Played My First USTA Match

[VexlanderPrime]

At 3.0, first singles. I was completely destroyed: 6-0,6-1.

Me: Learned by playing with my 4.0ish friend. Slightly above average movement; Powerful first serve with 65% rate; point starter 2nd serve (not a dink serve); inconsistent groundstrokes. Biggest weakness: finishing short balls without over hitting.

Him: Average movement. No first serve - both his serves were a wicked side spin, minimal pace but the ball jumped 3-5 feet to the right every time. I couldn't do anything but get a pusher shot on it. Then came his FH: felt like I was playing Federer. This guy was blasting FH Winners any time I hit short. Literally painting lines with pace and topspin. His backhand looked wildly inconsistent but I couldn't get a shot on his BH bc he dictated relentlessly with his FH.

I've played 3.5 and former #1 singles high school guys and this guy's FH was somehow better...

Was this a fluke night for him? Was he sandbagging? Am I just worse than I thought? I was expecting to beat up on a pusher and this guy shows up and blasts me off the court. He said he's played USTA for years but got much better on his FH this year from playing with his son who passed on lessons from his high school tennis team.

Thoughts? I guess I need to improve my ROS against slice.

 

[AlliDoisServe]

At 3.0, first singles. I was completely destroyed: 6-0,6-1.

Me: Learned by playing with my 4.0ish friend. Slightly above average movement; Powerful first serve with 65% rate; point starter 2nd serve (not a dink serve); inconsistent groundstrokes. Biggest weakness: finishing short balls without over hitting.

Him: Average movement. No first serve - both his serves were a wicked side spin, minimal pace but the ball jumped 3-5 feet to the right every time. I couldn't do anything but get a pusher shot on it. Then came his FH: felt like I was playing Federer. This guy was blasting FH Winners any time I hit short. Literally painting lines with pace and topspin. His backhand looked wildly inconsistent but I couldn't get a shot on his BH bc he dictated relentlessly with his FH.

I've played 3.5 and former #1 singles high school guys and this guy's FH was somehow better...

Was this a fluke night for him? Was he sandbagging? Am I just worse than I thought? I was expecting to beat up on a pusher and this guy shows up and blasts me off the court. He said he's played USTA for years but got much better on his FH this year from playing with his son who passed on lessons from his high school tennis team.

Thoughts?

This is 3.0? I will admit if you're used to playing with a 4.0 and feel like a 3.0 blasted you off the court, your friend either isn't 4.0, this guy is sand bagging, or he just has gotten way better quickly (or played the match of his life). Then again if his backhand is really bad, part of getting better is being able to take the strong forehand he hits and direct it where it needs to go to help you win. I don't have any experience at 3.0, and there isn't a large 3.0 presence where I am (no one will rate themselves below 3.5 hardly so they just get stomped haha).

It may be a combination of all of the things you mentioned, but if he can do what you said he is probably the best 3.0 around based on what I've seen from 3.0s historically.

Kudos to you for getting out there. Keep it up!

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[OrangePower]

At 3.0, first singles. I was completely destroyed: 6-0,6-1.

Me: Learned by playing with my 4.0ish friend. Slightly above average movement; Powerful first serve with 65% rate; point starter 2nd serve (not a dink serve); inconsistent groundstrokes. Biggest weakness: finishing short balls without over hitting.

Him: Average movement. No first serve - both his serves were a wicked side spin, minimal pace but the ball jumped 3-5 feet to the right every time. I couldn't do anything but get a pusher shot on it. Then came his FH: felt like I was playing Federer. This guy was blasting FH Winners any time I hit short. Literally painting lines with pace and topspin. His backhand looked wildly inconsistent but I couldn't get a shot on his BH bc he dictated relentlessly with his FH.

I've played 3.5 and former #1 singles high school guys and this guy's FH was somehow better...

Was this a fluke night for him? Was he sandbagging? Am I just worse than I thought? I was expecting to beat up on a pusher and this guy shows up and blasts me off the court. He said he's played USTA for years but got much better on his FH this year from playing with his son who passed on lessons from his high school tennis team.

Thoughts?

No way to draw conclusions from just one match. How do you do against other 3.0s? For example practice matches against the other singles players on your team?

 

[OrangePower]

if he can do what you said he is probably the best 3.0 around based on what I've seen from 3.0s historically.

