Hustlers in Tennis?

[doubleshack]

Just curious if anyone has run up against a hustler. Basically someone who plays you for money, doesn't seem very good, but manages to just 'barely' beat you (and takes your money).

While this happens in golf all the time (just ask MJ), I doubt it happens much in tennis. Basically, because tennis is fun, you don't need to add gambling to make it exciting (yea, that was a cheap shot at golf, sorry). Almost everyone I know that plays golf, bets on it. Yet I rarely hear of anyone betting on their tennis match. I'm sure it happens, but it just isn't a common occurrence.

So, has anyone gambled on their tennis, why, and have you been hustled?

 

[Centryx]

Lol nice thread i was thinking about a league where everyone would ante up and play. When you played someone the loser gives up his dampener (no rubber bands allowed) off his racquet to the winner and has to get a new one. Imagine how many the winner of a round robin would end up with! too bad people dont have custom non rubber band dampeners

 

[jester911]

Not many around these days. Bobby Riggs was the ultimate hustler.

 

[doubleshack]

Not many around these days. Bobby Riggs was the ultimate hustler.

I hate to show my age, but you are right....that was awesome.

 

[Agassi-Fan]

Kind of out of the realm of league tennis....but....Pat Macenroe stated in his book that Pete Sampras wasn't big into practicing so he used to play people for money during tie breakers.

Apparently Sampras was a poor loser when he had to pay up???

 

[dak95_00]

I've never played for money either and in my 25 years of playing, I've only been asked once and it was 2 years ago. I was blown away. I'd never thought about playing tennis for money.

I didn't take the guy up on his offer because I knew I was going to lose. He is like 15 years younger than me and just finished playing D1 tennis. I hadn't been playing and was just getting back into it. He offered me a few games and then two points per game. He was serious about playing for money. He also offered to go double or nothing in a golf match. I almost went for it because I have played and won my fair share of money at golf. It was my first ever meeting w/ this guy and our common friends thought I had quite the advantage since they'd played golf w/ both of us. I just deceided I didn't want to spend multiple afternoons playing this guy for money.

Later, I saw him play tennis. He IS good! I also played golf w/ him. He IS bad! It would've been a push; even if he'd spotted me two points a game and two games a set! I'm a 4.0-4.5 tennis player too(self-rated by results against guys who are rated through USTA leagues across the country).

 

[aceX]

What a cheap shot