Mariano Puerta playing mixed in a local tourney

[atatu]

Puerta is playing with a 4.0 woman in a mixed 35's tournament against some friends of mine, should be interesting. No word on whether there will be testing at the event.

http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=140028

 

[NTexas]

holy cow, 50.00 to enter. that right there would make me not enter.

 

[mikeler]

At least he is not sandbagging his NTRP.

 

[tennis_ocd]

Wow. The guy took a set off Nadal in the FO final. I'm no pro so take it for what it's worth but... I'd advise hitting to the woman.

 

[Sander001]

Good jesus. I've seen some ringers in my day[Davis Cup, former ATP, Div1, national top 10] but I can't imagine showing up and seeing a French Open finalist across the net!

 

[arche3]

Show up in full Rafa gear. The same gear Rafa wore when they played. Act like rafa. Talk like rafa. GOOD PLAN? NO?

 

[J_R_B]

My God, how hot she must be. LOL.

 

[Mongolmike]

Obviously that tourney doesn't do drug testing....

 

[atatu]

Yeah, I had the same thought as JRB, I gotta check out the match to see.

 

[anantak2k]

Puerta is playing with a 4.0 woman in a mixed 35's tournament against some friends of mine, should be interesting. No word on whether there will be testing at the event.

http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=140028

Take some pics or videos!

 

[tennis_ocd]

My God, how hot she must be. LOL.

lol. too funny but excellent call. Believe front and center.....

http://dpmblog.active-clients.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/it-top-producers.jpg

http://daveperrymiller.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IT-TP-blog.jpg

 

[mikeler]

lol. too funny but excellent call. Believe front and center.....

http://dpmblog.active-clients.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/it-top-producers.jpg

http://daveperrymiller.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IT-TP-blog.jpg

She doesn't look a day over 34.

 

[JLyon]

She doesn't look a day over 34.

Would you?

 

[austintennis2005]

he lost 2 and 2 , wondering how that was possible.

 

[bezerker]

Must be a different guy

 

[SoBad]

lol. too funny but excellent call. Believe front and center.....

http://dpmblog.active-clients.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/it-top-producers.jpg

http://daveperrymiller.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IT-TP-blog.jpg

I looked at the site and it looks like you guys are perving over Emily Ray-Porter, while Gianna is the stately brown jacket in the mid-right here...

http://dpmblog.active-clients.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/hp-top-producers.jpg

She doesn't look a day over 34.

... and perhaps this is not her first month in the 35+

he lost 2 and 2 , wondering how that was possible.

(M6.0 + W4.0 = MW10.0) < (M5.5 + W5.0 = MW10.5), or in other words Puerta held his serve each time and that was all he could do.

Must be a different guy

Nah I think it's him!!:twisted:

Hopefully, atatu will post the truth soon.

 

[goober]

Her league records looks like she plays exclusively singles. Guessing she was not a strong doubles player for her level.

Lost 6-0, 6-0 in Women's 40s singles in the same tourney.

 

[RoosterDJC45]

You guys are the best detectives ever...

 

[RoachTennis]

Just take PEDs like Nadal and he will be fine!!!

 

[austintennis2005]

Now he is playing in the mens 35 doubles final at 1pm today (only two teams entered) with a 55+ year old partner... the team they are playing is two of the best in the mens 35's should be an interesting match

 

[President]

This can't be the real Puerta...LOL

He would destroy any player 6.0 or under.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jexzrX0YmHs

 

[austintennis2005]

ya, it is... i went over there and saw him today...in singles yes but he is playing with weak doubles partners

 

[President]

ya, it is... i went over there and saw him today...in singles yes but he is playing with weak doubles partners

That's insane if it's true, how do these amateur players deal with his shots? His forehand was so heavy and powerful back in the day, at least.

 

[austintennis2005]

haha... ill let you know this evening after i watch the match

 

[tennis_ocd]

I looked at the site and it looks like you guys are perving over Emily Ray-Porter, while Gianna is the stately brown jacket in the mid-right here...

http://dpmblog.active-clients.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/hp-top-producers.jpg



... and perhaps this is not her first month in the 35+

Actually upon further research:
http://www.daveperrymiller.com/agents_offices/find_agent/info/giannacerullo

The guy was a FO finalist I'd still like to know how he could've possibly lost.

 

[austintennis2005]

i saw the puerta doubles final today--they lost 2-6, 6-7. Puerta was playing with a very good 55+ year old vs two 35 year olds who were both around 5.5 level... puerta made some incredible shots- insane angles and spin... they got to 6-6 in the tie break and may have won the third set as the opponents had just played each other a grueling singles match and were getting tired...