Everything is relative. What seems like a killer pace TS FH painting the lines to me, is probably viewed by a pro as a sitter dink.

 

[AlliDoisServe]

Everything is relative. What seems like a killer pace TS FH painting the lines to me, is probably viewed by a pro as a sitter dink.

Very good Point

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[VexlanderPrime]

This is 3.0? I will admit if you're used to playing with a 4.0 and feel like a 3.0 blasted you off the court, your friend either isn't 4.0, this guy is sand bagging, or he just has gotten way better quickly (or played the match of his life). Then again if his backhand is really bad, part of getting better is being able to take the strong forehand he hits and direct it where it needs to go to help you win. I don't have any experience at 3.0, and there isn't a large 3.0 presence where I am (no one will rate themselves below 3.5 hardly so they just get stomped haha).

It may be a combination of all of the things you mentioned, but if he can do what you said he is probably the best 3.0 around based on what I've seen from 3.0s historically.

Kudos to you for getting out there. Keep it up!

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My friend is a former HS #1 who was good enough to compete at state level. He hasn't done any USTA but his ground strikes are super consistent and he can beat our 3.5 friends. I've basically trained with him as a hitting partner. I'm very inconsistent. Some days I can dominate with my FH and be a wall with my 2HBH. I certainly wasn't that this week - 1st match jitters. But I guess I was shocked at how great this guy's FH was for 3.0. Also I suck at defending spin serves I learned haha

 

[VexlanderPrime]

Everything is relative. What seems like a killer pace TS FH painting the lines to me, is probably viewed by a pro as a sitter dink.

No. He had legit pace and accuracy. I'm not saying pro level shots but no one would call these balls anything but winners (the shots he was putting on my pushes/sitters that is)

 

[AlliDoisServe]

My friend is a former HS #1 who was good enough to compete at state level. He hasn't done any USTA but his ground strikes are super consistent and he can beat our 3.5 friends. I've basically trained with him as a hitting partner. I'm very inconsistent. Some days I can dominate with my FH and be a wall with my 2HBH. I certainly wasn't that this week - 1st match jitters. But I guess I was shocked at how great this guy's FH was for 3.0. Also I suck at defending spin serves I learned haha

Haha that will come. Normally starting out everyone has their one strength and a lot of weaknesses. Being able to exploit someone's weakness will win you a lot of matches. For example when I play older people I hit lots of low slices and make them run and bend more than they like. Or a guy that won't hit a backhand in warmup when the match starts ill hit 80% to his backhand (or attempt to). This is all easier said than done of course. Getting there is the process we all enjoy

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[ByakuFubuki]

Provided I don't live in the USA and as such never played USTA (also, where I live there's no self-rating: we all start from the bottom), this looks pretty much like a standard First Match. Except we rarely realize how good our opponent actually is (devastating Forehand and wicked Slice Serve in your case) and just feel like we're playing a pusher with hack shots and that for some reason we can't express our full potential (we're more inconsistant than during practice and also hit less winners or "hot shots"). This could also explain why, although being used to hitting with a 4.0 you lost badly to a 3.0, although it is also very possible that he rated himself too low (although I'm not 100% sure about how self-rating really works) and/or had the match of his life.

Still, what you wrote sounds like a completely normal first match to me, and congratulations for noticing his weapons rather than focusing on yourself only. In my opinion you need match experience, mostly, and as someone already said, consistancy will come with time.

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Is this the opponent's first season as well? If he's self rated, this sounds like a sand bag situation to me. More results like that for him could justify a DQ for the season.

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[VexlanderPrime]

Is this the opponent's first season as well? If he's self rated, this sounds like a sand bag situation to me. More results like that for him could justify a DQ for the season.

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No, he said he'd been playing USTA for years but his forehand had dramatically improved this year working with his son who was playing in highschool. I'm not questioning him. More just sharing my first match story and surprise in light of how this forum loves to talk about everyone at 3, 3.5 just being pusher heaven.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

No, he said he'd been playing USTA for years but his forehand had dramatically improved this year working with his son who was playing in highschool. I'm not questioning him. More just sharing my first match story and surprise in light of how this forum loves to talk about everyone at 3, 3.5 just being pusher heaven.

If you look more closely, it's mainly one person making the "3.5 is pusher heaven" argument. I for one don't subscribe to that hypothesis.

