Playing hotheads...

Today I played a guy in a league match that was probably the biggest ****** I have ever met. the first point i double faulted and he yelled come on! He questioned all my calls but the worst part was he had friends there cheering him on and telling me I was a cheater. I ended up tanking the match but it hurts now and I feel bad.... How do you guys handle players like this?
 

anubis

Hall of Fame
I'm sure this isn't going to be the last time you are up against someone with bad manners on the court. Tennis is supposed to be a "gentleman's" game, with no room for copious amounts of bravado and insensitivity.

Just try not to focus on it, focus on your own game and try not to sink to his level. Be overly respectful and kind. Make it known to all that watch the match that one person is trying hard to keep things civilized (you).
 
Great advice! I wish I would've been able to say i was overly respectful but it was such a shock because I haven't seen players like this ever... and not to mention he was the head pro and the local country club and behaving this way in front of his students
 
I'm not buying this story, it's TTMR trolling again. OP's name is 10s noob, that makes him a 3.0. What's he doing playing a teaching pro? I can't imagine ANY teaching pro behaving like that. It's TTMR OR there's a whole lot more to this story that's not being disclosed.
 

Relinquis

Hall of Fame
focusing on your game and beating these types of players destroy's them... after you are done beating them shake hands and then tell him/her that they would have been more competitve had they focused on their game then on gamesmanship and poor behaviour...

these guys are insecure... losing crushes their soul.
 

brokenRPM

Rookie
Today I played a guy in a league match that was probably the biggest ****** I have ever met. the first point i double faulted and he yelled come on! He questioned all my calls but the worst part was he had friends there cheering him on and telling me I was a cheater. I ended up tanking the match but it hurts now and I feel bad.... How do you guys handle players like this?

I respect you for tanking the match and not making a scene out of it.

As for the other guy, something will happen to him sooner or later. Don't worry. There are bigger wankers out there.
 
focusing on your game and beating these types of players destroy's them... after you are done beating them shake hands and then tell him/her that they would have been more competitve had they focused on their game then on gamesmanship and poor behaviour...

these guys are insecure... losing crushes their soul.

Thanks for advice! that would be a good thing to say especially because the match would be over and it would give him time to think and maybe it would change his antics.
 

NLBwell

Legend
I assume you didn't play high school tennis or you would have run into this quite a number of times before.
 

omega4

Rookie
Today I played a guy in a league match that was probably the biggest ****** I have ever met. the first point i double faulted and he yelled come on! He questioned all my calls but the worst part was he had friends there cheering him on and telling me I was a cheater. I ended up tanking the match but it hurts now and I feel bad.... How do you guys handle players like this?

Wow. Glad I'm a golfer first and a tennis player second....
 

jesses469

New User
My first USTA was a guy who our team has since called ******bag Dave. Guy was cursing and throwing his racquet. Keep in mind, we're talking about a 40 year old man dropping F-bombs with some children nearby. This guy didn't get the memo that it's just 3.5. Guy quit the match and just walked off the court. Didn't even stick around to watch his teammates. We had our second match against this turd and same thing again: racquet throwing, cussing at opponents and himself. At least this time he made it through the entire match. Best part was it was a doubles match and one of our 3.0 players said loudly, "This is awesome. This is my first win at 3.5." Dochebag Dave stormed off the court muttering F-Bombs.
 

magnut

Hall of Fame
I respect you for tanking the match and not making a scene out of it.

.

LOL. Imagine how much you would respect him if he didnt tank!

You dont tank tennis matches.....Never ever. Especially against these players. They are trying to get underneath your skin and it worked. He beat you. Its a phsycological tactic and it does work against players that cant handle it. Usually you see it used on big hitters with low margins of error in tournament situations. The good experienced players dont fall for it and just play on. Go watch some qualifiers or money tournamnets and you will see a lot of this type of stuff.

Gentlemens game LOL. You would be better of thinking of it as a boxing match.
 

Govnor

Professional
I couldn't tank, no way. I've only ever played against one real DB. I was sick that day and mustered all my strength to make sure I won, which I did on a tie break. I suffered the next couple of days....but it was worth it!!
 

Turbo-87

G.O.A.T.
I definitely would not have tanked the match. Unfortunately, my skill set doesn't allow me to flip a switch and turn up the wick at will. However, I can guarantee you that I would try my best to step up my game and let my feet and racquet do my talking. If I lose, I have only lost the match and nothing else. :) I may lose to a d-bag, but it's only a loss and he's still a d-bag. lol
 
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Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
I don't think I could tank a match like that. I would feel duty-bound to do whatever it took to win to make sure the d-bag tactics didn't work.
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Today I played a guy in a league match that was probably the biggest ****** I have ever met. the first point i double faulted and he yelled come on! He questioned all my calls but the worst part was he had friends there cheering him on and telling me I was a cheater. I ended up tanking the match but it hurts now and I feel bad.... How do you guys handle players like this?

