just hope the draw gets at least 16 ppl. so far it looks like theres not too many ppl signed up.

[Govnor]

Good luck!! Looking forward to seeing how you do.

[ryu1revline]

Hey man, I saw you playing in the semis of the HB Open, grats on the win.

TBH I was there watching Mayeda playing on the court next to yours for the men's open semis, but caught most of the 1st set from your match. It looked brutal and I thought you were finished, so I went to check out thomsen play the other open semi match.

After another hour I kept hearing cheers coming WAY back from those awful courts they put you guys, and my friend said it must be a war back there lol. We both agreed that you have a "technically" better game than the philippino guy you played, but man, the consistency of your shots was tough to watch. I would have thrown my racquet a few times on some of those backhand returns on his serve.

Lucky for you, your opponent started missing his pushy shots, and you finally started making your forehand winners. It wasn't pretty, but sometimes those are the best wins haha.

I saw that Morales guy play against the old guy in the other 4.5 match, and he was quite the super pusher, with only a forehand and backhand slice.. I'm not kidding lol. You would've easily beaten him if he showed.

To be blunt, there is a massive gap between you and the open players I saw there, and they were on the low end of what I normally see. I doubt you could even break thomsen in 5 sets. But it's no big deal, you'll get there in time if you want it bad enough. Good luck!

[yonexpurestorm]

^^^thats cool that you got to see me play for a bit. that first set i was really playing bad. i know what you mean about the consistency. i would have a short ball and him at the net and i would burry it in the net. i picked it up though, and really started hitting the corners with my fh. that morales guy's gm is ugly to watch. he really uses all the junk gm to win. im sure i woudve won.

i was watching the match next to mine a lot. i just noticed how much quicker their game is. i feel like im getting better everyday though. my main objectives to get to that level are lose weight and get to 180, work on bh to be able to rally and return with it and not be on defense, get my flat first serve to a higher percentage, and work on my net game. ive been eating healthy lately and smaller portions. i was 200 this morning, which isnt anything to be proud of, but its down a few lb's though.

i feel like im on a good run lately. theres a guy i play a lot and he always takes me in straight sets, and i pushed him to a third for the first time this week. i feel like ive been getting good practice and have more drive than ever before. once i win two more tournies i think ill jump up again.

[ryu1revline]

Originally Posted by yonexpurestorm

^^^thats cool that you got to see me play for a bit. that first set i was really playing bad. i know what you mean about the consistency. i would have a short ball and him at the net and i would burry it in the net. i picked it up though, and really started hitting the corners with my fh. that morales guy's gm is ugly to watch. he really uses all the junk gm to win. im sure i woudve won.

i was watching the match next to mine a lot. i just noticed how much quicker their game is. i feel like im getting better everyday though. my main objectives to get to that level are lose weight and get to 180, work on bh to be able to rally and return with it and not be on defense, get my flat first serve to a higher percentage, and work on my net game. ive been eating healthy lately and smaller portions. i was 200 this morning, which isnt anything to be proud of, but its down a few lb's though.

i feel like im on a good run lately. theres a guy i play a lot and he always takes me in straight sets, and i pushed him to a third for the first time this week. i feel like ive been getting good practice and have more drive than ever before. once i win two more tournies i think ill jump up again.

A lot of posts on here about losing weight, and it definitely wouldn't hurt you, but your footwork was pretty good I thought. I mean, I never once thought your weight was a factor in that match, and you even wore the other guy out. Movement from less weight would get you into position for a better BH though, and I think most people slice their BH as a crutch for bad movement. A leaner body would also let you run around the ball and hit an inside-out forehand instead, at least until your new BH is ready to go.

Personally, I would say just build that backhand up; rebuild it if you have to. It doesn't have to be a weapon, just solid and consistent. I also agree about working the serve, except I think you should focus more on your 2nd not your 1st. It looked like you were holding back on your 1st serve, most likely because of your confidence in your 2nd serve; as your arms were extremely tense. With a confident 2nd serve you can really let the 1st serves go without worrying about a DF. The open players ALL have a beastly 2nd serve, so get to it.

[jdubbs]

Originally Posted by ryu1revline

I also agree about working the serve, except I think you should focus more on your 2nd not your 1st. It looked like you were holding back on your 1st serve, most likely because of your confidence in your 2nd serve; as your arms were extremely tense. With a confident 2nd serve you can really let the 1st serves go without worrying about a DF. The open players ALL have a beastly 2nd serve, so get to it.

This.
I struggle with my 2nd serve, and people say just get it in. But you cant get to the next level hitting weak second serves. Even though i struggle with double faults, im going to work until i have a consistent 2nd serve thats also hard to return.

[tennis tom]

A tennis adage is, "Your first serve is only as good as your second." Top-spin second serve: Ball toss at 12 o'clock, practice slicing hitting the ball with the edge of the racket over the fence into the street, racket-head and arm speed is the same as for a first.