Men's Open Tournament, not sure?

RafaN RichardG

Semi-Pro
Ok, so theres this tournament
http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=74929
im thinking about entering, its in like a week, but anyway heres some background: i just finished my freshman year in college and i played a high level of high school tennis, and went out for the team at college, my school is D1, and beat a few of the players but decided i didnt want to travel my first year of college and stopped playing..
i came across this tournament and was thinking about playing but im wondering if its even worth if cause im not sure of the level of the players because ive never played a men's open
i looked up some of the players, a lot are just form the area, but theres a few from further places, i think they may have had a few wins in futures tourneys
the draw is of 64 and as of now only 30 have entered so getting in wouldnt be a problem, i just would rather not get served due to being out of practice and already in over my head
last time i was rated it was a 5.5..but that was sophomore year in highschool, i have gotten much better since then, im just asying that to put things into a little more perspective..but still, im out of practice
has anyone played some men's opens and had experience with the competition?
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
What's to lose, except the $75.....
Now if you're way out of practice, it's not worth losing.
If you've been playing some, it's a good benchmark to see where you really stand.
Play the game best you can, don't worry about who your opponent is or what they can do.....
 

RafaN RichardG

Semi-Pro
yeah i actually played yesterday and figured if i got the mind set to go ahead and play then id play the rest of the week to get the rest of the rust off
thanks for the responses
 

T0P5P1N@DD1CT

New User
Whoa, the tourney is like 5 mins away from me. It's a tough draw too. One of my hitting buddies in playing. Did you decide to enter?
 

35ft6

Legend
If it's anything like So Cal, considering the prize money, a lot of the really good Open level players will probably enter. In So Cal, a normal tournament might have one guy ranked in top 20, several in top 60 or so, etc. But the ones offering decent money will attract a big majority of the top players. Based on your self assessment, you would probably lose in the second round of a normal tournament. At this one, if you play some self deluded 50 yo guy with a Wilson Ultra 2, you could win, but you would have to be really lucky. Most likely, you will certainly get beat, and if you meet a seed, get beat really really badly. So it all comes down to what $65 means to you. For some people, it's nothing, and worth it to hit with a guy who will beat him in 35 minutes but would never hit with him for free otherwise. Looks like the 25th seed was a standout NEMA junior (2 in Boys 18's). And it's not just the seeded players, at these types of tournaments, some really awesome players who usually don't bother playing Opens (so are off the grid so to speak) show up and will often put a beating on the seeded guys.

Anyway, if you can afford it and can see the fun in it, win or lose, why not. :)
 

T0P5P1N@DD1CT

New User
Yup 35ft6 is spot on.

The top four seeds are ranked between 383 and 697 on the tour and the 19th seed, and many seeded ahead of him, were also on the tour (he was ranked as high as the 400's I think- Punch)

I also know, and know of, a lot of the other guys in the draw and there are lots of present and former D1 players in the draw (Duke, Penn, Virginia and many others). My boy, who is also playing, also played D1, @ position 1, so I can def confirm that it is quite a stacked draw. Anyone who is rusty or not mentally in playing shape would most likely be slaughtered (& I say this without any mean intentions).

I think I'll enjoy watching this tournament this week.
 

T0P5P1N@DD1CT

New User
Hahaha... True, that's why it'll be an awesome way to spend part of my vacation time :cool:. That is, when I'm not playing I'll get to also go watch some good tennis...
 

GRANITECHIEF

Hall of Fame
I played the #63 draw line guy recently in a local tourney. He got me by a break in each set. He lost 3 & 0 in the first round to a seeded player.

Tough tourney won by the 8th seed. Interesting.
 

onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
I played the #63 draw line guy recently in a local tourney. He got me by a break in each set. He lost 3 & 0 in the first round to a seeded player.

Tough tourney won by the 8th seed. Interesting.

I haven't played the #63 line guy, but one of my friends
also lost to him in a local tournament. 2 tie breaks.
I've played a few sets with him to help him prep for
tournaments. Usually pretty close. usually goes to
a tie break.
 

onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
I played the #63 draw line guy recently in a local tourney. He got me by a break in each set. He lost 3 & 0 in the first round to a seeded player.

Tough tourney won by the 8th seed. Interesting.

I haven't played the #63 line guy, but one of my friends
also lost to him in a local tournament. 2 tie breaks.
I've played a few sets with him to help him prep for
tournaments. Usually pretty close. usually goes to
a tie break or 1 break either way.
 

T0P5P1N@DD1CT

New User
Haha, yea. The 8th seed did win. He's really steady. He can hit all his spots, absorb all the pace and is a grinder. He made almost no unforced errors. Noone even saw him as a possible winner and he had guys who thought they had a shot literally screaming after they realized that they couldn't hang. He was able to wrong foot his opponents, played awesome defence when he had to and took the offensive the sec he had a change. Very smart player...

I did some research and found out that he was on the tour and was ranked as high as 240 i think. He quit the tour recently because he's married now and is now based here (a local). He also got to the final of a few challengers.
 
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