What are some of the weirdest, strangest attitudes that you've seen?

[user92626]

In doubles and especially when it comes to single matches?

Some of my latest is I lost a singles match 4 weeks ago but as of today it appears that the winner has become afraid of a rematch. He kept saying no and giving excuses. I have asked/reminded* him twice cuz he kept saying "next week". I won't ask anymore. It's a bit annoying but the silver lining is I feel like I have won!!!! LOL

(*our implicit rule is loser can challenge)

For the life of me I don't understand why people are so afraid of a match. So prideful about losing.

 

[FedGR]

Because people care more about winning and "optics" than improving their game.

 

[WhiteOut]

so strange. i'll play just about anyone anywhere anytime, so long as they are not a weenie.

 

[EddieBrock]

After a clinic one of the guys asked me to play and he had a weird game that was tough at first, but eventually I got the hang of playing him. He was up 5-2 and I came racing back to go up 6-5. The games weren't even close and he got more and more upset. During the change over he said he was going to leave so that I wouldn't get the satisfaction of beating him and he picked up his stuff and walked off the court in a hurry.

Guess that made him feel better?

 

[kevrol]

In doubles and especially when it comes to single matches?

Some of my latest is I lost a singles match 4 weeks ago but as of today it appears that the winner has become afraid of a rematch. He kept saying no and giving excuses. I have asked/reminded* him twice cuz he kept saying "next week". I won't ask anymore. It's a bit annoying but the silver lining is I feel like I have won!!!! LOL

(*our implicit rule is loser can challenge)

For the life of me I don't understand why people are so afraid of a match. So prideful about losing.

I really haven't been ducking you. It's just between league matches, work and family I just don't have a lot of time.

 

[r2473]

One guy wanted to shake my hand at the net after the match

 

[user92626]

After a clinic one of the guys asked me to play and he had a weird game that was tough at first, but eventually I got the hang of playing him. He was up 5-2 and I came racing back to go up 6-5. The games weren't even close and he got more and more upset. During the change over he said he was going to leave so that I wouldn't get the satisfaction of beating him and he picked up his stuff and walked off the court in a hurry.

Guess that made him feel better?

Wow...that is bizarre. Were you very annoying in your comeback that he couldn't take it anymore?

Frankly I tried to conduct my tennis as friendly as possible. I even highfived my winning opponent during the set to assure him that everything was in good spirit. He was somewhat nervous (but I was dead tired.)

 

[user92626]

One guy wanted to shake my hand at the net after the match

Who won that one?

I usually don't care about handshakes because I am still around and play more with more or less same folks. Handshakes mean we're done.

 

[user92626]

I really haven't been ducking you. It's just between league matches, work and family I just don't have a lot of time.

Yeah but the time in between you rather played dubs and beat up geriatric folks than step up to a more intense singles, if you're really that guy. LOL.

 

[EddieBrock]

Wow...that is bizarre. Were you very annoying in your comeback that he couldn't take it anymore?

Frankly I tried to conduct my tennis as friendly as possible. I even highfived my winning opponent during the set to assure him that everything was in good spirit. He was somewhat nervous (but I was dead tired.)

This was a few years ago, but I think it just really annoyed him that the match shifted so much once I figured out his game. I'm always very respectful and don't do much celebrating or yelling during the match.

It was just very bizarre. Even if he was annoyed couldn't he just make up an excuse why he had to leave?

 

[R1FF]

In doubles and especially when it comes to single matches?

Some of my latest is I lost a singles match 4 weeks ago but as of today it appears that the winner has become afraid of a rematch. He kept saying no and giving excuses. I have asked/reminded* him twice cuz he kept saying "next week". I won't ask anymore. It's a bit annoying but the silver lining is I feel like I have won!!!! LOL

(*our implicit rule is loser can challenge)

For the life of me I don't understand why people are so afraid of a match. So prideful about losing.

Tennis is weird. That's all I can tell ya. But everyone has their own perspective.

