US Open Regional Qualifying Tennis Tournament

[neversaydienadalfan]

Hi All,
So I noticed the US Open Regional Qualifying tennis tournaments all over the country were cancelled this year. I've played in the So Cal Tourney a few times in the past and was bummed to see it wasn't offered this year. Does anyone know if it will be back next year? Though a little gimmicky, it was great to have the regional qualy tournaments to truly make the US Open open to all. I figured the USTA didn't make a lot of money on it, so they cancelled it, but I'm hoping it returns for next year. Let me know what you think. Thank you!
JG

 

[atatu]

I don't think they are going to do it anymore.

 

[neversaydienadalfan]

I don't think they are going to do it anymore.

That's a shame. You think it was strictly a money decision?

 

[atatu]

I saw an explanation somewhere, basically the USTA said that because lower ranked pros were using the tournament to qualify it was defeating the purpose of the tournament - to give the average Joe a shot at earning a shot to qualify.

 

[jcgatennismom]

Hi All,
So I noticed the US Open Regional Qualifying tennis tournaments all over the country were cancelled this year. I've played in the So Cal Tourney a few times in the past and was bummed to see it wasn't offered this year. Does anyone know if it will be back next year? Though a little gimmicky, it was great to have the regional qualy tournaments to truly make the US Open open to all. I figured the USTA didn't make a lot of money on it, so they cancelled it, but I'm hoping it returns for next year. Let me know what you think. Thank you!
JG

Here is the official statement: (I converted from .pdf to cut and paste so some of the formatting is off)
USTA Statement Regarding the US Open National Playoffs

After detailed examination and analysis, the USTA will no longer conduct the US Open National Playoffs. As originally conceived, the Playoffs were introduced as a means for all tennis players, from weekend warriors to former college players and all others, to have a chance to qualify for the US Open. However, we have seen from recent competitions that the Playoffs are being utilized by pro tennis players as a pathway to the US Open. This was not how the Playoffs were originally designed. Therefore, the
Playoffs are being discontinued, and the resources allocated for the USONP will be redirected to youth and grassroots tennis

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In our section last year, the winner was from outside the US-maybe that happened in other sections too. It was a lot of effort for USTA to hold 14 regionals and then the tournament at Yale for one wild card. However, it was fun for those who played; there was a good mix of young pros, collegians, and high ranked juniors at the one in our section last summer, and it was only 20 min from our house! Son is playing more men's opens this summer instead. Players who reached the quarterfinals or better in one of the regional playoffs earned enough points to be included on the USTA National 500 list which makes it easier to get into Future Qualifiers (national list ranking is used after ATP points for selection). While most alternates can get in the 128 draw Qs for the 15Ks, it helps to be on the National list for $25K Qualis or the 64 draw $15K Qualis.

If you are curious about which tournaments count towards the USTA 500 list, click here: http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/Top500/ and then click on 2017 events later on the page. Players earn points from selected junior, collegiate, and men's tournaments.

 

[winchestervatennis]

If the intent was to allow for a spot for a non pro you'd think they could easily set some entry requirements/parameters that would make the pros ineligible. Rather than just saying screw it.

But who cares if low level pros enter the sectional events? Its an OPEN tournament which i thought meant anyone can enter. I thought it was really cool that a weekend warrior like me had this avenue to enter the US Open, even if it meant playing a "lowly" futures dude at the sectional level. Now i guess I'll just hope for the usta to give me a wild card.

 

[Startzel]

If the intent was to allow for a spot for a non pro you'd think they could easily set some entry requirements/parameters that would make the pros ineligible. Rather than just saying screw it.

But who cares if low level pros enter the sectional events? Its an OPEN tournament which i thought meant anyone can enter. I thought it was really cool that a weekend warrior like me had this avenue to enter the US Open, even if it meant playing a "lowly" futures dude at the sectional level. Now i guess I'll just hope for the usta to give me a wild card.

Precisely. It defeats the purpose of being the US Open.

Sad. That's one of the best parts of the US Open in golf is all the folks who qualify from the regional tournaments.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

1. the resources allocated for the USONP will be redirected to youth and grassroots tennis

The USTA has one main goal.
To indoctrinate players young, so they can become lifelong paying members.
A company's prime objective is to keep existing to pay their salaries.
USTA has one goal. Spread tennis to all corners of the planet, so they can make money.

