is it OK to feel angry?

[anubis]

When you get squashed by a person who doesn't belong in your league? I played a guy last night in a 3.0 match but he should have been in 3.5 (and used to be 3.5 as well, I looked him up). I wasn't angry at him, I was angry that it wasn't a fair fight.

He played phenomenally. I didn't make many UEs, he earned almost all of his points with winners. I played my best, but he had fantastic point construction. He'd frequently draw me in with a dinky drop shot, I'd barely get there and get it over, and he'd his an expertly placed, low pace passing shot to one of the far corners -- every single time.

I hit a pretty fantastic cross court FH which is usually a winner when I play other 3.0s. But he was able to EASILY hit a winner off of that, I couldn't even touch it.

Plus, he aced me about a dozen times.

By the end of the match, I was just too tired to keep running from 4 feet behind the baseline (his serves were hard) to the net, when he hit every single return of mine as a drop shot which expertly landed 1 foot on my side of the net. I just didn't have the energy to run them all down, so he won a good 4 games like that.

anyway, it just stinks that's all. I expect that kind of competition if I play an "open" level tournament... but @ 3.0, It's just unfair that I have to lose to such a great player.

 

[mhj202]

I played a guy last night in a 3.0 match but he should have been in 3.5 (and used to be 3.5 [emphasis added] as well, I looked him up).

So, does he no longer have a NTRP rating or was he bumped down?

 

[tennis tom]

It's just unfair that I have to lose to such a great player.

Who ever said life was fair? Maybe if you play him again, whack him in the knees before you play to even the odds. Sounds like you got a good work out, think about it as a good clinic.

 

[Govnor]

This is the problem with ratings, they only give you a very basic guide. But they can be waaaaaaaay off, depending on how exactly the player got that rating and how much tennis they've been playing in recent times.

Maybe this guy got bumped down because he couldn't play much. Then his circumstances changed after the bump and he started playing a lot more. So he is a better player now as a 3.0 than he was as a 3.5 a while back.

 

[mhj202]

He played phenomenally. I didn't make many UEs, he earned almost all of his points with winners. I played my best, but he had fantastic point construction. He'd frequently draw me in with a dinky drop shot, I'd barely get there and get it over, and he'd his an expertly placed, low pace passing shot to one of the far corners -- every single time.

I hit a pretty fantastic cross court FH which is usually a winner when I play other 3.0s. But he was able to EASILY hit a winner off of that, I couldn't even touch it.

Plus, he aced me about a dozen times.

Sounds more like he was a 5.0+ -- or the best 3.5 in the history of tennis.

In any case, most folks would consider it lucky to get a match like that without having to pay a pro/teacher to play with you. Doesn't sound like it was a tournament with prizes/money on the line so I'm not sure I understand the issue.

 

[anubis]

So, does he no longer have a NTRP rating or was he bumped down?

He was bumped down.

 

[anubis]

Sounds more like he was a 5.0+ -- or the best 3.5 in the history of tennis.

In any case, most folks would consider it lucky to get a match like that without having to pay a pro/teacher to play with you. Doesn't sound like it was a tournament with prizes/money on the line so I'm not sure I understand the issue.

It wasn't a tournament, it was just a USTA 3.0 match. The issue is I never expect that much of a challenge. I had no chance of winning, and that shouldn't be a consideration when two people meet at the same level.

I mean, its one thing if I just completely fall apart and can't get the ball over the net or in bounds. If I had "no chance" because I was playing like an idiot, then I deserve the beat-down.

But if I play my best and it's just not good enough, that's a mis-match.

 

[goober]

I have played and have witnessed plenty of USTA matches which were completely one sided. I am not sure how you can be angry unless this is your first USTA season. Out of level players are so common on the top teams that is pretty much expected.

But 3.0 is a pretty low level. You can easily improve and beat this guy. If he actually got bumped down he can't be that good of a player although it may seem that way to you now. When you get to higher levels like 4.0-4.5 it is much harder to simply say you can get better and beat these guys.