I second @OrangePower: don't get hung up on one match or one opponent or even one season. Presumably you have a long and enjoyable USTA career ahead of you in which you will travel through many strange lands and encounter many strange opponents. Embrace the opportunities.

[This guy sounds like an outlier. Or maybe his particular skill set matched up extremely well against yours. Now if the next 5 matches go the exact same way, you're in the wrong division. But I doubt it.]

 

[OnTheLine]

Having probably played a First USTA match more recently than the other posters, I will put in my $0.02 at least when it comes to the match as a whole, not the ROS issue.

It may have nothing to do with the perceived strength of your opponent and everything to do with where you were standing and positioning in the court.

Those "winners" probably weren't actually "winners" if you had played a few more matches, they are more likely an indication of your not being accustomed to good positioning and reading/anticipating allowing him to exploit you opening up too many angles for him. Then you are so out of position that they felt like winners to you.

Matchplay is nothing like hitting with a partner and is more about positioning and building a point. Something that you shouldn't be able to do well in your first match unless you are superman ... and maybe you are!

I will posit that after you get a few more matches under your belt and then play the guy again (or someone similar) you will find the exact same shots much easier because you will have found your positioning rhythm, definitely in singles, even more so in doubles.

 

[ChaelAZ]

I second @OrangePower: don't get hung up on one match or one opponent or even one season. Presumably you have a long and enjoyable USTA career ahead of you in which you will travel through many strange lands and encounter many strange opponents. Embrace the opportunities.

Agree. Had plenty of USTA matches that I got seriously outplayed as such. I've had a guy who had pretty bad records for years on end that played lights out during one of our matches. It happens.

 

[eelhc]

At 3.0, first singles. I was completely destroyed: 6-0,6-1.

Me: Learned by playing with my 4.0ish friend. Slightly above average movement; Powerful first serve with 65% rate; point starter 2nd serve (not a dink serve); inconsistent groundstrokes. Biggest weakness: finishing short balls without over hitting.

Him: Average movement. No first serve - both his serves were a wicked side spin, minimal pace but the ball jumped 3-5 feet to the right every time. I couldn't do anything but get a pusher shot on it. Then came his FH: felt like I was playing Federer. This guy was blasting FH Winners any time I hit short. Literally painting lines with pace and topspin. His backhand looked wildly inconsistent but I couldn't get a shot on his BH bc he dictated relentlessly with his FH.

There's a lot here... first off... I don't know too many guys at this level who can consistently put short balls away for a winner. Were you overhitting or were you hitting your baseline stroke with less court to work with? Shorter balls have less distance to the net and have to be launched at a higher trajectory and therefore need much more spin to bring it back down. Perhaps you should consider setting up the winner on the short ball approach rather than hitting the winner.

If the ball jumps 3-5 feet to the right every time... maybe just set yourself up for it? Also, what's wrong with getting a pusher shot on it? A pusher shot sets the point neutral. If I could set the point neutral every time on my service return I'd be extremely happy.

 

[VexlanderPrime]

There's a lot here... first off... I don't know too many guys at this level who can consistently put short balls away for a winner. Were you overhitting or were you hitting your baseline stroke with less court to work with? Shorter balls have less distance to the net and have to be launched at a higher trajectory and therefore need much more spin to bring it back down. Perhaps you should consider setting up the winner on the short ball approach rather than hitting the winner.

If the ball jumps 3-5 feet to the right every time... maybe just set yourself up for it? Also, what's wrong with getting a pusher shot on it? A pusher shot sets the point neutral. If I could set the point neutral every time on my service return I'd be extremely happy.

Honestly I wasn't doing much of anything effectively, but I felt like even if I played my average level I'd have lost easily. I wasn't hitting my 1st at a high enough percentage to get a lot of free points and holds. He was hitting winners or high pressure FHs off my returns and 2nds.

On his low pace, heavy sidespin serve I was trying to adapt but I felt like if I even tried to hit a topspin FH I wouldn't be able to pull the ball up over the net and then get it back down into the court. Admittedly these short ball FHs are a weak spot for me but this side spin serve was making it 10x worse. I was forced to push/slice FHs back to the middle of his court and he's often blast a CC FH winner.

