Mixed Doubles Tips

[WBF]

Okay. So I've gotten myself into what will surely be a fun little tournament...

I'll be playing an open level mixed tournament... with my fiancee, who would fall between a 3.0 and a 4.0. I know the guy running the tournament, so we weren't able to play the 4.5 draw (it's not sanctioned, he does a weird system where the better player's level is where you join, which sucks for us!)...

This will actually be my first mixed play, ignoring family matches. How do those of you at this level play? Is it rude to hit big serves at the women, or is it offensive to take some speed off of it for them? My usual tactic is to go for more kickers, but I don't want someone getting offended if they see me going for massive serves against the guy, and what looks like second serves against the girl...

Anything else I should consider? This is going to be hugely entertaining. My first mixed tourney, her first tournament of any kind...

Thanks for any help!

 

[LuckyR]

Okay. So I've gotten myself into what will surely be a fun little tournament...

I'll be playing an open level mixed tournament... with my fiancee, who would fall between a 3.0 and a 4.0. I know the guy running the tournament, so we weren't able to play the 4.5 draw (it's not sanctioned, he does a weird system where the better player's level is where you join, which sucks for us!)...

This will actually be my first mixed play, ignoring family matches. How do those of you at this level play? Is it rude to hit big serves at the women, or is it offensive to take some speed off of it for them? My usual tactic is to go for more kickers, but I don't want someone getting offended if they see me going for massive serves against the guy, and what looks like second serves against the girl...

Anything else I should consider? This is going to be hugely entertaining. My first mixed tourney, her first tournament of any kind...

Thanks for any help!

I have highlit the important part of your post. You know her personality much better than we do. Whatever you do, make her really proud to be partnered with you.

 

[5263]

WBF, you better bring it if you want to do well, cause you are in big trouble unless your opponents are real, real nice!

A 3-4.0 girl is in way over her head in the open div if any good players show and where I play, they will go to that well every time they need it. your best hope is that they are soo good, they don't need to pick on her too much. That way she won't feel too bad after this. Sorry to be so glum.

Maybe the other teams will be like you, so everyone will be in the same boat. You will probably see some of all of this, if you stay in long enough.

 

[Cindysphinx]

I've never done an open tournament, but I'm a 3.5 lady who plays 7.0 mixed.

I say crack your biggest serves at the woman. I have had guys serve me into the side curtain. I had a lefty serve me massive twist serves that tied me in knots so badly I actually had to swat one away from my face. And I've had them crank flat ones for aces.

Me, I guess the general rules of courtesy apply: Don't hit an overhead at anyone who has surrendered the point. And I guess if the woman is helpless at net, then you could make an effort not to kill her. After the match, you could in that instance ask what the heck she thinks she is doing playing an open tournament if she can't volley, though . . . .

 

[5263]

LuckyR is right on the money about this. Take care of her enjoyment of this event. You are the best one to know what that means.

 

[WBF]

Cool, that's pretty much what I figured Cindy. Thanks!

5263: She knows we aren't going to win She just wanted to play some mixed, and this was our only option. I'm not worried about her getting upset, I play against her at near full speed and she doesn't get aggravated with losing every time... So she knows how to lose, and she's had plenty of experience with the level of play we'll probably end up going against. Our goal is to get a win if we go up against a team like us, or a few games if we go up against a team with equal high level players.

LuckyR: Yeah, I just wanted to make sure there weren't any unwritten rules we needed to follow! We're both excited, hopefully it will be good fun.

 

[rocket]

This will actually be my first mixed play, ignoring family matches. How do those of you at this level play? Is it rude to hit big serves at the women, or is it offensive to take some speed off of it for them? My usual tactic is to go for more kickers, but I don't want someone getting offended if they see me going for massive serves against the guy, and what looks like second serves against the girl...

I'd worry more about your girl. Get her used to handling hard-hit shots. Ask a friend to hit with her, gradually increasing pace. If she can block back those shots, she's good to go.

You guys can have a blast on the court, or you can have a massive fallout. Make sure you high-5 her even when she misses. Good luck!

 

[rocket]

I'm not worried about her getting upset, I play against her at near full speed and she doesn't get aggravated with losing every time... So she knows how to lose, and she's had plenty of experience with the level of play we'll probably end up going against. Our goal is to get a win if we go up against a team like us, or a few games if we go up against a team with equal high level players.

Oops this post just came in. She might be worried that she'd be the cause for your potential loss though, so I guess you can show her that you don't care about that.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

If you were playing in some "fun" round-robin, mixed draw sort of tournament, I would say go easy and play for fun.

But, as this is an open tournament, everyone will expect the best play possible from all of the players.

 

[Solat]

If you were playing in some "fun" round-robin, mixed draw sort of tournament, I would say go easy and play for fun.

But, as this is an open tournament, everyone will expect the best play possible from all of the players.

totally agree

we have our club mixed championship this weekend, i am easily the strongest male but my partner is not the strongest female. I will serve full pace at the men and throw the spinners at the lady, if i feel in trouble on serve then i will go the pace to her then. Same with groundies, just solid depth to baseline and good dippers to net players, only if i need to step up and attack if we are in trouble will i do it. If it was open tournament for points/prizes then its pretty much anything goes, everyone should take the court assuming this.

but fair warning, if you have been playing comfy tennis then you get in strife its hard to suddenly step up a gear.

good luck & good tennis

 

[5263]

Make sure you let us know how it goes!

 

[J011yroger]

WBF I plan on playing a bunch of open mixed this summer, and maybe we can compare notes if you have fun and plan on doing this regularly.

My partner will be an ex D1 player, but I assume the levels of our opponents will be comprable.

Going to be a pretty new experience for me aswell because most times when I have ever played mixed, it was a social setting or pro-am type of deal, or I was filling in in a ladys group lesson.

So we will see.

J

 

[WBF]

Solat: It's actually unsanctioned, hence the weird 4.0,4.5 and Open draws vs. 8.0,9.0,etc. draws. I would much prefer 9.0 or 8.5 (do they do .5 increments for mixed?) over Open!

I figure I'll just play to my opponent. If we go up against college level+ opponents, they'll get my fun serves. If not, I'll probably save my deltoids for other battles. Whiff inducing kickers are a bit easier on clay anyhow!

Not too worried about comfy>competitive tennis. I usually push my fiancee hard on the court, and always work hard myself. The only thing I'm worried about is weather. It's been fking terrible here for 3 days, so we've been playing indoors on fast, low bouncing courts... and this tourney is on mushy, wet clay (and everything that comes with it; inconsistent bounces, fking wet balls within 1 game, etc) even on the most dry days).

Tourney starts Saturday, weather permitting. Should be some good fun!

*edit: Ohh, sounds fun j0lly! Yeah, we'll probably end up doing this at least for one more tournament this summer, assuming things don't go horribly (can't imagine that happening). So perhaps I'll have two matches worth of experience to share

 

[WBF]

Woohooooo! Looks like I won't be able to compare notes

They called today to let me know that the Open draw wasn't full enough, and asked if we wanted to move down to 4.5... Now we have a chance at a few matches!