automated appeal

[tdad]

I won my first 7.0 mixed this evening. I lost my first two matches but finally posted a win tonight. I started playing competitive tennis last year when I joined a 6.0 mixed team. I self rated myself as a 3.0. Due to medical reasons I only played two matches at 6.0. I won one and lost one. Since then, I have been playing and working on my game. I decided to play 7.0 this year because I was uncertain about my self rating. I did not want to be accused of sandbagging at 6.0. I think I play more like a 3.5 now because I have a better idea of how a 3.0 plays after playing league tennis. I figured if I played 7.0 (all the women are 3.5's) I would not be sandbagging.

Last week I got the feeling that the opposing team thought I was sandbagging even though we lost. I chalked it up as paranoia. Tonight, a member of my team told me that several opposing team members made comments about my rating, stating that I should not be a 3.0. I have lost more matches than I have won. I have also moved up to 7.0 so my play would not create an unfair playing field. Should I disregard the comments? Should I auto appeal up now or wait till the end of the season? Can I get disqualified if someone complains?

 

[raiden031]

If you are willing to go the season without playing 3.0, then appeal up. If you want to have more flexibility then stay at your level and play up as well. I get comments almost every time I play a new person that I am not a 3.0 even though my rating says I am. Between both 6.0 fall and winter mixes I have only lost one set total so far but won all my matches. There's no doubt I'm a 3.5 but I'm still playing 3.0 because my captain really wanted me and I think we have a shot at Nationals. I think it would be interesting to compete there and I know I probably wouldn't make it to Nationals if I only played 3.5 right now.

But still when it comes down to it, there is no clear boundary between 3.0 and 3.5. There are 3.5s that I could probably bagel in a match and there are 3.0s that would probably beat me in a match as well. Alot of it is matchups and alot of people are not accurately rated because of doubles partnering and not playing enough matches.

I wouldn't worry about any comments people make because the ones who make the comments are almost always at the weaker end of their level anyways.

The other night my team swept our competition (all winning in straight sets), and on court #1, the opponent accused the guy on my team of being a 4.0. Then he refused to shake his hand. The thing that is funny is that the guy on my team has been playing tennis less than a year, doesn't really know how to play the net, yet is winning bagel sets in mixed doubles. Its incredible. His serve is wicked though and alot of topspin on the groundies.

 

[fe6250]

The only thing that will get you DQ'd is your match play and specifically how well you play against highly ranked opponents. Someone complaining or commenting will have no impact on whether or not you DQ - unless they can provide hard evidence that you had college or other higher level tennis experience. If you choose to play both 3.0 and 3.5 you would increase your chances of DQing simply by playing against higher rated opponents (assuming you do well). If you feel you are above level, just play 3.5 and don't worry about your rating.