First Tournament..Need Tips!

R

RoddickOwnzYou

New User
Hi All. I'm entering the first tournament of my extensive tennis career (lol) and am in need of any and all tips. I'm on the 4.5 level (or so my coach tells me) and i have a few noobie questions i just realized i didn't know the answer too. My main question is, Does every game start by the server serving into the ad/deuce court? Or can you start by serving into either side?(something i never really thought about b4 this). Also, who calls in/out balls? I would assume the person who hit the the ball in question would have to take the other players' opinion as truth, but just wondering. As i said before, any and all tips are welcome, i'm pretty nervous :)
 
RoddickOwnzYou said:
Hi All. I'm entering the first tournament of my extensive tennis career (lol) and am in need of any and all tips. I'm on the 4.5 level (or so my coach tells me) and i have a few noobie questions i just realized i didn't know the answer too. My main question is, Does every game start by the server serving into the ad/deuce court? Or can you start by serving into either side?(something i never really thought about b4 this). Also, who calls in/out balls? I would assume the person who hit the the ball in question would have to take the other players' opinion as truth, but just wondering. As i said before, any and all tips are welcome, i'm pretty nervous :)
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Kind of funny how did you get to 4.5 without knowing that the server is supposed to start a game from the deuce court (that's the right side of the court):-)

Usually the outs are called by the guy owning that half of the court. And yes, you must believe the other person, until the contrary:-)

Check:
http://www.usta.com/rules/default.sps?iType=923&icustompageid=1121
 
Does the rating change with age (i.e. you're rated higher if your stilll a junior)? I say that because my friend said his coach classed him as a 4.0-4.5. Meanwhile, I'm at least as good as him but I consider myself a 3.5 (when playing in leagues and/or tournaments). I dont have a coach or take lessons regularly.
 
You say you have 4.5 rating? thejackal, maybe you are right about being rated higher if you're still a junior. Some coaches are certified to rate and others are not.
 
Thanks for the help on my dumb question. As far as my rating goes, i've participated in a ton of academies and the like over the past 3 years, but never really felt the need to get competitive with tennis until now. My coach told me i was a 4.5 level player and to enter a tournament at that level. I guess i'm in the minority as far as people who learn the game over a 5+ year period before jumping into the league/tournament side of things.
 
court_zone said:
You say you have 4.5 rating? thejackal, maybe you are right about being rated higher if you're still a junior. Some coaches are certified to rate and others are not.
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Not me, my friend is. I'd be able to compete and/or beat adult 3.5s.
 
You have never played a practice match once in 5 years? What kind of academy and coach are you invovled with? Most beginners know this information after about a month.
 
LoL. Firstly, i was self/father taught for the first 2 years i played. My dad played recreationally and never knew specific rules (other than scoring obviously). The academies and lessons i've particiapted in have had some practice best of 3 type matches, but i never asked the question (guess i just did it right or no1 noticed). Sorry this is so incomprehensible, and i'm really not lying about my rating. Didn't realize i would be causing sucha stir wih this simple question, and thanks to whoever answered it.
 
It is obvious that you have not played practice sets and you have been in many coaching academies! Tennis practices without knowing the scoring system and playing practice sets are quite useless. Lack of match practice also means lack of understanding of the tactical options e.g. what to do in what circumstances?

About your participation in a first tournament: First time entrants are always overly nervous and they play at a faster pace lest police will arrest them. Take it easy my friend since you are not going to win it. Take your time, relax, and enjoy the experience. Concentrate on the process not on the outcome! Performing to the best of your abilities is better than results!

You may like to read the Rules of Tennis (www.itftennis.com).
 
Mahboob Khan said:
About your participation in a first tournament: First time entrants are always overly nervous and they play at a faster pace lest police will arrest them. Take it easy my friend since you are not going to win it. Take your time, relax, and enjoy the experience. Concentrate on the process not on the outcome! Performing to the best of your abilities is better than results!