I played against a guy like this a month ago. What is worse is his partner stood there like , yea, that's right.....
what do you mean, tanking the match ? you should take all steps for Grievance filing.
 

TTMR

Hall of Fame
I'm not buying this story, it's TTMR trolling again. OP's name is 10s noob, that makes him a 3.0. What's he doing playing a teaching pro? I can't imagine ANY teaching pro behaving like that. It's TTMR OR there's a whole lot more to this story that's not being disclosed.

I am also the guy slipping behind your doorways in a flash and causing those unexplained creaking and dripping sounds that keep you up all night. Remember that time you swore you were being watched? Well, it's true; and it was me.
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Agree totally. If the bum is gonna get his wins by others tanking, hes never gonna stop

Agree with this. Best way is to beat him but if that doesn't happen. I would go to the end of the world to have this guy kicked out of the league so others doesn't suffer the same indignities.:???:
 
I am also the guy slipping behind your doorways in a flash and causing those unexplained creaking and dripping sounds that keep you up all night. Remember that time you swore you were being watched? Well, it's true; and it was me.

Sorry TTMR, if it was a case of mistaken ID, all you trolls look-a-like in the winter white-outs on the youth clinic courts.
 
lol. I haven't experienced one. But I'd probably just laugh it off like playing at open gym hoops or even hoop leagues.

The funny part is my home court is in a very very sketchy area and other teams usually just come, play the match and leave real quick. lol. nothing like hearing sirens every 15 minutes. although it has been getting better.
 

vegasgt3

Rookie
Have a teammate take an i-phone video of the antics and file a grievance. Get him suspended from league play. Should be simple, but may cost you $50.
 

jrs

Professional
You have to pay to file a grievance?

Have a teammate take an i-phone video of the antics and file a grievance. Get him suspended from league play. Should be simple, but may cost you $50.

You have to pay to file a grievance?

I like playing players like this - usually just try to figure out what sets them off - and then try to light the fire. Legally ofcourse - using tennis tactics - not confronting them verbally or anything like that.
 

precision2b

Semi-Pro
You have to pay to file a grievance?

I like playing players like this - usually just try to figure out what sets them off - and then try to light the fire. Legally ofcourse - using tennis tactics - not confronting them verbally or anything like that.

I don't like playing them, but when i do this is some of the things i do...They are a lot easier to beat after you get them to blow up…:mad::mad::mad:
 

Aurellian

Semi-Pro
Have a teammate take an i-phone video of the antics and file a grievance. Get him suspended from league play. Should be simple, but may cost you $50.

If you stuck a camera in my face, i would likely remove it from your hand...let's hope we don't cross paths at anthem cc...
 

tennisbuck

Hall of Fame
I have two strategies for playing these guys-both which have worked for me.
The first is to be really nice to him and say good shot, call out the score loudly, everything you can to make him happy, and ya know what in some cases this has made the jerk/bad sport nicer.
In other times that doesnt work and they are just still a really big jerk there is no point to continue to be nice. Sometimes being a jerk back on purpose has helped me beat these players. Sometimes when i don't take either approach is when i get distracted and fall apart. Thats just what I do, but it may not work for everyone.
 

Aurellian

Semi-Pro
I have two strategies for playing these guys-both which have worked for me.
The first is to be really nice to him and say good shot, call out the score loudly, everything you can to make him happy, and ya know what in some cases this has made the jerk/bad sport nicer.
In other times that doesnt work and they are just still a really big jerk there is no point to continue to be nice. Sometimes being a jerk back on purpose has helped me beat these players. Sometimes when i don't take either approach is when i get distracted and fall apart. Thats just what I do, but it may not work for everyone.

kill them with kindness is the best option...i am a *****, big time, no denying that..the king of passive aggressiveness...but when a guy is having fun, calling the lines right, and smiling it's hard to get into my jerk character....
 

tenniscasey

Semi-Pro
Today I played a guy in a league match that was probably the biggest ****** I have ever met. the first point i double faulted and he yelled come on! He questioned all my calls but the worst part was he had friends there cheering him on and telling me I was a cheater. I ended up tanking the match but it hurts now and I feel bad.... How do you guys handle players like this?

This didn't actually happen.
 

Torres

Banned
he was the head pro and the local country club and behaving this way in front of his students

I'm not buying this story. OP's name is 10s noob, that makes him a 3.0. What's he doing playing a teaching pro? I can't imagine ANY teaching pro behaving like that.

