Orlando players

Nextman916

Professional
Okay....heres my background. 19 years old student been playing tennis about 4-4.5yrs, played HS tennis 2 years, and used to train 5 days a week on clay courts in tampa. Taught during the school year/summer at the club I played at as well. Im a strong 4.5 when I'm on my game, which is mostly hard hitting baseliner and going for my shots.

The last year or so Ive been on & off with my matches, since I don't know many players in orlando yet. Or we play a couple matches and they eventualy flake on me....Anyways I'm getting back to playing alot seriously now. I'm up to play after noon classes on the weekdays, and anytime on the weekends. Just let me know ahead of time. PhilC9@gmail.com

-My apt's are on university blvd, in between goldenrod/semoran but we can work it out.
 

bad_call

Legend
Phil - check out lodeen and Power Player. maybe a better match up. good luck with ur tennis. btw - lodeen may be closer to u so check him out 1st. he hits a heavy ball so be ready.
 

ssgator80

Rookie
Phil,

I'm in the Orlando area (Windermere)

I've found that by playing the NTRP tournaments you meet many local players on your level that will play recreationally. I just played 4.5 at Lake Cane this week and play probably 4-5 of the local players many times outside of the tournaments. I did not know them prior to my entries in these tournaments. They also have open and age group tournaments that might appeal to you.

I'm also assuming that you are a student at UCF. I think they have club tennis on campus

Sent you an email

SS
 

mikeler

Moderator
You could also try the A league at Fort Gatlin. You can sometimes get pickup singles and doubles matches at OTC on weekend mornings. Looks like the previous user just won the 4.5 tournament last weekend, so you guys should play.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Oh damn there's phil. I actually hit with him way back when I was pretty damn bad..lol.

I lost your contact info when I lost my phone, but Im down to hit again. You can come up and hit with a group of guys at Azalea that I hit with too if you want. We usually go from 7-10 about every day of the week. As long as the "dragon lady" isn't working we usually can slide in and play for free.

I want to hit with Lodeen too. He has contacted me, but we have missed on schedule. Another guy I like to hit with is BobFL. I have not been to OTC in a few weeks, but I plan to hit him up when I go back.
 
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ssgator80

Rookie
No Power,

I have never payed at OTC or Azalea. I stay pretty close to my neighborhood courts. Play some old man doubles at Bay Hill on Tuesdays. Play some at other subdivision courts when invited. I have a friend who has been playing a lot at OTC. I guess he got picked up on thier 4.5 league team.
 

mikeler

Moderator
Mikeler,

How did you know that? I guess its not that tough to find out. Where you at the tournament?

SS


I used to play the NTRPs over at Lake Cane and I like to keep up with the results. Judging by your location and username, I just put 2 and 2 together. The guy you beat in the semis plays a ton of tournaments. I think I beat him the last 3 times I played the Lake Cane 4.5s. Unfortunately, the 5.0 division rarely gets more than 2 people so I've never played it.

I live in Dr. Phillips, but I play almost exclusively on clay now up at OTC. I'm 36 and the clay is just so much easier on my body. Last Sunday I played on hard courts in my neighborhood and my back was killing me afterwards. Plus, you can't beat sliding into your shots, nothing like that feeling. There are a ton of 4.5s and 5.0s up at OTC. Guess the clay tends to attract the better players.
 

mikeler

Moderator
No Power,

I have never payed at OTC or Azalea. I stay pretty close to my neighborhood courts. Play some old man doubles at Bay Hill on Tuesdays. Play some at other subdivision courts when invited. I have a friend who has been playing a lot at OTC. I guess he got picked up on thier 4.5 league team.


I know most of the guys on that 4.5 team and I know one of them who plays at Bay Hill from time to time. Are his initials CT?
 

ssgator80

Rookie
Mikeler,

No, its RT. - He is the one that really got me playing at Bay Hill this past year. He has been playing at OTC alot lately.

I didnt play tennis for over 30 years. I quit when I was 16. I grew up in WPB. I've been back playing 1.5 years. I thought when I started playing again I would play a lot of doubles and I do. But I was surprised that very few tournaments have doubles draws - so I started playing singles. Played 4 matches in 2 days in brutal heat - pretty tough on this 47 year old. But you have to do it to win these things. I have enjoyed it.

Robert and I have played many times and we play outside the tournaments. Good guy.

Its funny, I grew up on clay but I really prefer hard courts. I like the footing. Maybe since I had all those off years it hasnt taken a toll on my body.

Yeah the 5.0 get two guys in the tournament. Kevin is usually one of them. I can hang with 5's my age but not with the young guys.

I've been trying to get a reason to play at OTC. Maybe I'll run into you there.

SS
 

mikeler

Moderator
Mikeler,

No, its RT. - He is the one that really got me playing at Bay Hill this past year. He has been playing at OTC alot lately.

I didnt play tennis for over 30 years. I quit when I was 16. I grew up in WPB. I've been back playing 1.5 years. I thought when I started playing again I would play a lot of doubles and I do. But I was surprised that very few tournaments have doubles draws - so I started playing singles. Played 4 matches in 2 days in brutal heat - pretty tough on this 47 year old. But you have to do it to win these things. I have enjoyed it.

Robert and I have played many times and we play outside the tournaments. Good guy.

Its funny, I grew up on clay but I really prefer hard courts. I like the footing. Maybe since I had all those off years it hasnt taken a toll on my body.

Yeah the 5.0 get two guys in the tournament. Kevin is usually one of them. I can hang with 5's my age but not with the young guys.

