5.0=Former Wimby Doubles Champion?

[michael_1265]

I was just poking around in Tennislink, and I noticed that one of our local women's teams had made it to the 5.0 nationals in 2010. One of the players, the wife of our club pro, played in the doubles final, where she got beaten by a pairing that included JoAnne Russell, 1977 Wimbledon doubles champion. Granted, Joanne was 56 at the time of this match, but plenty of club players still have game in their 50s. For those of you who play at this level, would you be shocked to be facing a 5.0 player who had a major?

[spiderman123]

Originally Posted by michael_1265

I was just poking around in Tennislink, and I noticed that one of our local women's teams had made it to the 5.0 nationals in 2010. One of the players, the wife of our club pro, played in the doubles final, where she got beaten by a pairing that included JoAnne Russell, 1977 Wimbledon doubles champion. Granted, Joanne was 56 at the time of this match, but plenty of club players still have game in their 50s. For those of you who play at this level, would you be shocked to be facing a 5.0 player who had a major?

I would be honored and would cherish the experience.


BTW, didn't Martina win US Open Mixed at 50? Pros most certainly have a great game in 50s if they have been playing even a little.

[michael_1265]

Originally Posted by spiderman123

I would be honored and would cherish the experience.


BTW, didn't Martina win US Open Mixed at 50? Pros most certainly have an great game in 50s if they have been playing even a little.

Actually, me too. Some people pay for this kind of experience.

[Alchemy-Z]

It would be awesome to play a former pro just to say you did.

[SwankPeRFection]

I don't see anything wrong with it and I would be happy if I could take some points/games off of them. In a way, it would give you a good idea of how good you'd have to be to beat them badly each and every time. Something like this tends to put your game into perspective in terms of your mental ability to play well if your skills are good. It's not unheard of to have average Joes make it deep into tournaments, especially doubles where a ton of club pros and players have chances of being successful if they're really good.

[J_R_B]

Glenn Michibata plays around here occassionally in open tournies. He's still real good, but not too far ahead of the top guys in 5.0. Once I saw him lose to Max Tikhomorov, who was the #1 ranked junior in Middle States before Bjorn Fratangelo came around and who was playing futures qualies at the time, and one time I saw him lose to Justin O'Neal, who played at Florida and then tried pros for a little bit. Those guys were probably closer to a high 5.5 level.

BTW, JoAnne Russell lost a match at nationals that year 6-0 6-1, so it's not like she was invincible.

[Topaz]

I've seen her play in FL. She's super nice too.

[Cindysphinx]

I think I could take her.

[onehandbh]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I think I could take her.

... to dinner, yes, but not in a best of 3 match

[user92626]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I think I could take her.

..a towel when she asked? or what?

[The Bawss]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I think I could take her.

...advice after she wipes the court with you and your partner?

[2ndServe]

I think it's kind of cool but is it right for the other team? They work hard to get to the 5.0 nationals and across the net is a former wimbledon doubles champion playing in a 5.0 league. It's my understanding that a former grand slam has to be something like a 7.0 player. I'd think that'd be a DQ.

Heck if I faced Johnny Mac or Jimmy Conners it'd be an honor but if you work hard and face those guys in a 5.0 league I'd think something isn't right.

Originally Posted by 2ndServe

I think it's kind of cool but is it right for the other team? They work hard to get to the 5.0 nationals and across the net is a former wimbledon doubles champion playing in a 5.0 league. It's my understanding that a former grand slam has to be something like a 7.0 player. I'd think that'd be a DQ.

Heck if I faced Johnny Mac or Jimmy Conners it'd be an honor but if you work hard and face those guys in a 5.0 league I'd think something isn't right.

no. you're forgetting that she is 56. a 56 year old player is never going to be a 7.0. there is also a distinction between a doubles grand slam and singles. this 56 year old might be matching up against 20-25 year olds. how is that fair?

[wings56]

i guess thats good to hear she can play at the 5.0 level. maybe once i get to 40 i can finally appeal down to 5.0...

[Angle Queen]

Originally Posted by michael_1265

I was just poking around in Tennislink, and I noticed that one of our local women's teams had made it to the 5.0 nationals in 2010. One of the players, the wife of our club pro, played in the doubles final, where she got beaten by a pairing that included JoAnne Russell, 1977 Wimbledon doubles champion. Granted, Joanne was 56 at the time of this match, but plenty of club players still have game in their 50s. For those of you who play at this level, would you be shocked to be facing a 5.0 player who had a major?

What's scary about that whole scenario, Michael, is what is in bold. It'd be one thing if it'd been our club pro making Nationals...but no, this really cool story is about his wife. Granted, they are both former Div-I players but how cool is that...that you make a living at a game...but your wife is even better. Nice, too, that she took the former champion to a third set TB.

She and her hubs still have some serious game even at their age (which, ahem, I think is our age too!).

That's part of what I really love about this game. That you can play it, essentially, for your entire life. And that people who have made it their profession, still play it for fun.

[Larrysümmers]

^well good for you pal

[gmatheis]

Originally Posted by 2ndServe

I think it's kind of cool but is it right for the other team? They work hard to get to the 5.0 nationals and across the net is a former wimbledon doubles champion playing in a 5.0 league. It's my understanding that a former grand slam has to be something like a 7.0 player. I'd think that'd be a DQ.

Heck if I faced Johnny Mac or Jimmy Conners it'd be an honor but if you work hard and face those guys in a 5.0 league I'd think something isn't right.

http://assets.usta.com/assets/1/15/E...2011_V2pdf.pdf

World class player, age 56-65 on the chart is listed at 5.0 so I doubt you can get her DQ'd or have a grievance upheld etc...

[michael_1265]

Originally Posted by Angle Queen

What's scary about that whole scenario, Michael, is what is in bold. It'd be one thing if it'd been our club pro making Nationals...but no, this really cool story is about his wife. Granted, they are both former Div-I players but how cool is that...that you make a living at a game...but your wife is even better. Nice, too, that she took the former champion to a third set TB.

She and her hubs still have some serious game even at their age (which, ahem, I think is our age too!).

That's part of what I really love about this game. That you can play it, essentially, for your entire life. And that people who have made it their profession, still play it for fun.

I bet Russell is a beast at the net. Back in those days, with all of the bad bounces, net play was the only way to win.

Tennis is one of the most democratic sports, for sure.

[michael_1265]

Originally Posted by decades

no. you're forgetting that she is 56. a 56 year old player is never going to be a 7.0. there is also a distinction between a doubles grand slam and singles. this 56 year old might be matching up against 20-25 year olds. how is that fair?

In singles, not fair. In doubles, I'm guessing that the 25 year old is toast.

[LuckyR]

For your friend: wow, what an opportunity!

For the ex-Pro: seriously? How lame.