** For context this wasn't a first match situation. I've played a ton of rec league matches with 3.0 and 3.5 guys. This was just my first 3.0 USTA match. I guess I was just surprised by his ability to hit his FH like a weapon with consistency. The serve returns were more about my own shortcomings

 

[kevrol]

The serve returns were more about my own shortcomings

Surprises me that a 3.0 was able to capitalize on a 2nd serve return that much. My experience is, even at 3.5, most guys who try and punish a week serve give away as many points as they get, if not more.

 

[johnnyb]

First of all, thanks for sharing. I'm starting to compete too at a similar level and it's good to know other people's experiences.

One thing I learned is that being in a competition is very different from playing regular friendly matches. If he'd been playing USTA for years he has a clear edge over you.

Seems like improving his FH helped him a lot in seizing the opportunities during the game, and that's the lesson I learned from this post.

Please keep this post alive and keep us informed of what happens after the next matches!

At 3.0, first singles. I was completely destroyed: 6-0,6-1.

 

[VexlanderPrime]

Surprises me that a 3.0 was able to capitalize on a 2nd serve return that much. My experience is, even at 3.5, most guys who try and punish a week serve give away as many points as they get, if not more.

Yeah, that's what I was accustomed to and expecting haha. His FH was legit, at least that night, who knows.

 

[ZirkusAffe]

At 3.0, first singles. I was completely destroyed: 6-0,6-1.

Me: Learned by playing with my 4.0ish friend. Slightly above average movement; Powerful first serve with 65% rate; point starter 2nd serve (not a dink serve); inconsistent groundstrokes. Biggest weakness: finishing short balls without over hitting.

Him: Average movement. No first serve - both his serves were a wicked side spin, minimal pace but the ball jumped 3-5 feet to the right every time. I couldn't do anything but get a pusher shot on it. Then came his FH: felt like I was playing Federer. This guy was blasting FH Winners any time I hit short. Literally painting lines with pace and topspin. His backhand looked wildly inconsistent but I couldn't get a shot on his BH bc he dictated relentlessly with his FH.

I've played 3.5 and former #1 singles high school guys and this guy's FH was somehow better...

Was this a fluke night for him? Was he sandbagging? Am I just worse than I thought? I was expecting to beat up on a pusher and this guy shows up and blasts me off the court. He said he's played USTA for years but got much better on his FH this year from playing with his son who passed on lessons from his high school tennis team.

Thoughts? I guess I need to improve my ROS against slice.

If it's your first match that can be a lot of pressure vs a guy who's played USTA... I think it might have been a combo platter of nerves out of the gate then probably he was relaxed and constructing points keeping you off balance. The way you describe it his game elevated and his confidence grew. Maybe you didn't feel nervous but I lost badly at sectionals vs a ringer my first match ever in sectionals playing 1st singles, my wife asked if I was nervous I said 'no' she said 'you looked nervous', I said 'why, because I pooped my underbritches I always do that'.. long story longer I was nervous, I rushed points, and was squeezing the racquet hard so stiff arm which left a lot of short balls in the court.. anyway I'd use it to motivate and move on don't let it get you down you'll move on and up from here.

 

[johnnyb]

Surprises me that a 3.0 was able to capitalize on a 2nd serve return that much. My experience is, even at 3.5, most guys who try and punish a week serve give away as many points as they get, if not more.

Seems like the guy focused in improving one aspect of his game and it worked in this match. How effective it will be in other matches at 3.0 or 3.5 level against other opponents we don't know, but I would like to.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Spin serves are 10x harder to return than fast ones.

I need to remember this. My serves are not fast, but I get service winners on practically 50% of the ones that go one.
I am at a point where if my serve goes in, I assume the point is over. When I play a 4.0+, I am caught off guard standing there, since I assume I've already won the point.

Of course, return of serve is the single hardest point to practice, since you need to pay someone to serve to you.
This is why 1% of players actually practice this shot. Kudos for recognizing your weakness. Now go do something about it.

 

[eelhc]

Honestly I wasn't doing much of anything effectively, but I felt like even if I played my average level I'd have lost easily. I wasn't hitting my 1st at a high enough percentage to get a lot of free points and holds. He was hitting winners or high pressure FHs off my returns and 2nds.

On his low pace, heavy sidespin serve I was trying to adapt but I felt like if I even tried to hit a topspin FH I wouldn't be able to pull the ball up over the net and then get it back down into the court. Admittedly these short ball FHs are a weak spot for me but this side spin serve was making it 10x worse. I was forced to push/slice FHs back to the middle of his court and he's often blast a CC FH winner.