I've had people only hit with me once then avoid me. I've done the same to others who werent worth my time. When I first started I was fortunate that anyone would hit with me because I wasnt worth their time. And lately I still feel fortunate if I can find hitting partners because we're all on different paths. Not everyone is interested in specific training. Some people only wanna play all-out matches. And others only want to play against certain styles.

I'll hit with anyone, if I think we have the same agenda and willing to work on our games in a similar fashion. I am working to get better, but we all have our own ways of going about it it seems.

If a 3.0 wants to improve, I can find a way to get good practice with them. If it's a 3.0 hack who just wants to bunt slices back all day, they arent really there for the same reasons I am. I know 4.0's that can hit hard. And when they practice, they think they're doing what will help them get better. But they've been stuck at 4.0 forever. I watch them practice with their peers and they just trade blasts back and forth. They dont want to hit with me. I dont really wanna hit with them. I dont see the benefits in how they train. And they dont see the benefits in hitting with me. To each their own.

This was a few years ago, but I think it just really annoyed him that the match shifted so much once I figured out his game. I'm always very respectful and don't do much celebrating or yelling during the match.

It was just very bizarre. Even if he was annoyed couldn't he just make up an excuse why he had to leave?

This scenario has happened to me more times than I can count. Pride is a mofo.

 

[Mongolmike]

One of the first USTA matches I played, away match. Opponent had the new can of balls, SLAMMED it down on the court. The tin pull top exploded off, balls bounced everywhere. I looked at him quizzically, he said, "That's the way I open a can of balls."

Weird. Not sure if he was trying to intimidate me or what. He lost.

 

[Mongolmike]

I've shared this before too... nice guy, seemed mild mannered, his gf (at the time) showed up. He spoke to her in private on the side of the court. She wanted him to leave and do something with her. He kept playing tennis.

She said something to him again (she was waiting outside the fence). He stopped in the middle of a game, grabbed his stuff, stormed off the court and SLAMMED his racquet into the fender of his own car! Racquet was smashed, he dropped it in the trash and drove off.

Saw him the next day, we teased him about the large dent in his car then, and many times after... because that's what friends do.

 

[chic]

One of the first USTA matches I played, away match. Opponent had the new can of balls, SLAMMED it down on the court. The tin pull top exploded off, balls bounced everywhere. I looked at him quizzically, he said, "That's the way I open a can of balls."

Weird. Not sure if he was trying to intimidate me or what. He lost.

Well, clearly this guy has bigger issues, but opening balls this way works great when the tab breaks off

 

[user92626]

One of the first USTA matches I played, away match. Opponent had the new can of balls, SLAMMED it down on the court. The tin pull top exploded off, balls bounced everywhere. I looked at him quizzically, he said, "That's the way I open a can of balls."

Weird. Not sure if he was trying to intimidate me or what. He lost.

For the uninitiated, it might look weird but I assure you that it's quite fun and certainly something to open a new can that way. I've done it once but several other players do it cuz it's fun and special and nothing against opponents.

 

[user92626]

Tennis is weird. That's all I can tell ya. But everyone has their own perspective.

I've had people only hit with me once then avoid me. I've done the same to others who werent worth my time. When I first started I was fortunate that anyone would hit with me because I wasnt worth their time. And lately I still feel fortunate if I can find hitting partners because we're all on different paths. Not everyone is interested in specific training. Some people only wanna play all-out matches. And others only want to play against certain styles.

I'll hit with anyone, if I think we have the same agenda and willing to work on our games in a similar fashion. I am working to get better, but we all have our own ways of going about it it seems.

If a 3.0 wants to improve, I can find a way to get good practice with them. If it's a 3.0 hack who just wants to bunt slices back all day, they arent really there for the same reasons I am. I know 4.0's that can hit hard. And when they practice, they think they're doing what will help them get better. But they've been stuck at 4.0 forever. I watch them practice with their peers and they just trade blasts back and forth. They dont want to hit with me. I dont really wanna hit with them. I dont see the benefits in how they train. And they dont see the benefits in hitting with me. To each their own.

