Regionals this weekend - why am I psyching myself out?

Caswell

Semi-Pro
Regionals this weekend - why am I psyching myself out? (Results)

I've got 3.0 regionals coming up this weekend. There are three other teams playing, and I'll be playing singles each day.

I've got a winning record in 3.5 league singles this year, won a 3.5 designated tournament from the round of 16, and can pull games, sets, and sometimes matches off of players in the lower end of 4.0. I don't have a problem playing pushers or generating my own pace and basically sticking to my own game. When I did play for my 3.0 team I lost a total of five games in three matches.

All of this, and I'm still nervous about 3.0 regionals. Part of it is that I'm expected to win, to the point where my teammates have already put points from my wins in the bank. The other part is that I completely choked at regionals last year.

Any help here? Is there ever a point where you're pretty much going to roll over an opponent, nerves bedamned? The level of play there last year was average for a 3.0, and even though I completely choked in the one singles match I played I still drug it into a tiebreak.

Frankly, I can't wait for the experience to be over. Hopefully I'll come out with three decisive wins and exorcise the one demon that still haunts me (that 0-6, 6-7 loss last year).
 
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I've got 3.0 regionals coming up this weekend. There are three other teams playing, and I'll be playing singles each day.

I've got a winning record in 3.5 league singles this year, won a 3.5 designated tournament from the round of 16, and can pull games, sets, and sometimes matches off of players in the lower end of 4.0. I don't have a problem playing pushers or generating my own pace and basically sticking to my own game. When I did play for my 3.0 team I lost a total of five games in three matches.

All of this, and I'm still nervous about 3.0 regionals. Part of it is that I'm expected to win, to the point where my teammates have already put points from my wins in the bank. The other part is that I completely choked at regionals last year.

Any help here? Is there ever a point where you're pretty much going to roll over an opponent, nerves bedamned? The level of play there last year was average for a 3.0, and even though I completely choked in the one singles match I played I still drug it into a tiebreak.

Frankly, I can't wait for the experience to be over. Hopefully I'll come out with three decisive wins and exorcise the one demon that still haunts me (that 0-6, 6-7 loss last year).

Its 3.0... you shouldnt be nervous. Its not like they are going to hit winners all day long. Just relax and be consistent .... which is the key.
 
Part of it is that I'm expected to win, to the point where my teammates have already put points from my wins in the bank.

Nothing angers Lady Luck like counting your chickens before they hatch. Tell your teammates to concentrate on putting their own wins in the bank and not to take yours for granted. That's additional pressure nobody needs.
 

ohplease

Professional
I've got 3.0 regionals coming up this weekend. There are three other teams playing, and I'll be playing singles each day.

I've got a winning record in 3.5 league singles this year, won a 3.5 designated tournament from the round of 16, and can pull games, sets, and sometimes matches off of players in the lower end of 4.0. I don't have a problem playing pushers or generating my own pace and basically sticking to my own game. When I did play for my 3.0 team I lost a total of five games in three matches.

All of this, and I'm still nervous about 3.0 regionals. Part of it is that I'm expected to win, to the point where my teammates have already put points from my wins in the bank. The other part is that I completely choked at regionals last year.

Any help here? Is there ever a point where you're pretty much going to roll over an opponent, nerves bedamned? The level of play there last year was average for a 3.0, and even though I completely choked in the one singles match I played I still drug it into a tiebreak.

Frankly, I can't wait for the experience to be over. Hopefully I'll come out with three decisive wins and exorcise the one demon that still haunts me (that 0-6, 6-7 loss last year).

You need to lower expectations. From yourself, your teammates, everybody. Right now, the best you can do is NOT fail. That's a terrible position to be put in. If you're way over your head, you can lose (because you were supposed to), you could compete well or badly, or even win. Lots more options.

Your teammates need a good talking to. They need to know that NO matches are guaranteed. They need to bring the goods, too. Don't fall into the trap of playing just well enough to win, either as a team, where weaker players don't carry as much of the load, or as an individual singles player or doubles team, where you squeak out a thriller when you should be routinely beating people 4 & 4.

