TW Blog: Tony's Tennis Tales

NLBwell said:

TonLars, are you coming to Colorado this year?

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TonLars said:

Hi everyone! Thanks for the support again, its been really fun posting here over the years. Just thought I would share a few clips of some of the tennis in Texas that my girlfriend shot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIhWCLcMG7A&list=PL0znWT2p_gZiYkp8fZH0Nkw_WGronLZ6h

I will be posting some interesting blogs and videos about new racquet reviews, and some of my practices/workouts soon!

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TonLars said:

Ive been injured, but thanks for asking! It has been an incredibly rough year for me getting over what happened to me last year off the court as well. I am just starting to get healed up and played my first tournament in a long time last weekend and was able to play alright and win the singles. Have several more planned for the rest of the summer, so hopefully can stay healthy and have some fun!

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tennisfreak said:

Did Tony get that ATP point yet?

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TonLars said:

I only play like one Futures a year, but today playing for a point and should have a good chance if I play well so we'll see how it goes!

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TonLars said:

I only play like one Futures a year, but today playing for a point and should have a good chance if I play well so we'll see how it goes!

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Devilito said:

good luck man. Kevin doesn't miss, doesn't get tired and doesn't give up. But your game is better than his on pretty much all areas of the court. He doesn't have any shots to hurt you with, but expect long drawn out rallies and games. He's the king of turning every match into a 4 hour grind fest

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TonLars said:

Thanks guys

Got injured in second set after winning 6-2. Gotta love it...

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mike84 said:

Happened to see that match in person, visiting some folks in city.

You were in total control whole match until your back went, real shame. Wanted to say hi from tt forums lol....Only two people in that crowd cheering for you.

Found it funny that they ended up giving wild card to local guy and then have him play qualifier first round. Real desperate to get him chance to get ATP point.

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TonLars said:

Hi there! Did we ever meet while we were there? If not, maybe we would have had that match not gone so terribly...

That match was an absolute nightmare. How much did you see? I mean, when the draw came out I was literally jumping around because I usually beat him on at worst about 6-3 in a set. But for some reason I was pretty nervous, and it got worse from the beginning as the conditions got to me psychologically and I did not settle in until later in the match where unfortunately I began having the injury. Seems you know what I am talking about... every unforced error I made came along with not only clapping but cheering. Almost every point I won, including good shots, pin drop silent. That along with all the cameras, playing for the first ATP point when I only play these things once a year or every two years, and some pressure in knowing I should win, unfortunately I played terrible, even first set. I was playing at about a 3 out of 10, definitely the worst match I have played in years.

Still I won that first set 6-2. He raised his game alot and I was down a break. I knew if I could just play half decent I would win because he does not do anything with the ball other than the occasional good counter punching when Im out of position. I was just missing everything, but started to settle in a little bit with the set under my belt, but mid second-set I felt the strain and it just kept getting worse. By the third set, as you could see, I just could hardly move for a ball and unable to really hit out, so it was pointless to continue.

Having lost a big match like that and to someone that I usually would be able to beat comfortably is not something I will forget that is for sure. But what really upset me more was again the crowd. Even toward the end, when I would assume quite visibly could not move or hit, along with having had a medical timeout with the trainer, some of the crowd were cheering obnoxiously. I mean, I know it was some historical thing for a Winnipeg player to get an ATP ranking and he is a hometown local , but come on. Cheering obnoxiously after points when a player is injured and couldn't move for a ball nowhere close to the lines? I have been playing the open tournaments in their city for many years, since probably 2007 or so, and have gotten to know most of the tennis circle around there and have been very friendly with them. I think this was very poor on their part, and that was really disappointing to me and not something I will forget. I had a couple people come to me afterwards and give me well wishes and sympathy and what not which was really appreciated, but again they were pretty wrapped up in just the result of him winning. Didn't matter if it was an injury retire or that I was a familiar face, they were going to spur him on and celebrate that win no matter what.

