A person can reach 4.5 for sure and win in their age group but it takes a lot of play time and work and commitment. @nytennisaddict might be an example of this.
Even with determination you have to watch out for injuries.
5.0. (Assuming by adult, we mean something like 30+, and not a 19 or 20 year old.)
That's a very athletic person, in good shape, with plenty of free time and disposable income, and a lot of dedication. The far right of the bell curve.
For most, lower.
I used to tell my adult students that I envied them because they were going to improve exponentially.
Technique, match experience, strategy, mental game--sure some even trained athletically...
What I meant in post #16 above, is that we also age, so athleticism might actually go down, while technique is still raising...
Paolo Maldini, ex-soccer star of AC Milan took up tennis eight years ago, after he retired at 41. Together with his coach Stefanio Landonio, he qualified for the challenger doubles tournament in Milan today. Good job!
http://www.tennisitaliano.it/paolo-maldini-giochera-il-challenger-di-milano-42435
Lack of athleticism is just part of the problem for adult player. A big problem is lack of recovery. Young kids can play literally 3 - 4 hours of serious tennis and be fine the next day and they can do that again and again.
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Oh it''s a wild card, yes then it's a bit different. But maye they won a round or even more, and that would be great again.Didn't tourney give him a wild card for both singles and doubles????
I think it mainly depends on the instruction you get and how hard you work at being good.Lets face it, no adult can achieve the sport as far as someone who started out as a kid.
Perhaps the late learner can only reach 4.0 max? I've never seen any adults who started out late win any local tennis association competitions in the long run.
Im pretty sure most people could reach at least 4.5, even if the person would not be super talented.
I doubt that anyone bar someone with major physical disabilities can not reach such a level, if he started at any reasonable adult age.
And I know many people here point out that alot of people max out at 3.5 or so, but those people did not really put 100% dedication and effort, really worked on the court and off the court for 5-6 days a week and really had a dedication and desire to become the best tennis player, had the optimal diet, optimal training, optimal coaching etc... Now for most people some of these things like great coaching or so are simply unatainable, then there are also other factors like serious injuries and throwbacks...but im just saying that I don't believe anyone starting at a reasonable age with no disabilities without any major injuries or issues that hold them back has a max CAP at 3.5 and thats their max potential no matter the circumstances, im pretty sure almost anyone at some point had at least a 4.5 max cap, now whether someone reaches their max potential is another story, thats an insanely hard task for anyone, it basicaly means doing everything right and optimal for many many years.
The most important thing for someone wanting to become better is simply having a drive and desire that pushes him to work hard for it and sacrifice things (diet, time) to achieve it and don't stop, put everything into it and strive to become better every week and improve every week without thinking too much what your rating level is.
The KEY is the adult in question NEEDS to have played an organized school sport while in high school or college. He/she just can't be an average student who takes PE, and isn't good enough to make the school team. And, the adult in question needs to excell at the sport, then when he/she starts tennis, has all the time and money to pursue tennis for at least 4 solid year's. The results can be 4.5/5.0, but only if the criteria is met.