Mahboob,
This is some of the best advice I have seen on these boards. Enjoying the game should be the priority when playing. Winning matches and tournaments will surely come after some experience. But for the time being, enjoy the game and learn from your mistakes.
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court_zone said:
You say you have 4.5 rating? thejackal, maybe you are right about being rated higher if you're still a junior. Some coaches are certified to rate and others are not.
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Also, some coaches have no clue:( :mad:

Regards, Predrag
 
Just a tip on the original question--before your first match, go out with a friend at your level and hit for about 20 minutes about an hour before your match. Guaranteed if it's your first match you'll be tight... if you loosen up a bit with some easy hitting (don't wear yourself out!!!) you'll feel more confident and more loose. I always start slowly because I don't do this usually and find the normal "5 min warmup" to never cut it... which is why it takes me a few games to get into a match. So warm up before hand and you'll get started off right.
 
I am also probably going to enter my first tournament in march, I am goign skiing during the tournament in febuary. Around what level do you think the people will be if it is a rookie tournament? I am 15, but I am not sure how old the people will be.
 
My tip is to be prepared to be run off the court by another 4.5 player. Even if you have better skills. Match experience counts for a lot and it will be very difficult for you (or anyone) to play proper strategy, remain emotionally calm without being too passive, and adjust or adapt quickly to changing match conditions. The good news is, you can only get better with experience and you will start beating some of these players at your skill level regularly. Good luck.
 
I have heard of 4.5 players who were self-proclaimed 4.5, but for somebody to have a coach tell them that they were a 4.5 player and they don't even know which side to start the serve seems a little ridiculous. My suggestion would be to play some practice matches before even thinking about getting in a tournament. You have to crawl before you walk.
 
mrwise said:
I have heard of 4.5 players who were self-proclaimed 4.5, but for somebody to have a coach tell them that they were a 4.5 player and they don't even know which side to start the serve seems a little ridiculous. My suggestion would be to play some practice matches before even thinking about getting in a tournament. You have to crawl before you walk.
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I agree, but now that he's registered and paid for, or at least mentally committed to it, why not go ahead with it. Just a new experience. Perhaps he HITS the ball great, and this is what led to coach's assessment, not that I'd approve of it without match experience.
 
mrwise said:
I have heard of 4.5 players who were self-proclaimed 4.5, but for somebody to have a coach tell them that they were a 4.5 player and they don't even know which side to start the serve seems a little ridiculous.
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Roddickownzyou's opponent: You don't know the rules? OK, no. 1 you only get one serve. No. 2 you have to serve into the sun each game. No. 3 if you have a game point on me you have to play the next point holding your racket backwards. No. 4 I call all lines, yours and mine. No 5. loser buys winner lunch.
 
I know most of the rules, but there are two things I am not sure of. After how many games do you switch sides with the opponent? Also, how does tie breaker work?
 
norcal said:
Roddickownzyou's opponent: You don't know the rules? OK, no. 1 you only get one serve. No. 2 you have to serve into the sun each game. No. 3 if you have a game point on me you have to play the next point holding your racket backwards. No. 4 I call all lines, yours and mine. No 5. loser buys winner lunch.
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Your funny bro. it's not like i don't know every other rule other than the ones i asked...i do. I know scoring etc. etc. As far as my ability goes, ask my coach, Dan Bonfigli if it really matters that much too you. Hes the pro at the club i play at (Racquet's Edge in Essex, VT). Seems like a pretty good judge of skill as far as i can tell. And thanks to the ones who have actually answered my question(s). I guess i shoulod have titled this post "quick question" and stated the serving question w/o saying that i was going to play in a tournament and that i was a 4.5 level player. Would have saved me some trouble it seems.
 
