Wish me Luck!

[Anonymous]

This Sunday, I have my first match in the Legg Mason Wild Card Challenge! For those of you who don't know, the Wild Card Challenge is a tournament consisting of the best players on the East Coast coming together to play this tournament. It is a 256 draw, but I received a bye in the first round. If you win the tourney, you receive direct entry into the main level ATP event, the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, in which Andre Agassi and Lleyton will be participating in later this summer. My second round opponent is Jesse Medvene-Collins. Does anybody here know anything of this player? I'm only 14, so I'm scared I won't win a single game on some of these guys who are 25 and can serve in the upper 120's. I'm only 5'10''and my first serve can barely break 100 mph. My second serve is probably in the 70's, and I'm scared to get humiliated. Advice, tips, suggestions, or scouting reports on my would be most welcome! I'll try to win this thing for all you guys on Talk-Tennis. I just can't imagine how cool it would be to play someone like Hewitt, if I could possibly win it. My coach, Paul Harsanyi, won it 3 times, so I'm aspiring to take his place now that he's no longer playing it. My match is on this upcoming Sunday at 9:00 a.m. My full name is Philippe M. Casey, and the link for my section of the draw is here: http://tournaments.usta.com/tournaments/Draws/EventDraw.aspx?T=17902&E=1&D=M&S=5

Any support is much welcome. And thanks to Dan Laufer, tourney director, for selecting me to the main draw! Also the bye is much appreciated, it's the only match I'll win. But hey, I did get to the second round of the Legg Mason Wild Card Challenge! THANKS!

 

[david aames]

If you play like you post, you'll be spraying all over the state. What part of general pro player discussion don't you understand?

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks davie, making me feel great. I guess @wrights Dent pics just keep coming, and keep coming UNCRITICIZED. If Dent looks like an ape, what's that got to do with pro player discussion, aames? Yet I never see you critizing those posts or the ones on Lee's racket which should either be under "rackets" or "Pros rackets and gear" Of course, I'm the scapegoat, since I'm 14...

 

[@wright]

Good luck. Take no prisoners. Remember, no SOB ever won a war for his country by dying.

 

[alienhamster]

MaSha--

What David Aames meant to say there (he has trouble with English sometimes) is best of luck to you! It's very cool that you're taking up this big a challenge--possibly against general pro players and all--and I for one will be really interested to hear about your experiences.

We should help this kid out. Anyone in the know here about the peeps in his draw?

 

[Feña14]

Good luck!

I wish I had the chance to do that, but there is no chance for me in England.

Nice one!

-Liam

 

[david aames]

If you're the scapegoat it's only because you're 5'10'. Nothing to do with age.

As far as the Dent pics go, absolutely -- awright deserves to take some heat for them.. All he's looking for is a good laugh and and he sure can't compete against you pal. WTF, Dent in the Pro player? It's not like the guy has a chance to win Legg Mason or something...

Thanks davie, making me feel great. I guess @wrights Dent pics just keep coming, and keep coming UNCRITICIZED. If Dent looks like an ape, what's that got to do with pro player discussion, aames? Yet I never see you critizing those posts or the ones on Lee's racket which should either be under "rackets" or "Pros rackets and gear" Of course, I'm the scapegoat, since I'm 14...

 

[Robbiser]

A few things:
1. Good luck. This is your chance (I am sure in life you will get many more). As Wayne Gretsky once said, "You miss all the shots, you never take".

2. If you lose, try and lose playing your game, it is what got you to the tournament in the first place.

3. If you get nervous, don't forget to breathe. That will calm
some of your nerves.

Again, good luck!

 

[VJH]

C'mon man (David).....The kid is excited about potentially playing a pro player.....cut him some slack.....I'd be excited if I had a chance like that and I'm way older than 14 (35).

Besides, I prefer this type of post to those oogling some choice women players ;-)

Go get 'em kid!

 

[fantom]

Good luck. When someone hits you a sitter, picture the words "david aames" on the ball, and give it a good rip...