This didn't actually happen.

I have to admit that I'm pretty sceptical about this story as well.

I've never seen pro behave behave like that, ever. Why would they? To be a head pro you've spent a lifetime in the game, played a million competitive matches, have moved on, and are a typically older and wiser, having seen it all before. The higher the level you go, the less silliness there tends to be be.

Why would he be yelping 'Come On' on a 1st point DF? And what level of league match was this? What you describe typically tends to be the behaviour of a teenage junior with a hyperactivity disorder.
 
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Aurellian

Semi-Pro
I have to admit that I'm pretty sceptical about this story as well.

I've never seen pro behave behave like that, ever. Why would they? To be a head pro you've spent a lifetime in the game, played a million competitive matches, have moved on, and are a typically older and wiser, having seen it all before. The higher the level you go, the less silliness there tends to be be.

Why would he be yelping 'Come On' on 1st point DF? And what level of league match was this? What you describe typically tends to be the behaviour of juniors.

a lotta loonies out there
 
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spinorama

Rookie
I assume you didn't play high school tennis or you would have run into this quite a number of times before.

So true.....we won CIF a couple times during my day, the level of competitiveness gets INTENSE. Expect to treat your opponent like the enemy and you are going to war
 

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
I had a coach tell me I play much better with hatred. I'd rather calmly bang aces \but I don't usually have that option. I think Jimmy Connors style is the way to go here though it's stressful and tiring.

You can also start laughing at the guy. Laughing in his face but give him false praise & compliments on changeovers. Like "You're serving fanstastic".



Today I played a guy in a league match that was probably the biggest ****** I have ever met. the first point i double faulted and he yelled come on! He questioned all my calls but the worst part was he had friends there cheering him on and telling me I was a cheater. I ended up tanking the match but it hurts now and I feel bad.... How do you guys handle players like this?
 

dlam

Semi-Pro
I play my best against " hotheads" I wish there were more players that trash talk and get mad. I can't get motivated against " Mr Nice "
If you can't take the verbal aggression from the other player go play golf
 

RetroSpin

Hall of Fame
Keep your mouth shut and focus on the one thing you can control, your own shots. People who use gamesmanship depend on the fact that their opponents are not used to it and thus get distracted.

One thing I wouldn't take much of is personal abuse from spectators or his other team members. If it is a league match, you can summon an official and complain. If there aren't officials, tell him either he quiets them down or you're walking off and protesting the result.
 

Aurellian

Semi-Pro
I don't like playing them, but when i do this is some of the things i do...They are a lot easier to beat after you get them to blow up…:mad::mad::mad:

You guys should be careful...you never what's in someone's head or what will cause them to snap.

I think it's best just to play. If you don't feel like talking don't, but tying to provoke someone is not prudent...you may end up getting more than you can reckon with....

Let's just play tennis and leave the gamesmanship out!
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Today I played a guy in a league match that was probably the biggest ****** I have ever met. the first point i double faulted and he yelled come on! He questioned all my calls but the worst part was he had friends there cheering him on and telling me I was a cheater. I ended up tanking the match but it hurts now and I feel bad.... How do you guys handle players like this?

If it is a league match especially USTA league, you can report and file grievance against that player. that is the best thing you can do. You can walk off the court in the middle of the match and file grievance.
 

Gut4Tennis

Hall of Fame
Today I played a guy in a league match that was probably the biggest ****** I have ever met. the first point i double faulted and he yelled come on! He questioned all my calls but the worst part was he had friends there cheering him on and telling me I was a cheater. I ended up tanking the match but it hurts now and I feel bad.... How do you guys handle players like this?

All you can do its play the ball. Block out anything your opponent says, and take nothing personal. Once you do that a wonderful sense of calm fills you and you can play your best
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Today I played a guy in a league match that was probably the biggest ****** I have ever met. the first point i double faulted and he yelled come on! He questioned all my calls but the worst part was he had friends there cheering him on and telling me I was a cheater. I ended up tanking the match but it hurts now and I feel bad.... How do you guys handle players like this?

I thought for a moment you said, Playing Potheads ?? lol
 
I'm sure this isn't going to be the last time you are up against someone with bad manners on the court. Tennis is supposed to be a "gentleman's" game, with no room for copious amounts of bravado and insensitivity.

Just try not to focus on it, focus on your own game and try not to sink to his level. Be overly respectful and kind. Make it known to all that watch the match that one person is trying hard to keep things civilized (you).

Why do I have to be "overly respectful and kind'? If I'm playing someone that is rude and disrespectful, why should I bend over backwards to be kind to him? Shouldn't I call him out on his behavior instead?
 
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