 

[dcdoorknob]

It happens. Also, there is no realistic rating system that could entirely prevent these things. Getting mad doesn't really accomplish much.

Also:
l

he hit every single return of mine as a drop shot which expertly landed 1 foot on my side of the net.

You've got to take that away. If he's doing it every single time, start running towards the net before he even hits his drop shots. He'll stop. And if he doesn't, you'll get to them in plenty of time to punish him. Maybe he'll still come up with a different strategy that will beat you, but you have to at least make him do that and take away that first option for him.

 

[Govnor]

It wasn't a tournament, it was just a USTA 3.0 match. The issue is I never expect that much of a challenge. I had no chance of winning, and that shouldn't be a consideration when two people meet at the same level.

I mean, its one thing if I just completely fall apart and can't get the ball over the net or in bounds. If I had "no chance" because I was playing like an idiot, then I deserve the beat-down.

But if I play my best and it's just not good enough, that's a mis-match.

I''m not a USTA rated Player, but I play with a lot of people who are. It sounds like you got a raw deal, but sometimes players are just very bad style match ups for others with the same ratings, sometimes (probably in this case) the other player should not have been bumped down, or his circumstances have changed and the rating is flat out wrong.

Sometimes if a player is on the verge of being bumped down and another on the verge of being bumped up, that is a significant difference and the fact that they are in the same ratings division at that exact moment is just unlucky for the weaker player.

Ratings are a basic guide, nothing more really. You can't see anything about that player other than numbers on a screen.

 

[tennis tom]

But if I play my best and it's just not good enough, that's a mis-match.

No, that's called losing. Be careful or you may start sounding like a sore loser.

 

[Relinquis]

maybe it was a bad matchup...

 

[mhj202]

He was bumped down.

So, are you angry that you had to play a "good" 3.0 (sounds like a pretty legitimate rating given that he was bumped down) or are you angry that it seems you might be more like a 2.5?

 

[pingu]

Forget about the rating, just don't get angry when you lost to someone that play better than you.

 

[Power Player]

This is awesome. I have never read a 3.5 described like such a tennis god before.

 

[JLyon]

This is awesome. I have never read a 3.5 described like such a tennis god before.

Hell I want to see this 3.0 who can hit amazing drop shots of returns of serve with pin point accuracy

 

[sureshs]

A 3.0 who is serving aces? Something does not smell right.

 

[gmatheis]

No, that's called losing. Be careful or you may start sounding sound like a sore loser.

too late !


The expected outcome between a high level 3.0 and a low level 3.0 is 6-0, 6-0

If he got bumped down then he is obviously a high level 3.0, and from your description of his play (which would be pretty much impossible for a 5.0 to pull off) it sounds like you are just a very low 3.0.

Stop crying and get better!

 

[gmatheis]

I just had a thought ... poster might be a really good troller !

 

[Power Player]

The best part is when the OP dispenses racquet advice in that area of the boards.

 

[JRstriker12]

It wasn't a tournament, it was just a USTA 3.0 match. The issue is I never expect that much of a challenge. I had no chance of winning, and that shouldn't be a consideration when two people meet at the same level.

I mean, its one thing if I just completely fall apart and can't get the ball over the net or in bounds. If I had "no chance" because I was playing like an idiot, then I deserve the beat-down.

But if I play my best and it's just not good enough, that's a mis-match.

If it was pure sand-baggery, then yeah, I might be a little angry. If it's clear the guy is out of level then you could file a complaint, but if he's computer rated, might be hard to get him bumped.

Even after that, take it as a learning experience and figure a way to counter-act the plays that were hurting you. Sounds like you need to work on your net and transition play. Get to 3.5 or near 4.0 and there are a few players who like that drop-shot, lob/pass combo and will do it all day if you can't approach and hurt them off the short ball.

But you also have to realize that even on level there are guys who just may be a bad match-up for you due to their playing style. You could have also run into someone who's at the top of 3.0 (3.49) while you maybe more towards the mid/bottom.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Join the club.

Top 4.0 women make me look like a total clown.