As it is right now, you're not going to win this match. It's like saying "we need this one" to your doubles partner. No kidding, sherlock. Open up the options instead with things like "let's make them play" or "let's make them feel the occasion" and you'll give yourself some room to maneuver. Same thing with your singles match.
 

JavierLW

Hall of Fame
I've got 3.0 regionals coming up this weekend. There are three other teams playing, and I'll be playing singles each day.

I've got a winning record in 3.5 league singles this year, won a 3.5 designated tournament from the round of 16, and can pull games, sets, and sometimes matches off of players in the lower end of 4.0. I don't have a problem playing pushers or generating my own pace and basically sticking to my own game. When I did play for my 3.0 team I lost a total of five games in three matches.

All of this, and I'm still nervous about 3.0 regionals. Part of it is that I'm expected to win, to the point where my teammates have already put points from my wins in the bank. The other part is that I completely choked at regionals last year.

Any help here? Is there ever a point where you're pretty much going to roll over an opponent, nerves bedamned? The level of play there last year was average for a 3.0, and even though I completely choked in the one singles match I played I still drug it into a tiebreak.

Frankly, I can't wait for the experience to be over. Hopefully I'll come out with three decisive wins and exorcise the one demon that still haunts me (that 0-6, 6-7 loss last year).

You have to just ignore everyone and approach it just like you would any other tennis match.

They asked a few NBA SuperStars what they do when they have a big game coming up (like Game 7 of a series), and the best players are the ones who can somehow go about their normal habit during the week, and treat it just like any other game. Especially if they have been playing great for the entire season.

I think it's even more important in tennis when you have so many clutch situations (like when it's 30-40, or 40-30), and if you are playing well in the match you have to just continue what you are doing.

I think I always make this mistake even in the regular USTA League matches or a tournament. I get there extra early so I can hit even more balls around then I normally would, I pack extra clothes, extra water, etc....

Yet when it's any other match I just show up and usually I play really well because Im relaxed and Im just there having fun and playing tennis.
 
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Caswell

Semi-Pro
Wow - tons of good advice here! Thanks!

I'm feeling better about it. I realized that I really need to approach it like I do any other match. Focus on holding serve, and put pressure on the opponent's serve to break. Minimize errors, don't be afraid of long points - relish them in fact. Back to basics.

If I serve well I think it'll be no contest. I can force service return errors from 4.0 players, so at 3.0 there should be a good amount of free points on serve. If I'm not serving well, then it'll likley be competitive - I need to be ready for that possibility.

Going in with my typical counterpuncher attitude is going to help. It's blazing hot in Ormond Beach, FL this time of year, and I'm well conditioned. Being able to play long points in the heat will work to my advantage. I'm expecting to play another counterpuncher type, since that seems to be what works the best at 3.0. If I get an opponent who makes a lot of errors, that's just gravy.

Thanks again!
 

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
Bounce the ball about 15 times before you serve. Your opponent will fall out from the heat and you will win. :)

Seriously, go get 'em!!
 

Caswell

Semi-Pro
Just got back. Weird weekend.

First match was tough. Guy put zero pace on he ball. I mean zero. He placed it exceptionally well though, and to top it off he had a great serve which made it difficult to break him. Got my breaks and held them, winning that one 6-4, 7-5.

Second match was weird as well. His backhand was a weaker shot, but his forehand was awesome. He also had great mobility, so if I didn't absolutely paint the corner he'd run around it and crush his forehand to one of the corners. I finally found something that worked when I was down a set and two breaks, but it was a bit late at that point. Lost 2-6, 6-7. Didn't feel bad about that though, as he's played up into 3.5 as well and won.

With our team out of it after that loss I switched to doubles with a friend today. Won that one.

The 3.0 #1 singles matches drew some attention from the USTA officials. During the second day the lead official on site told a teammate that it was obvious nethier myself nor my opponent were a 3.0. My teammate pushed back a bit, and the official showed him our records, which he had already printed off. Myself and my captian were told that I'm not welcome in USTA 3.0 after this weekend. I suspect that he told the other #1 singles players the same thing.
 

BravoRed691

Semi-Pro
Just got back. Weird weekend.

First match was tough. Guy put zero pace on he ball. I mean zero. He placed it exceptionally well though, and to top it off he had a great serve which made it difficult to break him. Got my breaks and held them, winning that one 6-4, 7-5.