scez said:
I know most of the rules, but there are two things I am not sure of. After how many games do you switch sides with the opponent? Also, how does tie breaker work?
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I know these :) You switch sides after the first game of the set, then after the 3rd game of the set and after every subsequent odd game. You also switch after the end of a set unless the total number of games in the previous set was even. If thats the case you switch after the first game of the next set. As far as tie-breakers go, first player to 7 points by 2, wins (normal scoring system aka 1,2,3...). The server who starts the tie-breaker serves once, then they alternate after every 2 serves. You switch sides in a tie-break after 6 points have been played. Hope that helps :)
 
Tournament tip...hit a drop shot on the first point, that will rattle him. lol. bring a huge tennis bag too, that'll make your oponent nervous.
 
TheNatural said:
Tournament tip...hit a drop shot on the first point, that will rattle him. lol. bring a huge tennis bag too, that'll make your oponent nervous.
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Rofl..The gigantic tennis bag idea sounds like a good one. I'm thinkin one of those humongous 12-pack nCode bags with the double back-pack straps ;P
 
TheNatural said:
Tournament tip...hit a drop shot on the first point, that will rattle him. lol. bring a huge tennis bag too, that'll make your oponent nervous.
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haha I guess the plastic bag full of tennis balls doesn't have such an intimidating effect.
 
i think that before entering a tournament, one must know all or most of the rules otherwise the opponent and crowd may rattle. it also slows the game down because you would just be standing there not knowing what to do. i've never entered a tournament before but at your level, i dont't hink there would be anyone out there helping you telling you to move left and right or change courts.
 
I disagree that just because a player has never played a tournament he will get creamed because he doesn't have experience. Experience is important, but so is talent and ability. I had been playing 3 months total when i entered my first junior tournament(16and under USTA southwest sanctioned tournament) and have the #3 seed(who was ranked top 50 in the section) everything he could handle before he beat me 6-3, 6-3.he won 4 deuce games in each set, so yes, experience does have something to do with it, but if you can play the game, you can play the game. Good luck with your first tournament, and forget about your opponent. Don't let them intimidate you. Junior tennis players tend to be wusses anyways.
 
nyu said:
I disagree that just because a player has never played a tournament he will get creamed because he doesn't have experience. Experience is important, but so is talent and ability. I had been playing 3 months total when i entered my first junior tournament(16and under USTA southwest sanctioned tournament) and have the #3 seed(who was ranked top 50 in the section) everything he could handle before he beat me 6-3, 6-3.he won 4 deuce games in each set, so yes, experience does have something to do with it, but if you can play the game, you can play the game. Good luck with your first tournament, and forget about your opponent. Don't let them intimidate you. Junior tennis players tend to be wusses anyways.
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Thanks man! My first match is tomorrow...i'll let you all know how it goes..unless of course i go out 6-0,6-0 first round..then you'll probably never hear from me again LOL :)
 
Lost 6-2 6-2..definitely learned alot and can't wait to do it again! Thanks for the helpful pointers guys, hopefully next time i employ thema bit better :)
 
RoddickOwnzYou said:
Lost 6-2 6-2..definitely learned alot and can't wait to do it again! Thanks for the helpful pointers guys, hopefully next time i employ thema bit better :)
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the fact that you took two games in each set in your first match is very positive. keep on going.

next time take with you a more impressive bag!
 
I am lucky that in the tournament I am doing you are guaranteed 3 rounds. I think each round is one set, with sudden death points instead for deuces.
 
RoddickOwnzYou said:
Lost 6-2 6-2..definitely learned alot and can't wait to do it again! Thanks for the helpful pointers guys, hopefully next time i employ thema bit better :)
Click to expand...

I remember my first match. It was a heart-breaker and a marathon match that lasted about 3 hours on synthetic grass around noon time. I lost the first set 5-7, managed to get the second 7-5 and just was flat in the final set losing 1-6.
 
Did you see how well the guy that beat you did in the rest of the tournament?

How did you win your games? What was working and what didn't work?
 
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