 

[SliceServe]

Masha,

You actually have an advantage. If you are in fact playing a 25 year old, he is going to have the pressure (or embarrassment) of possibly losing to a 14 year old. Trust me, that will play in your favor. Concentrate on playing the ball not the person.

 

[Camilio Pascual]

Good luck. You do a lot of speculating about the potential consequences and meaning of your match in your post here, that's fine in order to get it out of your system. But, as match time approaches, just concentrate on the match itself and don't get distracted. SliceServe has given you GREAT advice to keep your eye on the ball, not the person. Good advice literally and figuratively. I like to blast some song I like a lot before I play. RELAX by Frankie Goes to Hollywood pumps me up and relaxes me at the same time.

 

[cheezecake]

GOOD LUCK!!! Wow... You're 14 and trying out for Pro Tour... That will never happen to me in my life time...

 

[Frodo Baggins]

Good luck!!!Maybe we'll see you on the battlefield Soldier.. 8)

 

[pound cat]

All the best for your match. Philippe. ..keep your eye on the ball and don't pull down your pants. You'll lose a point. And Liam there's lots of opportunity for you in England. I hear there looking for a Flanagan replacement.

 

[mgm]

Swing a way ! Looking forward to watching you play in the first rounds.GOOD LUCK!

 

[Feña14]

And Liam there's lots of opportunity for you in England. I hear there looking for a Flanagan replacement.

Well I would love to be that person but the only problem is....... I can't play on grass!!!!!

-Liam

 

[Anonymous]

Mgm, what do you mean you're looking forward to watching me play the match? You live in this area or something? Anyway, thanks for all the support guys, I really appreciate it, but even if I don't win a game, I'm gonna hopefully play this thing the next 14 years!

 

[NoBadMojo]

MaSha please tell us how you were able to get into the main draw of this qualie and were also able to get a bye please. Do just the finalists get into the reg event or the semi-finalists too? thanks, Ed

 

[andirez]

Good luck Masha!

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Good luck. Please post here on how it went.

 

[Anonymous]

NoBadMojo, to answer your question, I have no idea how I received a bye while several others have to play matches to reach the rd. of 128! As a member of the USTA, I signed up for the Wild Card Challenge, but was expecting to be rejected since the Tourney Director selects which players are accepted into the main draw. I've had several email contacts with Dan Laufer before, and shot him an email asking him to consider my registration. I told him tournaments I had played before, and how my coach had won this thing 3 times. I guess he listened, because now I'm in. Only the winner gets in though, which is too bad. I'm going into the watch w/an attitude like Gaudio's before the French Finals. I don't expect to win more than a game off of this guy, but I'm gonna go for broke and enjoy myself. Hopefully, 5 years down the road I can be a legitamite threat at this tournament. I feel bad for my opponent, however, he might feel cheap playing a 14 year old kid, but at least the guy got a lucky draw!

 

[david aames]

Christ0 -- You looking for a spanking? Just keep playing tennis.

This whole TW thing is gonna be fascinating if everyone starts posting minor leagues results. Keep on the back padding, I'm out of here.

Hey, David Lames, are you as mean spirited in person as you are in your postings, give the kid some slack, I for one wish him all the luck in the world. By the way Phillipe, please feel free to post in this section the results of your match, I'm sure most of us would love to read it. Bon Chance!

 

[Anonymous]

David, not meaning to brag or anything, but this tournament is definetly not minor league. The winner gets direct entry into an ATP International Series Gold Tournament which will include Andre and Lleyton. In a sense, it can be compared to Pro Tour qualifying. Anyway, many of these guys will be better than pro female players

 

[Anonymous]

I did some homework, and I came up with this regarding my second-round opponent. Looks like I'll take a real spanking, this guy played professionaly for a year!

