Who's favored at sectionals?

Okay the flights for sectionals in Dallas are set for Aug. 3, 4, and 5.

4.0 Playoffs
Flight 1- Dallas, SETX, Lubbock, San Antonio, Wild 1
Flight 2- Ft Worth, Amarillo, Wild 5, Waco, Wild 2
Flight 3- NETX, San Angelo, NOHO, Valley, Wild 3
Flight 4- Houston, Midland, Austin, Corpus Cristi, Wild 4

4.5 Playoffs
Flight 1- SETX, Valley, Austin, Wild 3
Flight 2- Dallas, NETX, NOHO, Wild 1
Flight 3- Corpus Christi, Ft Worth, San Angelo, San Antonio
Flight 4- Houston, Waco, Amarillo, Wild 2

Who do feel has the toughest flight? Who would you say are the favorites to win their flight in 4.0 and 4.5?

**The teams that recieve a wild could change predictions
depending on which flight they draw.

4.0 Wild - Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antono, ??
4.5 Wild - ??

Bub Walthall Tournament Experience:…………eh!

I had an opportunity to play in the Bub Walthall tournament this past weekend (July 6-8). While I typically don’t play tournaments as much I play league tennis, I did play doubles in this tournament.  Overall I had a good experience although there are some things I didn’t like about playing in the tournament.  Here is a recap of my experience:

First of all on a good note, I did win my first round, however, on a sour note; the match was scheduled for Friday, at 6:00pm at the McFarlin Tennis Center but we did not get on the court until 7:00pm. On Friday, my doubles partner and I both arrived around 5:00 or 5:15 just to avoid the risk of defaults or game penalties for being late. We went to the tournament office and checked in at 5:30 to let them know we were present (our opponents had not checked in).  At 5:50pm I went back to the tournament office and asked if our opponents checked in, I was told that they had not checked in.  We began pre-match preparations, stretching, loosening up, mental prep, more hydration, etc since 6pm was approaching.  At 6:00pm (start time for our match) since we still hadn’t been called and we were starting to get a little antsy, so I went back to the tournament office.  The official behind the desk was a bit busy with other players, but I was able to see the check in list and our opponents had still not checked in; I didn’t speak to anyone, but went back to report to my doubles partner. At 6:10pm we still hadn’t been called so once again I went back to the tournament office. I asked how long we were going to wait on our opponents to check in since the match was already 10 minutes behind schedule.  It was at that time that I was told that one of my opponents was playing a singles match and that he had just got done. The official informed me that the opponent was over at the AnneMarie Tennis Center and had just left and that we were going to delay the start our match in order to give him time to arrive. I asked how much time we were going to give them to arrive, he stated “until he gets here and checks in”.  While I understand our opponents have the right to play singles and doubles or any other specialty category; that right however, should not inconvenience others that are waiting to play.  If you are a player that likes to have pre-match rituals, those can be thrown off if you don’t know what time your match is going to start. I felt like someone should have informed us a lot sooner that there was a time conflict with our first match. Regardless, we won the match 6-1, 6-2, but were done an hour later than when I had informed my family I would be done. Don't know if these things are typical of tournament play; however, they were still annoying.

Secondly, on Saturday, we were scheduled to play our second round match at 2pm in the afternoon at the AnneMarie Tennis Center. At this point I don’t know what was worse, having to play at 2pm in the afternoon in Texas July heat or playing at the AnneMarie Tennis Center; oh wait, I had to do both! For those of you who have never played at the AnneMarie Tennis Center, you are not missing much. In fact, if I lived in the Northside ISD, I would be completely embarrassed with the conditions at the tennis center and would want to question how my tax dollars are being spent. Not only are the court surfaces in horrible condition; cracks all over the court as well as right along the baseline, the space between courts is unfathomably close; I got pulled slightly wide to hit a forehand return of serve on the deuce side and was already in the alley of the court next to me.  I can’t even count how many times our balls rolled onto the court next to us or vice-versa due to the close proximity of the courts.  Another complaint I have with the AnneMarie Tennis Center is that there is absolutely no shade available except for the covered area right by the tennis office. They have bleachers situated around the complex, but no awnings or shelter of any kind to shade viewers (at least McFarlin has trees and Blossom Tennis Center has covers on their bleachers). And lastly with AnneMarie Tennis Center, I think the fact that it is so close to the expressway (Loop 410 North) and there are not any trees within the vicinity it makes for constant windy court conditions.  Needless to say, we lost our second round match, but not due to the conditions at AnneMarie, we just didn’t play well.

I guess that when it comes to league play, it now makes sense to me why some teams that don't have a tennis club such as Green Tree, Sonterra, Windcrest, Fair Oaks, Shadow Cliff, etc. to call home make McFarlin their “home” court and why some teams make Blossom or Alamo Heights Tennis Centers their “home” court, but no one ever makes AnneMarie their “home” court.  Northside ISD taxpayers demand they fix your “home” courts!  There is no reason why the tennis courts at one of the largest school districts in the state of Texas should be in that condition. 

Other than those two issues (start time for first match and conditions at AnneMarie), I had a decent experience playing in a tournament. Still like league play a little more; but everyone has their own preferences.  Special congratulations go out to SA ACE (Blog Master for this Blog) on his success at the Bub Walthall tournament this weekend; great job SA ACE!!!

Mixed Doubles Dilemma

After playing men's doubles exclusively for the last ten years, I have recently started playing some mixed doubles again.  I played competitive mixed doubles in high school and a couple of times on a USTA league long ago. Now that I am older, I am struggling with playing against a female opponent. I feel guilty hitting some of my heavier shots in the direction of the lady. I even find myself slowing down my serve against the lady if I see she is struggling with the return. I have always been instructed to go through my opponent in doubles which means you must hit right at the women. I have been reluctant to do so. In fact I feel guilty, even when my mixed partner tells me to do it. Apparently, it is the strategy to pick on the women. I have heard players say that mixed is fun but what is fun about picking on a lady on a tennis court? I feel that the levels are not equal in ability but that is how the USTA has structured the league. From what I can tell a 3.5 lady has about the same ability as a 3.0 man, and so on. Maybe if the format were different, then the ladies would not always be the weaker players.

 I should mention that one of my last mixed USTA matches long ago, ended with the lady retiring from the match.  A hard shot hit her racquet and deflected to hit her in the face. The ball was just hit with pace and she reached for it. Her contact lens ended up cutting her eye. She also busted a blood vessel in her eye. Her eye was actually bleeding and she went to the hospital that night to make sure it was OK. Here eye was hurting her pretty bad and she was crying tears and blood when she left. After this, you can see why I struggle with mixed. She simply misjudged the pace and spin on the ball. She was simply trying to play above her level.

Please comment with your thoughts. I am competitive and I just have a hard time motivating myself to go out a pick on a lady every Sunday. Ladies, I have heard you say ,"this is what we signed up for."  I find that hard to believe.  I just feel like a jerk hitting aces and hard shots at the girls. Hitting a ball and then feeling guilty deep down is not fun. Hopefully, some mixed doubles players can comment.