** For context this wasn't a first match situation. I've played a ton of rec league matches with 3.0 and 3.5 guys. This was just my first 3.0 USTA match. I guess I was just surprised by his ability to hit his FH like a weapon with consistency. The serve returns were more about my own shortcomings

I'm still missing something here. Were you getting your returns deep? I don't know too many people, even 4.0 or better, who can hit winners off low paced chip returns that are deep and in the center of the court. The angles are high risk and most guys at this level can't generate pace off of a dead ball. It really sounds to me like your returns were opening up Cross court, high margin angles for this guy. Were your returns consistently deep? Well past the service line? In the middle of the court?

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[willeric]

Welcome to USTA. A lot of times there is a huge difference between players that play friendly tennis and USTA. I've often joked that when you don't play USTA, everyone is a 4.5. I've played self proclaimed 4.5s that would get beaten by a good USTA 3.0.

Long time USTA players understand that getting the ball back in play is more important than style. When in doubt, just get all the balls back deep and in the middle. Also, learn the slice serves spin the same direction every time. On a slow slice, your opponent is actually opening up the court and giving you an opportunity. Just bunt it back short over the net. You can mix it up between the two sides. If he starts running in after the serve, bunt it back long in the ad court.

 

[VexlanderPrime]

I'm still missing something here. Were you getting your returns deep? I don't know too many people, even 4.0 or better, who can hit winners off low paced chip returns that are deep and in the center of the court. The angles are high risk and most guys at this level can't generate pace off of a dead ball. It really sounds to me like your returns were opening up Cross court, high margin angles for this guy. Were your returns consistently deep? Well past the service line? In the middle of the court?

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Nope, they were weak, slow, middle of the court and not deep enough. And he was spanking em. Believe I was trying to do better but the freaking ball was just jumping sideways, even when I was staying on top of it mentally I was framing returns or just aiming them back safely. Super frustrating. He was hitting these balls at like 2:00 - kinda sidearm-ish. Incredible spin.

 

[VexlanderPrime]

Welcome to USTA. A lot of times there is a huge difference between players that play friendly tennis and USTA. I've often joked that when you don't play USTA, everyone is a 4.5. I've played self proclaimed 4.5s that would get beaten by a good USTA 3.0.

Long time USTA players understand that getting the ball back in play is more important than style. When in doubt, just get all the balls back deep and in the middle. Also, learn the slice serves spin the same direction every time. On a slow slice, your opponent is actually opening up the court and giving you an opportunity. Just bunt it back short over the net. You can mix it up between the two sides. If he starts running in after the serve, bunt it back long in the ad court.

I was trying but there was so much sidespin I was scared to try to hit anywhere but the middle and even then I wasn't hitting deep enough (I was framing a bunch of returns).

 

[Traffic]

At 3.0, first singles. I was completely destroyed: 6-0,6-1.

Me: Learned by playing with my 4.0ish friend. Slightly above average movement; Powerful first serve with 65% rate; point starter 2nd serve (not a dink serve); inconsistent groundstrokes. Biggest weakness: finishing short balls without over hitting.

Him: Average movement. No first serve - both his serves were a wicked side spin, minimal pace but the ball jumped 3-5 feet to the right every time. I couldn't do anything but get a pusher shot on it. Then came his FH: felt like I was playing Federer. This guy was blasting FH Winners any time I hit short. Literally painting lines with pace and topspin. His backhand looked wildly inconsistent but I couldn't get a shot on his BH bc he dictated relentlessly with his FH.

I've played 3.5 and former #1 singles high school guys and this guy's FH was somehow better...

Was this a fluke night for him? Was he sandbagging? Am I just worse than I thought? I was expecting to beat up on a pusher and this guy shows up and blasts me off the court. He said he's played USTA for years but got much better on his FH this year from playing with his son who passed on lessons from his high school tennis team.

Thoughts? I guess I need to improve my ROS against slice.

I've been learning that the number of UEs defines 3.0. I, myself, want to think that I have pretty decent shots. But the number of them that go out, again defines me as 3.0. Probably my biggest struggle is with my serve. They go in, I win an easy point. Not a free point, but a weak return allows me to put pressure on for an error on his next return.

But I had a lights out match last weekend. Basically all the stuff I've been working (low double faults, shallow topspin FH, deep CC shots with some topspin, good lobs) made my opponents look like they forgot how to play. And the key, low UE.