J
esse Medvene-Collins

Position:
Asst. Coach, First Season (Redlands [apo






Jesse Medvene-Collins begins his first year as assistant coach of the Dartmouth College women's tennis team. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of Redlands (California), where he was a four-time, first team All-Conference selection and participated in four NCAA Division III National Championships. He graduated from Redlands with a degree in sociology, and played on the ATP tour for a year following graduation.


Medvene-Collins has worked as an assistant tennis pro at McLean (Va.) Swim and Tennis Club, and at Regency Sport and Health Club in McLean, Va. He also served as the assistant boys' varsity tennis coach at Flint High School in Oakton, Va.

 

[Anonymous]

Good Luck

 

[mikej]

Well, as someone who lives in Virginia and knows a little bit about this tournament, I see that you've played up the tournament and your accomplishment quite a bit.

The tournament is a unique opportunity, offering the singles and doubles winners a wildcard into the Legg Mason main draw. However, the tournament director did not "select you to the main draw." The tournament is open, so anyone who has a racquet can enter (I suppose people without racquets could also enter...as could people who can't walk). And congrats on getting a bye, which it seems you're quite proud of. As there were about 135 entrants, neraly everyone plays their first match in the round of 128. Those few who have to play a match to get there weren't deemed the worst players in the field, they were simply the victims of random chance in the draw-making process. So yes, as you exclaim, congrats on getting to the round of 128 in an open tournament. Finally, this tournament does not draw "the best players on the East Coast." It primarily consists of strong college players from the Mid-Atlantic, strong juniors from the Mid-Atlantic, strong teaching pros from the Mid-Atlantic, and a few, like yourself, who waste an entry fee so you can proclaim to everyone how close you were to getting to play Hewitt on the ATP Tour. Sorry for going off like that, but don't play this off as if you were selected into some ATP qualifying event due to your promising career.

Finally, since I spent enough time bashing you, I'll answer your main question. I don't know about your first round opponent. If this guy also wasted his money to feel cool about being selected into such a prestigious event, and you get to the second round, that'll be the end of the road. Farhat Muhawi, one of the top juniors in the Mid-Atlantic will swiftly destroy you.

Welp, good luck. Please post again Sunday after you lose 6-0, 6-0

 

[atatu]

Hey MikeJ, yeah the kid did embellish a little, but so what ? The funny thing is that about five years ago I was at the Legg Mason classic watching a match on the side court. Local kid against some South American guy, turned out to be Harsanyi, who I think played at Duke and now is a teaching pro. It was an exciting match, three sets but Paul went down. Maybe Masha was one of the kids watching in the stands ?

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, go soak your head. You're just a loser. I don't care, I never said I would win anything, in fact I'm quite sure I won't win a game. All I know is that I could kick your sorry little arse, and if you think picking on 14 year old kids is cool, you need a life. I never said I'd play Hewitt or anyone else, and I didn't say I was granted a bye for my tennis game! I said that I had no idea how I got a bye. Thanks, your a really nice guy, and I love the fact that your so bitter because you probably would lose to leg-amputees. And the top players from the East really do come to this, my opponent is from Dartmouth, NH and played on the Pro Tour. Oh, the pro tour, I guess those guys suck, right mikej?

 

[James Brown]

can u get someone to videotape part of your match? id love to see how it goes and how you play. id love to know what a good 14 yr old player plays like. Good luck too man!

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Atatu, Paul Harsanyi is my coach, and that match was against Maurice Ruah of (Brazil?) Paul also won the thing 3 times overall, most recently in '01, and went down hard to Mike Bryan in the first round. And atatu, no I was not at that match, but I saw his matches against Kucera and Bryan. My coach still speaks ruefully of that match and claims he had Ruah on the ropes. Paul went to UNC and is now into the business practice. I'm pretty sure he's now engaged to be married. Such a nice guy, whenever he's coaching me and the ice cream truck comes, he gives me two bucks to get some snowcone or whatever. He loves the "Rocky" movies, says there inspirational, and always has a small box of strawberries in hand, seems to love them. Also coached Bullis Varsity tennis for a couple years. There's a brief bio, hoped you enjoyed it atatu!