 

[President]

i saw the puerta doubles final today--they lost 2-6, 6-7. Puerta was playing with a very good 55+ year old vs two 35 year olds who were both around 5.5 level... puerta made some incredible shots- insane angles and spin... they got to 6-6 in the tie break and may have won the third set as the opponents had just played each other a grueling singles match and were getting tired...

So 5.5 players were able to hang with a former top 10 player and RG Finalist? The guy beat Davydenko in the semifinals and gave Nadal one of his toughest RG Finals! He is even the same age as them, so can't use that as an excuse! Or was Puerta's partner that bad? It still seems unreal to me.

 

[austintennis2005]

well in singles puerta would beat the 5.5's easily but doubles is a bit different with a 55+ year old who was actually not that much of a liability but just enough of one...he was about 5'7" which made it that much tougher vs two guys about 6'3... it was one of the most interesting matches i have ever watched...everyone played well.

 

[Vcore89]

A 5.5 stands very little chance of winning against a pro (unless hampered with injury). Just try hanging with ''retired'' Roddick or Safin and you'll know.

 

[goober]

Well somebody has been calling in favors since Puerta clearly was not in this tourney to win judged by his choice of partners, but hey nothing wrong with that. His playing days are over so helping out some business contact or other important person may have better benefits in the long run than some unimportant tournament- well at least compared to ATP titles.

 

[West Coast Ace]

And people on these boards still defend the USTA.

An ex-pro should only be allowed on the grounds of an amateur tournament to sign autographs and hand out the trophies.

 

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

why? it's a seniors tournament, it's not as if he was lining up in a 4.5 league match, is it?

We have former pros playing in our seniors tournaments all the time, nobody cries.. (I just look for them in the draw so I know when my tournament will be over!)

 

[austintennis2005]

he wasnt playing to try and beat up on amatuers, i think it would be the thrill of a lifetime to get to play against a former french open finalist...worth way more than beating someone

 

[SoBad]

Actually upon further research:
http://www.daveperrymiller.com/agents_offices/find_agent/info/giannacerullo

Ah yes, the seductive white tank top years of the stately brown jacket

i saw the puerta doubles final today--they lost 2-6, 6-7. Puerta was playing with a very good 55+ year old vs two 35 year olds who were both around 5.5 level... puerta made some incredible shots- insane angles and spin... they got to 6-6 in the tie break and may have won the third set as the opponents had just played each other a grueling singles match and were getting tired...

Thanks for the report! The lone star state seniors won't hesitate to put their wallets on the line to be part of a good USTA doubles match, will they!!:twisted:

 

[dominikk1985]

And people on these boards still defend the USTA.

An ex-pro should only be allowed on the grounds of an amateur tournament to sign autographs and hand out the trophies.

most of those 5.5s would probably trade a trophy for the Chance to Play a former FO Finalist.

 

[cneblett]

How about a former top 30 singles and top 15 doubles player at age 54 playing 4.5 and not winning all his matches?

http://tennislink.usta.com/Leagues/...nnislink.usta.com/Leagues/Common/Default.aspx

 

[J_R_B]

By 54, it's impossible to say that a guy's body hasn't significantly broken down, especially after years training and playing as a pro athlete. I bet it was the thrill of a lifetime for those guys to beat a former touring pro.

Leach did get bumped to 5.0 after last year, too.

 

[goober]

How about a former top 30 singles and top 15 doubles player at age 54 playing 4.5 and not winning all his matches?

http://tennislink.usta.com/Leagues/...nnislink.usta.com/Leagues/Common/Default.aspx

Nice link but Mike Leach was bumped to 5.0. His most recent season he went undefeated at 4.5 winning most his matches easily.

Maybe he took off 25 years and was in bad shape or had medical issues when he joined league tennis. In any case it sounds like he is at the right level now.

 

[anubis]

Mixed doubles is the "black hole" of tennis. It doesn't matter how good one person is in a doubles team, if the other person's level is way below the other's. The minute the other team realizes you've got a weak link on your side, they'll abuse that weak link until they've won.

Mixed doubles is really no barometer of skill level. It's a fun game, but it's a black hole. I can't tell you how many mixed doubles matches I've lost because my partner was horrible, knowing full well that I could easily beat either of the opponents in singles.

 

[J_R_B]

Nice link but Mike Leach was bumped to 5.0. His most recent season he went undefeated at 4.5 winning most his matches easily.

Maybe he took off 25 years and was in bad shape or had medical issues when he joined league tennis. In any case it sounds like he is at the right level now.

He's still playing in a 4.5 league as a plus player. He's the head pro at the club where the team is based, so I think he's probably just giving the better members a chance to play at a high level.

 

[West Coast Ace]

why? it's a seniors tournament, it's not as if he was lining up in a 4.5 league match, is it?

We have former pros playing in our seniors tournaments all the time, nobody cries.. (I just look for them in the draw so I know when my tournament will be over!)

Barnum would have loved your club and town...