So if I receive a ground stroke that isn't pushing me back, I hit a strong groundstroke to the corner, most likely it will come back a little weaker and shorter, I step up with a shallow topspin forehand to an open court. If it comes back with pace, I send it back with pace and we continue until one of us is a little out of position or tries something different and ends up hitting long or into the net. Rinse and repeat. Now, there will be the occasional flash of brilliance from my opponent. But play the odds. If I earn 3points with good rallies and lose 1 point to opponent's winner and 1 point due to my own UE, I have a slight advantage going.

Sorry. What I wanted to say is that I could've been your opponent. I had some great shots that went in 1 out of 3 tries. I'd give away service games double faulting trying to pull you off the court. And my strings were just too powerful to nail a shallow topspin FH when you hit dink serves or weak, short shots. But...through months of working on things and focusing on limiting UE, all of a sudden things start to come together. And you happen to be the "victim" of all his hard work that season.

 

[MathGeek]

At 3.0, first singles. I was completely destroyed: 6-0,6-1.

Me: Learned by playing with my 4.0ish friend. Slightly above average movement; Powerful first serve with 65% rate; point starter 2nd serve (not a dink serve); inconsistent groundstrokes. Biggest weakness: finishing short balls without over hitting.

Him: Average movement. No first serve - both his serves were a wicked side spin, minimal pace but the ball jumped 3-5 feet to the right every time. I couldn't do anything but get a pusher shot on it. Then came his FH: felt like I was playing Federer. This guy was blasting FH Winners any time I hit short. Literally painting lines with pace and topspin. His backhand looked wildly inconsistent but I couldn't get a shot on his BH bc he dictated relentlessly with his FH.

I've played 3.5 and former #1 singles high school guys and this guy's FH was somehow better...

Was this a fluke night for him? Was he sandbagging? Am I just worse than I thought? I was expecting to beat up on a pusher and this guy shows up and blasts me off the court. He said he's played USTA for years but got much better on his FH this year from playing with his son who passed on lessons from his high school tennis team.

Thoughts? I guess I need to improve my ROS against slice.

I'm sorry for your loss. Hard to say much from 1 match. After not playing USTA for several years, I was overestimating my abilities by comparing with the self-reported ratings of friends and playing partners. Now I am in the habit of looking up people's purported ratings in the on-line system before taking them too seriously.

There is a lot of gamesmanship and ratings "management" in the USTA crowd. I am having more fun and enjoying myself more since switching to more local club and park type events where people take it less seriously.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Being able to put away all short balls is something a 4.0+ player does.

 

[GrassCourtFan]

Hah I'm at 4.5 and I still can't do that

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Hah I'm at 4.5 and I still can't do that

Ditto.

 

[Startzel]

Hah I'm at 4.5 and I still can't do that

Ditto.

I'm sure you both put away a lot more than you miss.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I'm sure you both put away a lot more than you miss.

My point (and perhaps @Max G.'s as well) was that one doesn't automatically start putting away every short ball when one hits 4.0+.

I'm also more content than many to merely hit a good approach rather than a winner because I view it as a setup shot. This means my error rate is lower because I don't overhit much. This can also be a characteristic of 4.0+.

 

[amlemus]

Just played my first flex league match in 3.0 and went down 6-1, 6-4 to a very beatable opponent. Biggest thing I learned is that you've gotta play like you practice and be confident in that ability.

The first set (mind you this is my first competitive match, and my first on clay), I was completely jittery, took short quick strokes instead of getting my feet set and hitting like I do in training, which resulted in entirely too many long balls and UEs. Cooled off in the second, but couldn't get the extra break that was needed.

The first matches are going to be learning experiences, playing against different styles and against your own nerves. Use the opportunities and improve next time out!

 

[Traffic]

Just played my first flex league match in 3.0 and went down 6-1, 6-4 to a very beatable opponent. Biggest thing I learned is that you've gotta play like you practice and be confident in that ability.

The first set (mind you this is my first competitive match, and my first on clay), I was completely jittery, took short quick strokes instead of getting my feet set and hitting like I do in training, which resulted in entirely too many long balls and UEs. Cooled off in the second, but couldn't get the extra break that was needed.

The first matches are going to be learning experiences, playing against different styles and against your own nerves. Use the opportunities and improve next time out!

