Here's my background. I'm 37. I started playing 2 summers ago. I live in an area where it's playable outdoors about 5 months a year. My first year and a half I played the outdoor season about 1 or 2 times a week. I didn't really take any lessons except for 1 set of 6 group lessons which was more of a pro just feeding balls. I was probably a strong 2.5, weak 3.0.
This past summer I started playing more frequently about 4 or 5 times. Took the fall off and joined an indoor club Jan 1. Naturally, I started playing more, 3-5 times a week. I self rated 3.0 based on reading the guidelines and what others with USTA experience told me. I started to improve with my frequent play. I watched lots of youtube videos and learned some strategy and fundamentals. For example, I hit a 1 handed backhand and didn't know to switch grips until recently. I signed up for the 3.0 and 3.5 teams.
Anyway, here are my results in chronological order-
3.0 #1S- 6-1,6-3 W
3.0 #2S- 6-0,6-0 W
3.5 #2D- 6-4,6-2 W
3.5 #1D- 4-6,6-3,1-0 L
3.0 #1S- 6-4,6-2 W
3.0 #1D- 6-4,7-5 W
3.0 #1S- 6-2,4-6,1-0 W
Then the DQ!! I know many people will just respond that I am a sandbagger and I deserved what I got. But that's not my motive. Sandbaggers play down to stroke their egos with wins. I like to play up. I don't mind losing, I just want to improve.
So was my playing up the death blow? The first 2 matches were against weak players, both of whom are winless in singles often by similar scores. The final match, I assume, was the third strike because I got DQed right after it. In that match, I almost lost and fought off a match point in the 3rd set tiebreak. My opponent was a computer rated 3.0. How is this a strike? We basically played the tennis equivalent of a draw.
I'm frustrated with the whole system. Is it possible I can be DQed off my 3.5 team too? Am I allowed to know where the strikes fell?
This past summer I started playing more frequently about 4 or 5 times. Took the fall off and joined an indoor club Jan 1. Naturally, I started playing more, 3-5 times a week. I self rated 3.0 based on reading the guidelines and what others with USTA experience told me. I started to improve with my frequent play. I watched lots of youtube videos and learned some strategy and fundamentals. For example, I hit a 1 handed backhand and didn't know to switch grips until recently. I signed up for the 3.0 and 3.5 teams.
Anyway, here are my results in chronological order-
3.0 #1S- 6-1,6-3 W
3.0 #2S- 6-0,6-0 W
3.5 #2D- 6-4,6-2 W
3.5 #1D- 4-6,6-3,1-0 L
3.0 #1S- 6-4,6-2 W
3.0 #1D- 6-4,7-5 W
3.0 #1S- 6-2,4-6,1-0 W
Then the DQ!! I know many people will just respond that I am a sandbagger and I deserved what I got. But that's not my motive. Sandbaggers play down to stroke their egos with wins. I like to play up. I don't mind losing, I just want to improve.
So was my playing up the death blow? The first 2 matches were against weak players, both of whom are winless in singles often by similar scores. The final match, I assume, was the third strike because I got DQed right after it. In that match, I almost lost and fought off a match point in the 3rd set tiebreak. My opponent was a computer rated 3.0. How is this a strike? We basically played the tennis equivalent of a draw.
I'm frustrated with the whole system. Is it possible I can be DQed off my 3.5 team too? Am I allowed to know where the strikes fell?