As you can tell I am a bit bitter about it haha! But its all over and nothing can be done. If I was going to lose to anyone in that circumstance, I would pick him because he is a nice kid, a bit of a friend of mine, and I guess his dream came true. I had a really good summer playing lots of open money tournaments and won all of them except one. If I can shake off some of my injuries, I am extremely motivated to continue playing and getting better over the next few years. If I play a Futures a year or more, I am sure eventually I can win a round or two in the main draw, so we'll see what happens.

Thanks for your note!

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TonLars said:

Hi there! Did we ever meet while we were there? If not, maybe we would have had that match not gone so terribly...

That match was an absolute nightmare. How much did you see? I mean, when the draw came out I was literally jumping around because I usually beat him on at worst about 6-3 in a set. But for some reason I was pretty nervous, and it got worse from the beginning as the conditions got to me psychologically and I did not settle in until later in the match where unfortunately I began having the injury. Seems you know what I am talking about... every unforced error I made came along with not only clapping but cheering. Almost every point I won, including good shots, pin drop silent. That along with all the cameras, playing for the first ATP point when I only play these things once a year or every two years, and some pressure in knowing I should win, unfortunately I played terrible, even first set. I was playing at about a 3 out of 10, definitely the worst match I have played in years.

Still I won that first set 6-2. He raised his game alot and I was down a break. I knew if I could just play half decent I would win because he does not do anything with the ball other than the occasional good counter punching when Im out of position. I was just missing everything, but started to settle in a little bit with the set under my belt, but mid second-set I felt the strain and it just kept getting worse. By the third set, as you could see, I just could hardly move for a ball and unable to really hit out, so it was pointless to continue.

Having lost a big match like that and to someone that I usually would be able to beat comfortably is not something I will forget that is for sure. But what really upset me more was again the crowd. Even toward the end, when I would assume quite visibly could not move or hit, along with having had a medical timeout with the trainer, some of the crowd were cheering obnoxiously. I mean, I know it was some historical thing for a Winnipeg player to get an ATP ranking and he is a hometown local , but come on. Cheering obnoxiously after points when a player is injured and couldn't move for a ball nowhere close to the lines? I have been playing the open tournaments in their city for many years, since probably 2007 or so, and have gotten to know most of the tennis circle around there and have been very friendly with them. I think this was very poor on their part, and that was really disappointing to me and not something I will forget. I had a couple people come to me afterwards and give me well wishes and sympathy and what not which was really appreciated, but again they were pretty wrapped up in just the result of him winning. Didn't matter if it was an injury retire or that I was a familiar face, they were going to spur him on and celebrate that win no matter what.

As you can tell I am a bit bitter about it haha! But its all over and nothing can be done. If I was going to lose to anyone in that circumstance, I would pick him because he is a nice kid, a bit of a friend of mine, and I guess his dream came true. I had a really good summer playing lots of open money tournaments and won all of them except one. If I can shake off some of my injuries, I am extremely motivated to continue playing and getting better over the next few years. If I play a Futures a year or more, I am sure eventually I can win a round or two in the main draw, so we'll see what happens.

Thanks for your note!

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mike84 said:

I was there for the whole match, whole week of tournament.


After the first set I thought you were going to cruise to victory, your strokes are way ahead of Kevin's. He had nothing that could hurt you. All I saw from Kevin was grind and place it in middle of court.
In my opinion they should have given the wild card to other local guy Sean.

....After the match I wanted to say hello but you were really distraught, didn't feel right to come up and say hey I am on tt warehouse lol.

About the crowd only thing that stuck in my mind was "Come on Kevin come on" after every point even after your injury which was ridiculous.

Three of us were on verge of starting the come on Tony come on movement, but had to hold back since my friends know the winnipeg tennis crowd well.


I hope you come back next year again and give it another go.

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SuperDuy said:

How was the turnout?

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