 

[atatu]

Phillippe, you can also view this guys results over the past years at Tennisinformation.com Go to "Find a player" and then select a year, looks like he played a ton in 2003 (Lost to Richey Reneberg in one tournament !) and in 2004 has only played the Reston Open where he got to the semis.

 

[Don Felder]

MaSha, you have once again embarked on a one-way trip down Ignoramus Lane. I was about say that you did indeed imply, but upon a second perusal of your initial post, you actually outright laid claim to personally being selected by the tournament director. In your sophomoric retort to MikeJ, you seem to have forgotten this.

Secondly, do not be getting riled up about this guy's playing on the tour for one year... you do realize that anyone, even "leg-amputees" can claim to have done such a thing? Perhaps take it a step further... even quadriplegics could claim such a thing. My point is, this guy's claim is completely insignificant and is not something to be used as an excuse following the sound whipping you receive.

You, along with Liam, are the festering sores of this board. You hurt the overall credibility, form, and health of any discussion on this board. I, along with many others, would be perfectly happy if you discontinued all posting activity from this point on.

Lastly, I have never heard of you or seen you in any national tournaments that I've been around... you must suck. But hey, you're only 14, so its cool, right?

 

[david aames]

Oh oh. Someone just got more than he wished for.

Guys, don't forget to add the *spoiler* mention in the thread title come sunday. I mean, ESPN might have the rights on this one.

Well, as someone who lives in Virginia and knows a little bit about this tournament, I see that you've played up the tournament and your accomplishment quite a bit.

The tournament is a unique opportunity, offering the singles and doubles winners a wildcard into the Legg Mason main draw. However, the tournament director did not "select you to the main draw." The tournament is open, so anyone who has a racquet can enter (I suppose people without racquets could also enter...as could people who can't walk). And congrats on getting a bye, which it seems you're quite proud of. As there were about 135 entrants, neraly everyone plays their first match in the round of 128. Those few who have to play a match to get there weren't deemed the worst players in the field, they were simply the victims of random chance in the draw-making process. So yes, as you exclaim, congrats on getting to the round of 128 in an open tournament. Finally, this tournament does not draw "the best players on the East Coast." It primarily consists of strong college players from the Mid-Atlantic, strong juniors from the Mid-Atlantic, strong teaching pros from the Mid-Atlantic, and a few, like yourself, who waste an entry fee so you can proclaim to everyone how close you were to getting to play Hewitt on the ATP Tour. Sorry for going off like that, but don't play this off as if you were selected into some ATP qualifying event due to your promising career.

Finally, since I spent enough time bashing you, I'll answer your main question. I don't know about your first round opponent. If this guy also wasted his money to feel cool about being selected into such a prestigious event, and you get to the second round, that'll be the end of the road. Farhat Muhawi, one of the top juniors in the Mid-Atlantic will swiftly destroy you.

Welp, good luck. Please post again Sunday after you lose 6-0, 6-0

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, yeah, Don Felder, you're soooo good, you're all OVER the USTA results page and stuff. By the way, how are you doing in your 'National Tournaments'? Yeah, your right, I must suck because I'm 14 and don't go to all those national tournaments. I'm 14, so lots of you guys take shots at me to make yourselves feel big and powerful. Don, I'll bet you that when you were 14, you weren't half as good as I am now. In fact, I'll bet I'm more physically fit than you right now. I'm 14 years old, five foot ten and 155. And I apologize, I thought that the tournament was by director selection and it wasn't. Chill out... I'm only 14 and I'm excited to be playing against players of such a high caliber. I'M NOT BRAGGING HERE OR ANYTHING, I EXPECT TO GET KILLED BY THIS GUY, BUT I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE PARTICIPATING IN A TOURNAMENT WITH SUCH GOOD PLAYERS. Sheesh.... The people here...

 

[Don Felder]

Actually MaSha, at 5 ft 10 and 155 lbs I would venture to say that you are quite underweight. In any case, you are far from being in great shape. Also, as soon as my digital camera is charged, I will take pictures of my two silver and three bronze balls that I won in my "national tournaments." You cannot win, sorry.