I have no problems if people can't get together due to different paths, agenda and the agenda are consistent and legit. For instance, I know this older guy at the court who doesn't play sets. He only prefers rallying. He consistently follows that agenda and seems sincere. I join him when I can, and he also knows that I won't rally long if a game comes up.

However, I do have issue with inconsistent players. You can say...bad, petty characters. For example, I know two guys who always reply to me that they don't play singles but then on occasions they pick noticeably lower level people to play singles with! They told me they just liked to rally with me if I'm interested (and they know I'm never interested with them), no game. I said no. Minutes later they played games against inferior level players and then come to the back fence, badmouth about how those players can't handle their shots!


I really don't care about 3.0 or any level, as long as people put heart into it. If people rally and run, I'll be with them for hours. If lower level people prefer playing sets in a very lopsided dubs or singles, I recommend handicaps to make it challenging and interesting and engaging for the better team. If they don't do that and produce 0-6, 1-6, I'm outta there.

 

[Mongolmike]

@chic and @ user.... huh. Who knew? The guy wasn't a jerk, I just thought "What a weird way to open a can... plus you have to bend over and pick up the tab, and the can, and 3 balls rolling around."

 

[davced1]

A friend of mine who I have played with for 10 years. He is really good but never wants to play a match. I used to beat him in badminton and table tennis. In those sports we always played matches so he must be tired of me kicking his butt. There is no other explanation.

 

[norcal]

Played a guy in spring league, really pleasant guy, very talkative on changeovers etc, but when he won a big point (on error or winner) he would go over the top full Leyton Hewitt lawnmower, screaming C'MON, to the point all the other courts would stop and look over. After the match he apologized and said it was leftover from his JC team days and he couldn't help it. I didn't care either way but it was a weird juxtaposition.

 

[tpro2000]

A few years ago I was playing a regular Usta league match (on har-tru), against a guy who was a club owner and known to be a guy who used questionable gamesmanship (call the score weird, question every call, get in your face for no reason).

I'm serving at 1-2 first set, and on the changeover saw the same guy's knee kind of bleeding but nothing major. I ask for a ball because we had lost one, and he hit me the ball - no big deal. I wen to serve, and noticed my hand was red....turned out that the guy had rubbed the ball on his knee, and there was at least a 2"+ coverage of blood on the ball which got all over my hand. I got pissed, smacked it into the net, and called him out on it, and he got PISSED AT ME for questioning him! My partner started yelling at him, hit the ball into the hallway next to the court and I left to clean my hand swearing to myself.

Needless to say, we finished the match, angrily at the guy. His partner was beside himself upset at his behavior and thanked us for our sportsmanship of actually finishing the match. His entire team was ready to kick him off of the squad for his behavior if he didn't apolgize, which he subsequently did. My captain filed a grievance for what happened just to get him finally out of the league, but it was never pressed because he was an owner.

Still one of the weirdest experiences in my adult leagues. I played juniors, cheaters, aggressive behavior, whatever, but not that lol!!

 

[norcal]

Next time it was his turn to serve you should have wiped your ass with the ball and hit it to him!

 

[WhiteOut]

I wen to serve, and noticed my hand was red....turned out that the guy had rubbed the ball on his knee, and there was at least a 2"+ coverage of blood on the ball which got all over my hand. I got pissed, smacked it into the net, and called him out on it, and he got PISSED AT ME for questioning him!

Gross. I played a mixed match once where, when serving, the female opponent would hold her second ball in her cleavage. So after a game of that, the balls come back to our side for next game service, and all wet with boob sweat. Good lord...

 

[tpro2000]

Gross. I played a mixed match once where, when serving, the female opponent would hold her second ball in her cleavage. So after a game of that, the balls come back to our side for next game service, and all wet with boob sweat. Good lord...

I would've taken sweat over blood any day haha.

A buddy I play with sweats so much that we bring multiple cans because the balls in his pocket get soaked!

Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

 

[R1FF]

This is a good thread. I might have to tell some of the weirder stories/encounters I’ve faced.

From players who refuse to leave the bench. To a guy who rolled around on the hot court in 95+ heat writhing in agony over his inability to get to a ball in time.