Second match was weird as well. His backhand was a weaker shot, but his forehand was awesome. He also had great mobility, so if I didn't absolutely paint the corner he'd run around it and crush his forehand to one of the corners. I finally found something that worked when I was down a set and two breaks, but it was a bit late at that point. Lost 2-6, 6-7. Didn't feel bad about that though, as he's played up into 3.5 as well and won.

With our team out of it after that loss I switched to doubles with a friend today. Won that one.

The 3.0 #1 singles matches drew some attention from the USTA officials. During the second day the lead official on site told a teammate that it was obvious nethier myself nor my opponent were a 3.0. My teammate pushed back a bit, and the official showed him our records, which he had already printed off. Myself and my captian were told that I'm not welcome in USTA 3.0 after this weekend. I suspect that he told the other #1 singles players the same thing.

Sorry if i don't know the USTA rules very well but let me just ask...if you were indeed a 3.0 and your opponent was deemed "obviously not", could they (USTA officials) have defaulted him of that match on the spot?

BR
 

Caswell

Semi-Pro
Sorry if i don't know the USTA rules very well but let me just ask...if you were indeed a 3.0 and your opponent was deemed "obviously not", could they (USTA officials) have defaulted him of that match on the spot?

BR

Dunno.

From what my teammate was saying, it sounded as if the official wanted to DQ me based on my play the day before (especially my serve), but my teammate pointed out that I was behind in the current match. At that point one of my opponent's teammates piped up that it would be "unfair" to DQ both of us, and the official dropped the matter.
 
First of all, why are you on a 3.0 team?
2] Congratulations (I think) on your good matches. That's what it's all about at any level.
3] Did you ever figure out why you were nervous? Was it just normal pre-match/pre-tournament tension...or were you feeling a little guilt because of the bag of sand in your luggage?
4] Were you nervous because you felt people were bigger sandbaggers than you and you'd have to face stronger opposition?

I feel for the officials, having to police grown men and women trying to play recreational tennis.
 

Topaz

Legend
That's odd...aren't you computer rated? If so, I would simply say to the official that you're playing where the computer put you!

I played a USTA tourny this weekend, and there was an official there only one of the three days. She also commented that me and my partner, as well as our opponents, were not 3.0s, but hey...that's where the computer put us!!!
 

GatorTennis

Rookie
How would you have attacked him differently? I play against similar type of players, those who are athletic and have a killer forehand but pretty weak backhand. Any advice you can pass on from this match?
 

Caswell

Semi-Pro
First of all, why are you on a 3.0 team?
2] Congratulations (I think) on your good matches. That's what it's all about at any level.
3] Did you ever figure out why you were nervous? Was it just normal pre-match/pre-tournament tension...or were you feeling a little guilt because of the bag of sand in your luggage?
4] Were you nervous because you felt people were bigger sandbaggers than you and you'd have to face stronger opposition?

1.) I don't think I registered enough results last year to change my self-rate of 3.0. Just about all of the 3.0's locally are new, and I only played one singles match at regionals last year.

2.) Thanks.

3.) I'm pretty hard on myself when I lose. I also got nervous about never hearing the end of any loss from my club mates. It's a pretty hypercompetitive environment, and a 3.5 or 4.0 guy that you beat during the week doesn't like to hear that you lost at 3.0 over the weekend. Ego I suppose.

4.) The nerves left when I realized my opponents were as good or better than me, ratings bedamned.

That's odd...aren't you computer rated? If so, I would simply say to the official that you're playing where the computer put you!

I played a USTA tourny this weekend, and there was an official there only one of the three days. She also commented that me and my partner, as well as our opponents, were not 3.0s, but hey...that's where the computer put us!!!

Yeah, I didn't get DQ'd during the season so I went ahead and played at 3.0. Again, it's tough to get a real solid rating during the year because you play so many brand new players at 3.0 and 3.5 in my area. I'd say less than half of my matches had any effect on my dNTRP because my opponent had less than four matches on their record.

How would you have attacked him differently? I play against similar type of players, those who are athletic and have a killer forehand but pretty weak backhand. Any advice you can pass on from this match?