 

[Anonymous]

Wow at 5'10'' and 155 at 14 I'm underweight? You must be quite some hulk to call me underweight if I'm 155 at 14. How big were you then? Or maybe you're just a fat @ss who eats chips all day and weighs up in the 300's? Go right ahead, take ur pics of your tropheys and post 'em right here!

 

[Anonymous]

I don't EXPECT to win a SINGLE game, man. How would you know what kind of shape I'm in? I'll bet you my life I'm in better shape than you. What's your age, height, and weight and how much can you bench? I can get 140, that's not great, but for my age its pretty good. I play hockey, football, and especially tennis and basketball very competitevly. What do you play?

 

[VJH]

Don, David, Mike, I'm assuming that you are all adults, but based on the venom with which you are attacking a 14 year old kid I realize this could be considered a stretch. Would you treat your own child with such callousness? If you don't like what he has said in other posts, avoid posts written by him.

Don, comparing your trophies to those of a 14 year old.....Pathetic.

What's next? Are you going to start bragging that you W2'ed more than he did in 2003 as well?

 

[TwistServe]

I can get 140, that's not great, but for my age its pretty good.

Benching 140lbs isn't worth mentioning on an internet board, even if you're only 14 hehe..

You should be benching at least 1.5x your weight to be semi-average, and 2x your weight to be message worthy on an internet board..

But since you're only 14, lets get that to at least 1.25x

On another note.. I think you're hyped up and excited about the tornament because of your coach and his encouragement.. Thats good.. But posting it on the board will get some laughts.. Make it to the U.S. open some day, and you can laugh back at the people that mocked you!

 

[SB]

Testosterone overload alert! Some of you should be embarrassed.

By the way, a 14-year-old male who is 5'10" and 155# is in the 51st percentile, according to the WHO-CDC.

 

[drakulie]

May the Force be with you....Always..

 

[Mark55]

Sorry but MikeJ is right your most likely just wasting a spot in the draw, from which a good player could have had...since all you care about is playing someone a lot better than you, you obviously arent going to get passed the 1st round or even do anything in your first match.

 

[mikej]

Well MaSha/Philippe, I certainly wouldn't lose to any "leg-amputees," and certainly wouldn't lose a game to you. You know what's funny? www.tennisinformation.com doesn't have you listed for a ranking this year or last year or the year before. Hmmm. Maybe you're like the Williams sisters, hiding under the radar until you make your big splash on tour. More likely, you're just a beginner. Instead of playing the Legg Mason WildCard Challenge, maybe you should enter in some futures events. I see you did play a satelite last year (Georgetown Prep) and that didn't go so well. If you need me to loan you a racquet so you can learn the game, let me know.

Since you maintained I'm just bitter because of your tennis prowess, I guess I better list some of my stats for comparison. I've played on the Zonal Team for the Mid-Atlantic in 12s, 14s, and 16s, and played SuperNational Hards and Clays in 12s and 14s. Clearly, I can't match up with your tremendous prowess demonstrated from your lack of a ranking.

Yet, I wouldn't play this event yet. At best, if I got an extremely favorable draw, I might be able to win a round or two before I got demolished. If I did play, I wouldn't come to a message board about pro players and brag that the tournament director had "selected" me into his prestigious tournament. Once again, the tournament is OPEN. You did not get in because of your ability, because of your coach (who I agree was an outstanding player), or because of your unnecessary e-mails to the director. You got in for two reasons: you are a USTA member, and you sent in an application.

In response to your last statement: No, the guys on the pro tour don't suck, they are incredible. I do not entertain any hopes of playing at the pro level.

However, no one in the tournament is close to the pro level represented at the Legg Mason. I know Spracklin and Clark, the top two seeds, as they are both local players, and neither would compete with the #300 guy on tour.