Tennis brings out the kooks.

 

[tomato123]

The coach I work with sometimes talks about the unusual types of people he comes into contact with, based on the fact that his phone number and email are out in public. Most of them are stories about people being rude and inconsiderate, but I remember he talked about a guy who was a super low level beginner that wanted to take lessons from him and told him to go all out against him in a practice match on the first day... like those comedy bits where you'll see a pro playing against the talk show host or whatever, except the guy is super serious and wants to keep going at it for the whole hour and insists that the coach keep going all out against him. He'll also talk about the kind of craziness that comes with being a high school coach dealing with all kinds of attitudes from kids and parents.

 

[OnTheLine]

Had a partner a few years back ... I was still playing at 3.0 having just started, over years with age she had been bumped down from 4.0 to 3.5 to 3.0.

She switched racquets depending on what game it was. Each stick had its own name
When she served it was Susan the serving racquet
When I served it was Veronica the Volley racquet
When we were receiving it was the Breaking racquet ... It might have been Betsy or some such.

Each racquet was a different make ... all at least 10 years old ..... she would talk to them especially before a serve: "Susan be good to me this time"

Odd duck.

 

[GeoffHYL]

Played a rec doubles match last night. One of my opponents made a off-color joke that my partner thought was serious, they got into it, shouting at each other. I was serving, after about 20 seconds of this I said "let's play tennis". We got one more point in, my serve was returned weakly to my partner, who hit it in the direction of the guy he had argued with. This started things up all over again, this time with profanities. There were young kids on the court next to us, so a couple of other guys who were waiting to play the winner told both of them to watch their language. I tried to de-escalate things again, but to no effect. Finally decided after about 30 seconds of this shouting again to just walk off the court and default even though we were leading 4-2 and were winning easily. Just glad it didn't turn into a physical confrontation. Both guys are in their 60's, so this wasn't some young hot-head, just two guys who for some reason irritate each other.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

One of the first USTA matches I played, away match. Opponent had the new can of balls, SLAMMED it down on the court. The tin pull top exploded off, balls bounced everywhere. I looked at him quizzically, he said, "That's the way I open a can of balls."

Weird. Not sure if he was trying to intimidate me or what. He lost.

Sorry, posted the wrong URL initially:

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Played a guy in spring league, really pleasant guy, very talkative on changeovers etc, but when he won a big point (on error or winner) he would go over the top full Leyton Hewitt lawnmower, screaming C'MON, to the point all the other courts would stop and look over. After the match he apologized and said it was leftover from his JC team days and he couldn't help it. I didn't care either way but it was a weird juxtaposition.

Just for fun you could have done it back to him after something trivial like winning the toss. Even better if you told all of your friends in advance so after your Hewitt impression they would all clap and cheer.

 

[user92626]

@chic and @ user.... huh. Who knew? The guy wasn't a jerk, I just thought "What a weird way to open a can... plus you have to bend over and pick up the tab, and the can, and 3 balls rolling around."

I love weirdness (when it doesn't hurt anybody).
Honestly one of my "life" problem is the lack of weirdness, creativity. Everyday seems like a groundhog day and everyone is predictably the same.

Back to my OP topic, it's pretty much official. My opponent in question is a coward. We saw each other again this weekend and he avoided a rematch!

I hate to be ...right on the wrong things but that's what it is.

 

[user92626]

Had a partner a few years back ... I was still playing at 3.0 having just started, over years with age she had been bumped down from 4.0 to 3.5 to 3.0.

She switched racquets depending on what game it was. Each stick had its own name
When she served it was Susan the serving racquet
When I served it was Veronica the Volley racquet
When we were receiving it was the Breaking racquet ... It might have been Betsy or some such.

Each racquet was a different make ... all at least 10 years old ..... she would talk to them especially before a serve: "Susan be good to me this time"

Odd duck.

Wow!!! That is hilarious and fun to see.

