4.5/4.0 player last year playing in 3.5 division in a tournament

[giripc]

All,

I saw my draw today for a local 3.5 singles tournament and looked up my first round opponent. He has played some competive matches in 4.0 division and has few sets like 2,4 against 4.5 players last year.

This year he is in a 3.5 division. He is also playing in 7.0 mixed doubles leage and beating the heck out of other teams (like 0,1).

Should i report this to Tournament director or just go have some fun at the match.

Any tips are appreciated.

Giri.

 

[raiden031]

All,

I saw my draw today for a local 3.5 singles tournament and looked up my first round opponent. He has played some competive matches in 4.0 division and has few sets like 2,4 against 4.5 players last year.

This year he is in a 3.5 division. He is also playing in 7.0 mixed doubles leage and beating the heck out of other teams (like 0,1).

Should i report this to Tournament director or just go have some fun at the match.

Any tips are appreciated.

Giri.

Its already certain that you are going to lose, so you might as well have some fun. What you should do is periodically aim your serves a little high so that they hit him. Then you should purposely make bad line calls and take a long time between points to **** him off. Or go for drop shots every single shot. That'll teach him!

 

[oldguysrule]

Too much attention is being given to "sandbaggers" and not enough to actually playing tennis and having fun. You never know what is going to happen until you play the match. Even if you get pounded, you can learn something about yourself and your game. You should not put too much emphasis on what you think you know about this guy. Just go out and have fun, win or lose. Be a sportsman. Give him the respect and benefit of the doubt that another human deserves. Treat him the way you would want to be treated. Is this really so difficult.

Keep in mind that a really good 3.5 will beat a really bad 3.5 6-1,6-1. Same goes for every level. Some 3.5's will beat some 4.0's, etc.

I am so tired of the attitude that some people have regarding this...

Go out and have fun.

btw, is this a USTA event? Do you have an official NTRP? Does your opponent have an official NTRP? If this is a non-USTA event it is not necessary to have an official NTRP from the USTA.

 

[oldguysrule]

Its already certain that you are going to lose, so you might as well have some fun. What you should do is periodically aim your serves a little high so that they hit him. Then you should purposely make bad line calls and take a long time between points to **** him off. Or go for drop shots every single shot. That'll teach him!

I hope you were kidding. If not, then you are promoting a lousy attitude, poor sportsmanship, and cheating.

Since I don't recall you having this attitude in the past, I will assume you meant to be funny. However, some will read this and think you meant it.

 

[goober]

All,

I saw my draw today for a local 3.5 singles tournament and looked up my first round opponent. He has played some competive matches in 4.0 division and has few sets like 2,4 against 4.5 players last year.

This year he is in a 3.5 division. He is also playing in 7.0 mixed doubles leage and beating the heck out of other teams (like 0,1).

Should i report this to Tournament director or just go have some fun at the match.

Any tips are appreciated.

Giri.

Just because he has had competitive matches at 4.0 and lost 2 and 4 against 4.5 players doesn't mean his not 3.5 His computer rating still could be 3.5 and legitimately. He may be a very strong 3.5, but if this is a USTA tourney you can't even register below your rating anyhow. If he doesn't have a computer rating yet because it is his first year of tourney play, there is nothing you can do about it. I would just play and have fun. Are there consolation rounds?

I was at a tourney where this out of state guy found out a local opponent had won his first round match 6-0, 6-0. He complained loudly in front of the tourney director and a bunch of players that this guy was sandbagging without knowing anything about him. It was pretty embarrassing.

 

[Doc Hollidae]

Who cares what his rating is, just play him like you'd play anyone else. You only get better by playing better people. Today he might play like a 4.0, tomorrow a 4.5, and the day after a 3.5. Since ratings are usually self administered. I find that there's 3.5 players capable of playing higher and then 4.5 players who should be playing lower. If you psych yourself out now you're only setting yourself up for failure. For me, regardless of my opponent, I go into every match expecting to win. If I lose so what, if I win I expected it. No point in shortchanging myself from a W, just because of a ranking.

 

[sureshs]

Are you paying a regular fee to play this tournament or is a social kind of thing (that may also have a fee but it is different)? If you are paying to play in a 3.5 league, you should report this person immediately and let him first explain to the organizers why he is playing at this level. If they are satisfied, let it go. But don't go and get cheated and complain about it afterwards.

 

[redsoxjad]

Try to throw him off his game by yelling out a few Lleyton Hewitt-style "C'mon's."

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

Some 3.5's play at higher levels for the challenge, to face bigger players, and to get more experience against better players, and don't have the slightest problem losing. They want experience against better players, bigger serves, test themselves, etc.

Like goober said, it doesn't mean they aren't 3.5

 

[BabolatFan]

Who cares what his rating is, just play him like you'd play anyone else. You only get better by playing better people. Today he might play like a 4.0, tomorrow a 4.5, and the day after a 3.5. Since ratings are usually self administered. I find that there's 3.5 players capable of playing higher and then 4.5 players who should be playing lower. If you psych yourself out now you're only setting yourself up for failure. For me, regardless of my opponent, I go into every match expecting to win. If I lose so what, if I win I expected it. No point in shortchanging myself from a W, just because of a ranking.

I couldn't agree with you more. Don't look at his rating or seeding. Play like you play and never lose focus. Just gotta be confident about your own game.

 

[Rabbit]

You can complain all you want, but if the computer says he's a 3.5, he's a 3.5.

 

[darkblue]

All,

I saw my draw today for a local 3.5 singles tournament and looked up my first round opponent. He has played some competive matches in 4.0 division and has few sets like 2,4 against 4.5 players last year.

This year he is in a 3.5 division. He is also playing in 7.0 mixed doubles leage and beating the heck out of other teams (like 0,1).

Should i report this to Tournament director or just go have some fun at the match.

Any tips are appreciated.

Giri.

just have fun!!