Additionally, since you still maintain that the players are the best from up and down the East Coast, I will provide some actual information supporting my assertion that it is primarily a Mid-Atlantic tournament as far as entrants.

Seeds
1. Trevor Spracklin--played at William and Mary in Virginia, now lives in Reston, Virginia

2. Carl Clark--played at the University of Virginia, now teaches at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond

3. Nathan Thompson--was a top Mid-Atlantic junior, now plays #1 at Clemson

4. Chris Brown--was a top Mid-Atlantic junior, has played off and on at #6 for Duke this season

don't know seeds 5 and 6 off hand

7. Damiisa Robinson--was a top Mid-Atlantic junior, now plays #4 for Clemson

8. Billy Mertz--top Mid-Atlantic junior

9 seeds.
Yorke Allen--was a top Mid-Atlantic junior, played at Duke
Weston Nichols--top Mid-Atlantic junior
Hyon Yoo--played at University of Virginia, now teaches in Maryland
Paul Smith--don't know much, but he must be a Virginia resident as he played in the State Tournament last year (where he best #1 seed Carl Clark by the way)
Paulo Francisco--trained the last few years at the Tennis Center at College Park on the University of Maryland campus

I'd think if anyone would travel from far away for this tournament, it would be the seeds, wouldn't you? But I suppose I'm still wrong. This tournament isn't merely a unique opportunity for players primarily from the Mid-Atlantic.

Anyways, since you did enter, I sincerely wish you good luck in the tournament. I maintain that it was dumb for you to waste your time and money entering the tournament. Playing better players is good for developing one's game, but these people are so far out of a beginning junior's league that you won't get anything good out of it. I wouldn't have bashed you just for the ignorance of entering if you hadn't come to this board to boast about your "selection" into the tournament, congratulate yourself on your bye, and now state that this tournament compares to normal pro tour qualifying events. No, not at all. The Legg Mason actually has a qualifying event for pros, where you are selected based on your ATP ranking. The WildCard challenge, however, is just an opportunity for a strong local player to get a chance at a pro player. A pretty cool opportunity.

 

[norcal]

C'mon, give MaSha a break. His Sharapova psycho-stalker ranking is #8 in the U.S. The rest of you losers would have to play qualifying to get into a Maria stalking event!
Good luck MaSha!
Stalkers away!

 

[atatu]

I wouldn't say 155 is underweight for 14. Hell, I was 125 as a high school senior, that was underweight, but...I could run a 4:17 mile back then....

 

[Anonymous]

What is wring with some of you people?
Leave the kid alone. If you don't like his posts don't read them and don't post things on them.
Most of you are adults, and you're picking on a 14 year old, Pathetic

 

[david aames]

VJH -- Well, looks like someone is willing to step up and play good parent

Sometimes, you don't need to get to the courts to get a spanking but my guess is that we all get to babysit because someone either dropped the ball or overdo it. VJH, he seems to have more than the support he needs back home.

What is it with giving away free out of jail cards to 14 YO anyway? Not sure how old you are but I suggest you take a good look at what teenagers are about these days.

MaSha -- Nice match preparation. Now you can turn off the computer.

Don, David, Mike, I'm assuming that you are all adults, but based on the venom with which you are attacking a 14 year old kid I realize this could be considered a stretch. Would you treat your own child with such callousness? If you don't like what he has said in other posts, avoid posts written by him.

 

[dander]

aames, when you post Masha's "spoiler" thread, make sure to insert one or two pics from yahoo of our 14 year old friend frozen in action with the 'insert caption' invitation

i'm still getting over that jarring photo you posted earlier this spring of p-mac and his mom...

 

[mileslong]

wow, this board is replete with *** holes. masha, just do your best and have fun.

you guys, this kid id 14! i would love for some of you to talk to me face to face or about my son like this. really big men out there... :x

its funny, i played rugby (sevens) in college. it is a barbaric game played by genlemen. those"barbarians" were the nicest most respectful men off the field yet tennis is just the opposite, a gentlmens game with little punks playing it...