A new tanking strategy

atatu

Legend
Well, maybe not new, but new to me. Apparently some cities here in Texas have fall USTA leagues. These leagues count as far as your USTA rating goes, but for most of these leagues there is no "reward" for winning the league, although in some of the leagues the fall winner gets to play the spring league winner to decided which team goes to sectionals. Most of the time everyone is focused on the springs leagues and the fall leagues are more casual. Now apparently more and more people are tanking the fall matches, particularly those players who were mid season bump ups based on the spring results. Does this happen in other states ?
 

cknobman

Legend
Im in Texas and I was a "big bump" person. I never tank matches simply because I usually loose regardless of how hard I do/don't try!!!
 

cknobman

Legend
I was under the impression that fall season no longer counts in the ratings. I hope they are having fun.


Never heard of that. I hope the fall matches do count though because my tournament record is atrocious and I'm undefeated in the fall league so far (5 matches and counting) and it could likely be the only thing that keeps me from getting bumped back down to 3.5!!!

Also while there is no nationals for fall league, (in my area) the winner of your local league gets to attend the Texas fall league sectionals which is hosted indoors at Houston.
 

JavierLW

Hall of Fame
We have the same sorts of leagues here, they are called "non-progressive".

I dont tank matches in them but just because of the variety of rated players in these things I do believe it affected my rating and my partner's.

Both of us had normal partners in the regular summer league that got bumped up to 4.0 with everyone else, but we remained at 3.5 because we under-acceived big time in those leagues.

Im not sure it's really warrented though to just assume that everyone in these leagues are sandbagging.

And it wont work anyway if all the same players enter these leagues. (it will be like having a extended local season)
 
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