Considering USTA tournament match play

[letplaytennis]

I've been playing on a few tennis leagues and have always wanted to compete in a USTA tournament so I could lay more singles, but it seems like there are not that many 3.5 or 4.0 or 35+ year old men's singles applicants at the tournaments near me.

It seems like there are 2 or 4 players in the men's open, men's 35 singles, men'3 3.5 and 4.0 singles. Why is that?

I'm checking on tennislink.com near Dallas in the upcoming months. Do players register at the last minute? I know we're approaching the winter season, but I've seem similar rosters during the summer. Should I be looking elsewhere?

Thanks.

 

[Turbo-87]

In Iowa, there aren't very many people in age groups at the tournaments I have been in. 4.0 is always the biggest draw by far. All the tournaments around me spike in entries the day before the deadline. A lot of people just wait to see who is playing to decide whether they want to themselves.

 

[letplaytennis]

In Iowa, there aren't very many people in age groups at the tournaments I have been in. 4.0 is always the biggest draw by far. All the tournaments around me spike in entries the day before the deadline. A lot of people just wait to see who is playing to decide whether they want to themselves.

That's what I was thinking. So the actual turnout is typically better than the applicants a few days before the tourney.

 

[Turbo-87]

Often times. I entered one tourney and I was disappointed that only 60 people total were in it a week out and then when I looked an hour before the deadline it had jumped to 135. People just procrastinate. I find it hard to believe you'd have a dearth of opponents near Dallas.

 

[rchjr2091]

I've been playing on a few tennis leagues and have always wanted to compete in a USTA tournament so I could lay more singles, but it seems like there are not that many 3.5 or 4.0 or 35+ year old men's singles applicants at the tournaments near me.

You should definitely do one . It’s usually a good experience.

Thanks.

 

[kevrol]

I always wait til a couple of days before the deadline to make sure something didn't pop up on my schedule. Playing a tournament can suck up your whole weekend so you better make sure you don't have any other obligations. There's one I'm looking at playing the first weekend in December. I won't register until late November.

 

[OnTheLine]

I agree that the registration skyrockets right before deadline ... also look on the tab that says "competitors" instead of only the one for applicants. The TD may have manually put in many players (usually club members at hosting facility) directly there.

In NTRP tournaments, I have seen up to 32 entrants at a level, but oftentimes many fewer than that.

If your goal is to play more singles having a small tournament is not always a bad thing. TDs will often combine levels for a full draw OR alter a single elimination format into a round robin ... will give you more playing opportunities.

I see the highest numbers in men's 3.5 and 4.0 in both singles and doubles tournaments. Next highest is women's 3.5. Basically it follows the same bell curve as league participation by levels.

 

[kevrol]

The TD may have manually put in many players (usually club members at hosting facility) directly there.

You should e-mail the tournament director and see if this is an option. The tournament director for the tournaments I usually play in will do this and it saves me the tennislink fee.

 

[letplaytennis]

You should e-mail the tournament director and see if this is an option. The tournament director for the tournaments I usually play in will do this and it saves me the tennislink fee.

There's a fee on top of the tournament registration fee?

Looks like I'll be playing some tournaments soon. Definitely want to play more singles in the 3.5 - 4.0 level as doubles seems to dominate league play.

 

[OnTheLine]

the tennislink fee is something like $3 and is built into the price you see online. Most tourneys around here are between $28-38 depending on if they are single elimination or if they have a FMLC bracket.

I think they FMLC tournaments are good value, those that go into a RR format turn into an exceptional value. I look at the codes and generally elect to avoid those that show SE. I would rather pay $10 more for the FMLC.

Obviously, if you are good and can go deep with confidence each time in a single elimination, they are all a good value ... I am not one of those players, although I am working on becoming one!

 

[letplaytennis]

What's the difference between the divisions in red?