 

[Rattler]

Here is the official statement: (I converted from .pdf to cut and paste so some of the formatting is off)
USTA Statement Regarding the US Open National Playoffs

After detailed examination and analysis, the USTA will no longer conduct the US Open National Playoffs. As originally conceived, the Playoffs were introduced as a means for all tennis players, from weekend warriors to former college players and all others, to have a chance to qualify for the US Open. However, we have seen from recent competitions that the Playoffs are being utilized by pro tennis players as a pathway to the US Open. This was not how the Playoffs were originally designed. Therefore, the
Playoffs are being discontinued, and the resources allocated for the USONP will be redirected to youth and grassroots tennis

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In our section last year, the winner was from outside the US-maybe that happened in other sections too. It was a lot of effort for USTA to hold 14 regionals and then the tournament at Yale for one wild card. However, it was fun for those who played; there was a good mix of young pros, collegians, and high ranked juniors at the one in our section last summer, and it was only 20 min from our house! Son is playing more men's opens this summer instead. Players who reached the quarterfinals or better in one of the regional playoffs earned enough points to be included on the USTA National 500 list which makes it easier to get into Future Qualifiers (national list ranking is used after ATP points for selection). While most alternates can get in the 128 draw Qs for the 15Ks, it helps to be on the National list for $25K Qualis or the 64 draw $15K Qualis.

If you are curious about which tournaments count towards the USTA 500 list, click here: http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/Top500/ and then click on 2017 events later on the page. Players earn points from selected junior, collegiate, and men's tournaments.

What did they think was gonna happen?

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Here is the official statement: (I converted from .pdf to cut and paste so some of the formatting is off)
USTA Statement Regarding the US Open National Playoffs

After detailed examination and analysis, the USTA will no longer conduct the US Open National Playoffs. As originally conceived, the Playoffs were introduced as a means for all tennis players, from weekend warriors to former college players and all others, to have a chance to qualify for the US Open. However, we have seen from recent competitions that the Playoffs are being utilized by pro tennis players as a pathway to the US Open. This was not how the Playoffs were originally designed. Therefore, the
Playoffs are being discontinued, and the resources allocated for the USONP will be redirected to youth and grassroots tennis

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In our section last year, the winner was from outside the US-maybe that happened in other sections too. It was a lot of effort for USTA to hold 14 regionals and then the tournament at Yale for one wild card. However, it was fun for those who played; there was a good mix of young pros, collegians, and high ranked juniors at the one in our section last summer, and it was only 20 min from our house! Son is playing more men's opens this summer instead. Players who reached the quarterfinals or better in one of the regional playoffs earned enough points to be included on the USTA National 500 list which makes it easier to get into Future Qualifiers (national list ranking is used after ATP points for selection). While most alternates can get in the 128 draw Qs for the 15Ks, it helps to be on the National list for $25K Qualis or the 64 draw $15K Qualis.

If you are curious about which tournaments count towards the USTA 500 list, click here: http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/Top500/ and then click on 2017 events later on the page. Players earn points from selected junior, collegiate, and men's tournaments.

that's too bad, but too bad they discontinued it..
seems like could have just modified thhe rules
* only for amateurs with no atp points
* limit to folks outside of top 500, with only 32 or 64 folks max
* limit to us citizenship
* have feeder tourneys into the main tourney
* etc...
it's still a fun way for the every day amateur rec player to see what it's like to go against the pros.

 

[jcgatennismom]

that's too bad, but too bad they discontinued it..
seems like could have just modified thhe rules
* only for amateurs with no atp points
* limit to folks outside of top 500, with only 32 or 64 folks max
* limit to us citizenship
* have feeder tourneys into the main tourney
* etc...
it's still a fun way for the every day amateur rec player to see what it's like to go against the pros.

If you want to play someone with ATP points, sign up for one of the $15K Futures. Players with ATP points outside the top 800 or 1000 end up in the Qualifier. Sometimes top 10 ITA players end up in Qualifiers. Usually every alternate that shows up for sign in gets in the 128 draw $15Ks. Now the $25Ks and the 64 draw $15K Qualis are another story...you might be lucky and get in or you might drive 6 hours for a Future like one top D3 player did and not get in as an alternate. The 2nd Future in Champaign will have several of the top juniors who just played in the jr grand slam at Wimbly in the Qualifier, though maybe a few of them get bumped up to MD with a WC. Heard there was a 60 year old who got in as an alternate and played at the Memphis Futures this spring -maybe it was on his bucket list...

If you have the $, some of the Futures and even some of the 250s have pro/am events where amateurs can pay a fee to hit and hang out with the pros. You are from NY-there are Futures in Buffalo and Rochester each summer.