 

[OrangePower]

When you get squashed by a person who doesn't belong in your league? I played a guy last night in a 3.0 match but he should have been in 3.5 (and used to be 3.5 as well, I looked him up).

At first I was going to commiserate with you. If the guy used to be 3.5 before but now self-rated at 3.0 to sandbag, then you would have my sympathy... but then...

He was bumped down.

Dude, the guy is a legit 3.0. Grow a pair.

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

The issue is I never expect that much of a challenge.


I had no chance of winning, and that shouldn't be a consideration when two people meet at the same level.

SO it seems to me you are upset that this opponent made you feel like you usually make your opponents feel .... am I getting that right?

 

[spinorama]

This is awesome. I have never read a 3.5 described like such a tennis god before.

Haha my thoughts exactly.


OP: a loss is a loss, the rating system will bump him up if he keeps winning so sandbagging can only last so long. A lot of people get accused of sandbagging, but really that sort of thing exists in any sport with levels. Tennis is actually one of the better ones for correcting sandbagging I think. I used to race motocross and let me tell you, the sandbagging in that sport is sooooooo much more prevalent and drastic than in tennis. You get guys in the "amateur C/novice class" throwing down some faster lap times than the A class/ pro class at some of the local races.

Everyone wants to win, at least in tennis if you win enough the system bumps you.

 

[Bdarb]

I remember my first loss.. lol


Sounds like you need to work on your game, and perhaps sportsmanship. No 3.5 plays like that unless you let him. If you are getting absolutely smoked, its time to change your plan, which you obviously didn't because he did the same thing the whole time. If you don't know of another plan or strategy its time to find one.

playing better people is the only way to get better. Even if you got killed, you saw how he did it, think of it as a lesson, maybe one in how to lose gracefully even..

 

[burosky]

"I did my best but I guess my best wasn't good enough"......I wonder if background music can be added to this post.....

 

[Fuji]

As stated, sometimes it's just a bad match up.

Even in some of my matches against top tier 4.5 guys, I get creamed, simply because they are ridiculously strong returners / they can read my serve well. Those days I just say "kudos" to them, and move on. Nothing really more to do about it. A loss is a loss, and attempting to rationalize it any other way than they played better then you doesn't really work out in my experience. :razz:

-Fuji

 

[asimple]

I got bumped down from 4.5 to 4.0 this last year and was actually worried about some complaints during matches, but really haven't gotten too much. I've gotten some sandbagging jokes from the 4.5 guys but that is about it. The 4.0 guys I have played have for the most part taken it well although I have to admit there seems to be a lot more silly gamesmanship at that level which is a bit annoying.

I'm in the playoffs now for 40+ 4.0 and 4.5+ and am really hoping there aren't too many issues going forward, but am a bit concerned as the opponents seemed to take it pretty seriously in the first round of the playoffs.

 

[Relinquis]

i don't understand this sandbagging concept... what do you guys mean? it's not like there is money involved... how is he hustling you?

 

[Bdarb]

i don't understand this sandbagging concept... what do you guys mean? it's not like there is money involved... how is he hustling you?

If say this guy was a 4.0 and playing people like op who are 3.5 just so he can win matches, that would be sand bagging.

 

[Relinquis]

but why would that cause such offense and why would someone willingly want to play significantly lower players all the time?

most tennis people where i am love to play someone equal or better than them, unless it is in a tournament where you are making a living this way.

i usually try to play with players above my level as much as i can. hard to find regularly.

 

[OrangePower]

but why would that cause such offense and why would someone willingly want to play significantly lower players all the time?

most tennis people where i am love to play someone equal or better than them, unless it is in a tournament where you are making a living this way.

i usually try to play with players above my level as much as i can. hard to find regularly.

I think most people are like you and want to play equal or even better players.

But there is a minority of players in league and tournaments who care more about winning vs losing than about the quality of the tennis. Maybe it's an ego thing. These are the people who sandbag. Sometimes they are encouraged to do so by team captains who again care more about the winning than the tennis.

When facing such a sandbagger, there are those that relish it as an opportunity to play someone much better, and again there are those that feel angered to be in a hopeless position where they cannot compete.