This is really hard to do. You hit so well in practice, but when the pressure is ON and every miss hit ball, every shot just a little long, every shot snagging the tape counts. That's when things get critical. I believe the only way to get past this is to play a bunch of matches and lose a bunch of matches. Then go practice those specific items that you had shortcomings on. But yeah, 6-4 is tough. Feels like you could have done better. Just remember that your opponent could also have been cruising because he felt he had the match in the bag. That's also a great time to break his rhythm.

 

[GrassCourtFan]

Playing like you practice is tough also because opponents don't give you as much rhythm in real matches as they do in practice. Like, even if you're playing a "practice match", your opponent is probably going to be working on the kind of stuff THEY want to do reliably (solid shots, aggressive play, reliable point construction) and not the kind of junk that they'd pull out in a match ("oh man I'm slicing my backhand again... gotta work on that...")

So everyone ends up junking up their game, and that makes it harder for both players to "play like they practice".

 

[Traffic]

Playing like you practice is tough also because opponents don't give you as much rhythm in real matches as they do in practice. Like, even if you're playing a "practice match", your opponent is probably going to be working on the kind of stuff THEY want to do reliably (solid shots, aggressive play, reliable point construction) and not the kind of junk that they'd pull out in a match ("oh man I'm slicing my backhand again... gotta work on that...")

So everyone ends up junking up their game, and that makes it harder for both players to "play like they practice".

Yup. No harm; no foul during practice so everyone "goes for it" or is playing very relaxed. But during a match, all bets are off and you are desperately trying to win the point somehow.

 

[amlemus]

This is really hard to do. You hit so well in practice, but when the pressure is ON and every miss hit ball, every shot just a little long, every shot snagging the tape counts. That's when things get critical. I believe the only way to get past this is to play a bunch of matches and lose a bunch of matches. Then go practice those specific items that you had shortcomings on. But yeah, 6-4 is tough. Feels like you could have done better. Just remember that your opponent could also have been cruising because he felt he had the match in the bag. That's also a great time to break his rhythm.

I hear ya. It's one of those things that, until you play matches, you have no idea what your weaknesses are really going to be. Had too many DFs and too many unforced errors due to not using my natural swing and spin (everything sailed over the baseline b/c no topspin). On the upshot, I learned I can chase down most if not all dropshots and give regular volleys some direction. So it seems that settling into normal rally play was due to nerves. Learning every day...at 34.

 

[Traffic]

I hear ya. It's one of those things that, until you play matches, you have no idea what your weaknesses are really going to be. Had too many DFs and too many unforced errors due to not using my natural swing and spin (everything sailed over the baseline b/c no topspin). On the upshot, I learned I can chase down most if not all dropshots and give regular volleys some direction. So it seems that settling into normal rally play was due to nerves. Learning every day...at 34.

Speed is your friend. At 47, I'm probably one of the "faster" players in my age group.

 

[OnTheLine]

Just played my first flex league match in 3.0 and went down 6-1, 6-4 to a very beatable opponent. Biggest thing I learned is that you've gotta play like you practice and be confident in that ability.

The first set (mind you this is my first competitive match, and my first on clay), I was completely jittery, took short quick strokes instead of getting my feet set and hitting like I do in training, which resulted in entirely too many long balls and UEs. Cooled off in the second, but couldn't get the extra break that was needed.

The first matches are going to be learning experiences, playing against different styles and against your own nerves. Use the opportunities and improve next time out!

Great attitude ... It took me at least 8 matches to figure out what you figured out in 1 set ! I must be very dense or you are extra bright!

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Playing like you practice is tough also because opponents don't give you as much rhythm in real matches as they do in practice. Like, even if you're playing a "practice match", your opponent is probably going to be working on the kind of stuff THEY want to do reliably (solid shots, aggressive play, reliable point construction) and not the kind of junk that they'd pull out in a match ("oh man I'm slicing my backhand again... gotta work on that...")

So everyone ends up junking up their game, and that makes it harder for both players to "play like they practice".

Which is why it's important to include match-like conditions in your practice and not just perfect feeds with rhythm.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Great attitude ... It took me at least 8 matches to figure out what you figured out in 1 set ! I must be very dense or you are extra bright!

No, you're not dense. Some people take years to figure that out and some never do.

 

[Traffic]

Which is why it's important to include match-like conditions in your practice and not just perfect feeds with rhythm.