However, I agree with you that USTA should have kept the playoffs but limited it to US citizens without ATP points or with ATP outside top 1000 to allow US college players who had played a few Futures to play.

 

[atatu]

If you want to play someone with ATP points, sign up for one of the $15K Futures. Players with ATP points outside the top 800 or 1000 end up in the Qualifier. Sometimes top 10 ITA players end up in Qualifiers. Usually every alternate that shows up for sign in gets in the 128 draw $15Ks. Now the $25Ks and the 64 draw $15K Qualis are another story...you might be lucky and get in or you might drive 6 hours for a Future like one top D3 player did and not get in as an alternate. The 2nd Future in Champaign will have several of the top juniors who just played in the jr grand slam at Wimbly in the Qualifier, though maybe a few of them get bumped up to MD with a WC. Heard there was a 60 year old who got in as an alternate and played at the Memphis Futures this spring -maybe it was on his bucket list...

If you have the $, some of the Futures and even some of the 250s have pro/am events where amateurs can pay a fee to hit and hang out with the pros. You are from NY-there are Futures in Buffalo and Rochester each summer.

However, I agree with you that USTA should have kept the playoffs but limited it to US citizens without ATP points or with ATP outside top 1000 to allow US college players who had played a few Futures to play.

I'm working with a D3 player who really wants to play quails at a futures, there is a $25K in Houston this fall, any idea what the chances are of playing that one ?

 

[RobS]

I watched a friend play last year at the Mid-Atlantic qualifier. Wide range of players with the top end being some recent D1 grads. I don't believe anyone within the top 1000. The bottom end were players that looked to be in the 4.5 range. There were at least a couple guys that were over 50 years old. I personally liked the event as it was. I think it's cool that basically anyone with $100 can give it a shot. I don't think the qualifier should be limited. It's an "open' event after all. If you cut it off ranked guys at 1000 (just an arbitrary# for the example) you basically cutting off players that are ranked between 250 and 1000 as the US Open main qualifier is,correct me if I'm wrong, typically comprised of players ranked between 105 and 250. At that point, I think it becomes a novelty. The open concept that anyone can try and qualify is great but it shouldn't be anyone limited to 250 and higher 1000 and lower.

 

[jcgatennismom]

I'm working with a D3 player who really wants to play quails at a futures, there is a $25K in Houston this fall, any idea what the chances are of playing that one ?

After the players with ATP points and those with a ranking on a national list, I think the rest of the players are ordered randomly by a computer. Often there are 200+ alternates but between sign in and the freeze date, often 125-150+ drop off. Players can register for up to 6 different ITF events for the same week. It does not cost to sign up (except players must have ipin membership of $60/yr)-players only pay at sign in so players sign up and later withdraw. As long as the player is in the top 100-125 on the alternate list, if he shows up at sign in between 4-6pm, he probably will get in if Houston is a 15K. Now this upcoming Futures in Champaign still had almost 100 alternates on the list even after 162 withdrawals as of Thursday and sign in is tonight. Very few players who are not on a national list will get to play that one, but it is a $25K and it is the only Future in the US that starts this weekend. In June most weekends there was a 15K and a 25K. If Houston is in the fall, he may have a better chance as the college guys who play in the fall are probably good enough to get in the MD and there should be open spots in the Qualis-last fall some Qualis had byes. Summer ones fill up and I heard the winter Florida ones filled up too-knew someone who drove to Florida as an alternate and didnt get in.

The D3 player should get an IPIN if he already does not have one, go ahead and sign up for several ITFs as he can pull out before the withdrawal date without penalty, and I think players get 3 late withdrawals without penalty too.

 

[jcgatennismom]

I'm working with a D3 player who really wants to play quails at a futures, there is a $25K in Houston this fall, any idea what the chances are of playing that one ?

Just looked at Champaign Quali that starts tomorrow. In spite of the fact there were close to 100 alternates on the list Thursday, there is actually a bye in the draw. It looks like about 15 alternates showed up and all got in plus some Quali WCs and this is for a $25K 64 draw Quali. What is amazing to me is both Redlicki brothers are playing the Qualifier-neither got direct entry or WC into the MD. Last week they played each other in the MD of a Challenger; this weekend they have to grind through 3 matches to get in the MD of a Future.

 

[red rook]

That's a shame. They should change the name to the US Invitational...

 

[neversaydienadalfan]

I totally agree. The US Open is no longer truly open without the regional qualifying tournaments. I'm super disappointed in the USTA. I wish they would reverse their decision and possibly set better guidelines if that is what they are truly worried about.