• Non-qualified Boys' & Girls' 10 and Under Singles: 78' Green Ball 10 ,78' Yellow Ball 12-18 (FMLC)

• Championships Boys' & Girls' Singles: 78' Yellow Ball 12-18 (FMLC)

• Super Champs Boys' & Girls' Singles: 78' Yellow Ball 12-18 (FMLC)

• Open Men's & Women's Singles & Doubles: Open,25-80 (FMLC)
• Open Mixed Doubles: Open (FMLC)
• Open Boys' & Girls' 10 and Under Singles: 60' Orange Ball 10 (FMLC)
• Open Boys' & Girls' Doubles: 78' Yellow Ball 12-18 (FMLC)
• Open NTRP Men's & NTRP Women's Singles & Doubles: 2.5-5.0 (FMLC)
• Open NTRP Mixed Doubles: 3.0-5.0 (FMLC)

 

[kevrol]

Open 25-80 has all open brackets based on age usually in 5 year increments.

Open NTRP has one open bracket and also brackets for each NTRP between 2.5 and 5.0.

 

[letplaytennis]

Open 25-80 has all open brackets based on age usually in 5 year increments.

Open NTRP has one open bracket and also brackets for each NTRP between 2.5 and 5.0.

So in the open 25-80, I could possibly be playing a 4.5 that's 44 years old and a 3.5 that's 28 years old?
In the open NTRP, if I'm a 4.0, I'll only play other 4.0 players?

Sorry for the newb question.

 

[kevrol]

So in the open 25-80, I could possibly be playing a 4.5 that's 44 years old and a 3.5 that's 28 years old?

Yes the open 25-80 would be all open draws regardless of skill.

In the open NTRP, if I'm a 4.0, I'll only play other 4.0 players?

If you register for the 4.0 draw and not the open draw. You could also play a 3.5 who decided to play up in the 4.0 draw.

 

[OnTheLine]

Most opens that I see around here don't see any 4.0 players in them, only 4.5s and up, mostly up. Usually your club pros are playing in these along with other 5.0s and some young former college players. In the open matches that I have watched, a 4.0 would get killed.

In the NTRP, it says "open" because you don't have to qualify to get into the bracket, but yes, only 4.0s and an occasional 3.5 playing up.

 

[letplaytennis]

Yes the open 25-80 would be all open draws regardless of skill.

If you register for the 4.0 draw and not the open draw. You could also play a 3.5 who decided to play up in the 4.0 draw.

What's the point of a 4.0 playing a 2.5? Seems silly to me.

I'd like to compete in the 4.0 level against other 4.0's, with a steady progression into a 4.5 towards the end of next year.

Most opens that I see around here don't see any 4.0 players in them, only 4.5s and up, mostly up. Usually your club pros are playing in these along with other 5.0s and some young former college players. In the open matches that I have watched, a 4.0 would get killed.

In the NTRP, it says "open" because you don't have to qualify to get into the bracket, but yes, only 4.0s and an occasional 3.5 playing up.

Is that the same with the 'non-qualified' label?

Looks like I should stay away from the "open" and focus on the sol 4.0 bracket for now.

 

[OnTheLine]

Just want to add most TDs are protective of the open draw. If they see someone who would not be competitive enter it, they will usually encourage (demand?) the player be moved into an NTRP draw instead. TDs want to have successful tournaments, and if they allow non-competitive matches it is not a success.

 

[OnTheLine]

non-qualified is for Juniors under 10 years old only .... don't think that applies to you ... for kids in their first tournaments who have no ranking points and still playing with green-dot balls.

 

[letplaytennis]

Thanks for the clarification everyone. I'll be registering for my first tournament to play in early December.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

What's the point of a 4.0 playing a 2.5? Seems silly to me.

I'd like to compete in the 4.0 level against other 4.0's, with a steady progression into a 4.5 towards the end of next year.

Be aware that some players play "up" so even though you enter a 4.0 tourney, you could end up playing people < 4.0. One advantage to waiting is you can see the ratings of the people already entered into your intended pool and if there are too many who are playing up, you can decide to play up also [although that sort of perpetuates the problem].