I took the pace away. I didn't degenerate to pushing, but I realized that a lot of the pace from his forehand was coming from my shots, especially my inside out forehands that didn't get far enough into the corner. He kept going for the same pace and placement off of a less forceful shot from me, and starting making a lot more errors.

One thing I realized I need to work on is my crosscourt forehand. It was easy for him to run around his backhand because I rarely pushed him more than a few feet from the hash mark into the duece court. I need that crosscourt forehand to open up the ad side and force players like that to use their backhands.

That's definately the shot I'm working on between now and the fall league.
 
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The 3.0 #1 singles matches drew some attention from the USTA officials. During the second day the lead official on site told a teammate that it was obvious nethier myself nor my opponent were a 3.0. My teammate pushed back a bit, and the official showed him our records, which he had already printed off. Myself and my captian were told that I'm not welcome in USTA 3.0 after this weekend. I suspect that he told the other #1 singles players the same thing.

USTA runs DNTRP reports on every player during championship rounds. The officials are not supposed to leak the information like they did, because players can then manipulate their ratings. Did the official show the DNTRP report, or just your record?

Since the official let it slip that both you and your 2nd round opponent were "not welcome at 3.0 after this weekend," most likely you have a rating close to 3.20 (3.5) right now, especially based on how you played at 3.5 this year.
 

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
One thing I realized I need to work on is my crosscourt forehand. It was easy for him to run around his backhand because I rarely pushed him more than a few feet from the hash mark into the duece court. I need that crosscourt forehand to open up the ad side and force players like that to use their backhands.

That's definately the shot I'm working on between now and the fall league.

I'm also interested in how to deal with players with strong forehands and weak backhands ('cuz I see a whole lot of this at my level). So far, the approach that has worked best for me has been to hit short to the backhand. I haven't run across any players who can run around a short ball to hit the forehand. Must be something about moving forward that is extra tricky?

Caswell, would this have worked with your guy, or would he have just crushed it?
 

beastiejam

New User
If you are who I think you are, you were rated a 3.5 before you played in regionals. Have you checked your rating since. Click on your name and look in the upper right.
 

Caswell

Semi-Pro
I was screwing around with the automated appeal system and appealed myself up from a year-end benchmark 3.0 rating to a 3.5. That was done after I played my 3.0 league matches, which I'm guessing is why I was still allowed to play at regionals.

By the way, I was right about less than half of my 2007 singles matches having any impact on my dNTRP. I've got eight league singles results for 2007 on my record, but only three of them were against players with enough results to affect my own dNTRP.
 

JLyon

Hall of Fame
The 3.0 #1 singles matches drew some attention from the USTA officials. During the second day the lead official on site told a teammate that it was obvious nethier myself nor my opponent were a 3.0. My teammate pushed back a bit, and the official showed him our records, which he had already printed off. Myself and my captian were told that I'm not welcome in USTA 3.0 after this weekend. I suspect that he told the other #1 singles players the same thing.

Well as an official, I am embarassed that a fellow official would overstep their boundaries. The USTA got rid of visual verifiers so IMO nothing should be said by an official other than internally, but rather let the Computer run the numbers DQ players like the USTA wants. All an official should be doing is watch the matches for any violations, end of story.
 

QuietDaze

Rookie
Cindy what level are you? I'm currently 2.5 but moving up to 3.0 next season. I'm one of those players who has a pretty good forehand and weak backhand. However, hitting short to my backhand doesn't work because I'm fast enough to run around them and because they're short, it's a forehand winner for me. What seems to work against me is out wide to my backhand because then I can't run around it and usually have to hit it on the run. So what Caswell is saying he needs to do should definitely work.
 

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
QD, I'm a computer-rated 3.0 (second season as a 3.0). I have a very slim chance of moving to 3.5 this year, but more likely next year.

I've found that lots of 3.0 ladies have trouble moving forward and don't have good approach shots. Moving forward *and* running around the backhand is just too much for them, assuming my ball doesn't sit up too much. I'd imagine speedsters wouldn't have trouble with that move, though. It's always good for a try during the match to see what happens.

Cindy -- who doesn't run around her backhand because it is steadier than the forehand, which isn't saying much!
 
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