I've been trying to get a reason to play at OTC. Maybe I'll run into you there.

SS


I never played NTRP tournaments in the summers because it almost seems unhealthy playing for that long in the heat. If you mention to Robert that he and I used to play Dan down in Hunter's Creek then he'll know who I am. Dan was a 5.0+ or 5.5 that neither of us could beat. Every now and then I see Robert down at OTC. I'm down there almost every weekend morning.

I played for 4 years in high school and a little bit my first year of college. Then I played the same guy for about a year when I moved to Orlando years later. After that I didn't touch a racket for 6 or 7 years. Now I've been back into it for 5.5 years and I'm still going strong. I started out playing leagues, but now I know so many players I don't bother with league or tournaments anymore.
 

ssgator80

Rookie
Do you just go down there at play who ever or do you have set matches. Are courts ever a problem on weekend mornings? What about the amount of time - is there someone waiting for your court in an hour.
 

mikeler

Moderator
Do you just go down there at play who ever or do you have set matches. Are courts ever a problem on weekend mornings? What about the amount of time - is there someone waiting for your court in an hour.


On the few occasions when I just can't find a match or somebody cancels on me, I go down there on the weekend mornings and can usually get into a doubles match and sometimes can find a singles match. Courts are very busy around 9:30 especially on Saturday mornings. Sunday is not quite as bad. You have to be a member to reserve a court. Singles is 1.5 hours, dubs is 2. Everybody knows everyone down there, it is a really unique club.
 

mikeler

Moderator
SS,

Do you have access to those courts in downtown Windermere where you need a key? Those are pretty nice hard courts from what I remember.
 

Tennis16

Rookie
Any of you looking for a hitting partner on the east side of town. (Waterford Lakes Area) Let me know. I am always looking for someone to train with. I also play Lake Cane and Fort Gatlin on a regular basis. But currently I am 3.0-4.0 level, but trying to move up as fast as possible. If you are a consistent 4.5 level player I am not sure how much of a challenge I would be. But if any of you want to hit sometime send me an email. Thanks, Glen
ga3g@yahoo.com
 

BobFL

Hall of Fame
Any of you looking for a hitting partner on the east side of town. (Waterford Lakes Area) Let me know. I am always looking for someone to train with. I also play Lake Cane and Fort Gatlin on a regular basis. But currently I am 3.0-4.0 level, but trying to move up as fast as possible. If you are a consistent 4.5 level player I am not sure how much of a challenge I would be. But if any of you want to hit sometime send me an email. Thanks, Glen
ga3g@yahoo.com

Hi,

I live 2 miles from WL (Rouse x Colonial (or 50) )! Im probably 3.5 with slightly better serve. Maybe we can hit these days?

This is also an invitation to all of you guys :) My email is: zloba_2001 at yahoo dot com

Bob
 

Photoshop

Professional
I'm also in east Orlando - UCF/Waterford area. I'm pretty busy right now but will have a lot of free time once summer A is over in 2 weeks. I'm the ultimate 4.0 pusher but I can be a good hitting partner :)
 

ryangoring

Professional
Man it looks like I have to move.
I am so lonely....no one to call me......lol.
I probably just email one of the 3.5-4.0 for a game or 2.
 

Nextman916

Professional
haha...wow this thread picked up alot more responses than I thought. I should also mention that I'm probably not playing at 4.5 level as of now and probably more a 4.0, so I'm definitely not turning away those around 3.5-4.0 even to get matches in. I did go back and train a bit last weekend at my old club in tampa, so I'm hitting better now.

Ill respond/email to all of you guys shortly. Thanks for all the references and offers!
 

Tennis16

Rookie
I play at Eastwood which is a private community. Right past Waterford Lakes on Alafaya Trail. Where do you play ?
 

ssgator80

Rookie
Mikeler,

No I dont have a key to the Windermere Courts. I'm actually in W'mere Downs. I've played on those courts. Its usually not a problem getting in with someone on the court - they usually just open the gate. We have two courts in the neighborhood that I mostly hit on. I mostly hit with R. Wood and his son, who will be a senior and #1 at Olympia this year. I usually round up some doubles at our courts on Saturday morning, if I'm not playing a tournament. Most of the time its a couple of Brazilians - they used to play a lot down at Hunters Creek and know Robert from there. I guess there used to be a pretty big group for Sunday doubles.

SS
 

mikeler

Moderator
Mikeler,

No I dont have a key to the Windermere Courts. I'm actually in W'mere Downs. I've played on those courts. Its usually not a problem getting in with someone on the court - they usually just open the gate. We have two courts in the neighborhood that I mostly hit on. I mostly hit with R. Wood and his son, who will be a senior and #1 at Olympia this year. I usually round up some doubles at our courts on Saturday morning, if I'm not playing a tournament. Most of the time its a couple of Brazilians - they used to play a lot down at Hunters Creek and know Robert from there. I guess there used to be a pretty big group for Sunday doubles.

SS


That is a nice neighborhood, I see why you don't leave to play at other places. My neighborhood is on Sand Lake. The courts are pretty good except that there are a few pine trees around it that shed all over it, so it needs to be swept before play.
 

dgoran

Hall of Fame
Hi Slobo email me gdraskovic at gmail.com and we can get together for some tennis. I spoke to Dejan Radic and he reminded me that you live close to me. I think we spoke once before but we did not get a chance to play. I would write on our language but dont want to be rude to others who cant speak Yugo lol :)
 
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