I think at the same time, there's a practicality to practice sessions. For example, I have great access to a strong JR player. But...he hits way harder than my typical opponents. Can return anything I dish at him. AND he's a lefty with lefty spins. But it's either hit with him or...hm...not too many choices. (Although, I think my men's team is trying to organize a pick-up match on weekends now that we are entering summer season and playing outside courts are actually viable.)

I come up against junk ballers and I'm lost...

One note. One of his friends asked to play with him one day. I was in the next court practicing my serves. I asked if I can get some help from the friend. He's a righty and has some good shots but not as consistent as my son. My first 5 hits against him were framed shots. I realized there's just enough change of movement from my son's hits because he's a righty and it takes me a moment to get used to it.

I think playing with as many different people as you can is very helpful to be able to deal with all sorts of different players you'll run into.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I come up against junk ballers and I'm lost...

Then you need to practice against junk ballers!

I think playing with as many different people as you can is very helpful to be able to deal with all sorts of different players you'll run into.

Sound thinking, IMO. Way superior to only playing against one type because you deal well with that style.

 

[Traffic]

Then you need to practice against junk ballers!

Yeah. Hitting against my son is like hitting against a ball machine...

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

You need to play with various to identify what shots you can't do well.

Then you take that to your coach and drill the crap out of it

 

[edathompson2]

As someone who started as a 3.0 and worked my way up to 4.0 in 4 years, The style of play at 3.0 can vary WIDELY. The questions USTA asks does not cover how good someone is or can learn.

No backhand with a big forehand is usually your top end 3.0 players. There are ALOT of ringers at 3.0. It probably has the biggest disparity between it's levels of players than 3.5 and 4.0 IMO.

 

[Tennisplyr]

It takes a loooong time to learn how to win matches consistently in a competitive environment, I've played tournaments, leagues, ladders for over 40 years and every match is a new day. Hang in there, try to play others better than you. Net, net for me: goal needs to be minimizing unforced errors. I've was once a 4.5 now a 4.0 and built a successful career by not making errors.

 

[fundrazer]

It takes a loooong time to learn how to win matches consistently in a competitive environment, I've played tournaments, leagues, ladders for over 40 years and every match is a new day. Hang in there, try to play others better than you. Net, net for me: goal needs to be minimizing unforced errors. I've was once a 4.5 now a 4.0 and built a successful career by not making errors.

I'll +1 this. I played on a weak high school team, but improved enough after my first year going into my senior year that I occasionally got to play some singles matches. I got close to winning 1 or 2 of them, but I was never able to put everything together. Part of that is probably lack of singles match experience...

Smarter player now...roughly 10 years later. Basically comes down to understanding how you win points and how you lose them. I have plays that I like to use, and if they work against my opponent, I keep doing them. If stuff isn't working, then I tinker around a bit.

Somebody else said it here too, but you might need to learn how to move around the court. Watched plenty of videos of people playing, and they're kinda wandering around the court aimlessly. No clue where to go. You end up in the wrong positions at the wrong time and it's not fun.

What you haven't said regarding this guy's serves, was he hitting mostly the same spots every time? Like was it always a slice serve wide to your right on deuce court? Because that should be somewhat easy to counter. 3.0's can do that. One of the doubles sets I played last week I said to my partner, move over closer to the alley cause he's gonna slice it wide (lefty serve on ad court). He moved over like I said, side stepped the serve, and he hit a forehand winner. Was very proud of him cause he might be the weakest player out of our group (3.0's/3.5's and me possibly 4.0 I don't really know atm).

 

[Cindysphinx]

Ah, well.

Your opponent did you a big favor. A lot of them, actually.

1. He showed you that serving with spin is very effective at the lower levels -- it is hard to judge and hard to be offensive with it. So maybe learn to serve with spin, and don't develop into one of those 3.0-3.5 male players who blast first serves and then push second serves like a young child?

2. He showed you how hard it is to put away a short ball. So maybe work on that, perhaps by going to the court with your hopper, standing at the T, throwing a ball in the air, and work on consistently hitting it as an approach?

3. He showed you there is no substitute for experience.

4. He showed you that it will be a rough match if you can't find to your opponent's weaknesses -- at 3.0, surely he has one.

I lost my first few USTA matches, so I feel your pain. It's going to feel really good when you get that first win.