 

[user92626]

A few years ago I was playing a regular Usta league match (on har-tru), against a guy who was a club owner and known to be a guy who used questionable gamesmanship (call the score weird, question every call, get in your face for no reason).

I'm serving at 1-2 first set, and on the changeover saw the same guy's knee kind of bleeding but nothing major. I ask for a ball because we had lost one, and he hit me the ball - no big deal. I wen to serve, and noticed my hand was red....turned out that the guy had rubbed the ball on his knee, and there was at least a 2"+ coverage of blood on the ball which got all over my hand. I got pissed, smacked it into the net, and called him out on it, and he got PISSED AT ME for questioning him! My partner started yelling at him, hit the ball into the hallway next to the court and I left to clean my hand swearing to myself.

Needless to say, we finished the match, angrily at the guy. His partner was beside himself upset at his behavior and thanked us for our sportsmanship of actually finishing the match. His entire team was ready to kick him off of the squad for his behavior if he didn't apolgize, which he subsequently did. My captain filed a grievance for what happened just to get him finally out of the league, but it was never pressed because he was an owner.

Still one of the weirdest experiences in my adult leagues. I played juniors, cheaters, aggressive behavior, whatever, but not that lol!!

That is gross!

Probably the grossest thing to date that I have seen was players blowing the nose, spitting inside the court. At the point I got completely distracted and worried all the time that the ball might touch the loogies and I'm no germaphobic.

 

[zipplock]

After a clinic one of the guys asked me to play and he had a weird game that was tough at first, but eventually I got the hang of playing him. He was up 5-2 and I came racing back to go up 6-5. The games weren't even close and he got more and more upset. During the change over he said he was going to leave so that I wouldn't get the satisfaction of beating him and he picked up his stuff and walked off the court in a hurry.

Guess that made him feel better?

Guy was a d0ucH€ ...

 

[tpro2000]

That is gross!

Probably the grossest thing to date that I have seen was players blowing the nose, spitting inside the court. At the point I got completely distracted and worried all the time that the ball might touch the loogies and I'm no germaphobic.

It was honestly the craziest thing. People still talk about it and that was years ago.

I've also seen people use the ball as a "towel" and wipe their sweat on it.

Like what possesses someone to think any of this is ok or normal!? Lol

Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

It was honestly the craziest thing. People still talk about it and that was years ago.

I've also seen people use the ball as a "towel" and wipe their sweat on it.

Like what possesses someone to think any of this is ok or normal!? Lol

Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

Note to self: find out what he brought to the pot luck and avoid it.

 

[Ronaldo]

Gross. I played a mixed match once where, when serving, the female opponent would hold her second ball in her cleavage. So after a game of that, the balls come back to our side for next game service, and all wet with boob sweat. Good lord...

There is the alternative......................and the balls still come back all wet, you know what I mean,

 

[Badmrfrosty]

Sorry, posted the wrong URL initially:

When I was a kid we used to throw the can up as high as we could and spin it like a football spiral so it would land flat on its side.... Oddly satifing when it hits the court and balls shoot out and can goes the opposite direction if you land it right.

 

[RyanRF]

One of the first USTA matches I played, away match. Opponent had the new can of balls, SLAMMED it down on the court. The tin pull top exploded off, balls bounced everywhere. I looked at him quizzically, he said, "That's the way I open a can of balls."

Weird. Not sure if he was trying to intimidate me or what. He lost.

I tried this once. The can only half-opened, with the lid still attached. I ended up slicing my thumb pulling the lid off. Felt pretty dumb.

 

[Mongolmike]

Wow @ badmrfrosty and RyanRF... apparently many people open the cans with brute force.
Has this worked with beer cans with pop tops too? (Tho as an aside, on a rerun of Ridiculousness they showed a guy pouring beer into the impellor of a leaf blower and the beer spraying out into the face/mouth of another moron. So, there is that.....)

 

[Badmrfrosty]

I tried this once. The can only half-opened, with the lid still attached. I ended up slicing my thumb pulling the lid off. Felt pretty dumb.

Haha you need the can pressurized for this to work. If were to say let the pressure out with a pin before this "trick" would never work.