Playoffs are here (QT is as someone on the last thread is a participation ribbon). Those who have performed have earned the privilege of playing the playoffs. This is where there is pressure. I now a number of facilities are not sure the playoffs exist. Yet, the real season starts when something matters. This week it all matters and you get the privilege of pressure.
And they are out. 4.5
and 4.0 men both kick off the competition with 6:00pm Friday matches at
Brookhaven and Canyon Creek, respectively.
On Saturday they flip and the 4.5s go to CC at 8:00am and noon while the
4.0s move to BH at 8:00am and noon.
Makes it hard to watch all the good matches. All the driving is usually a pain but when
they are all playing at the same time you just have to make choices. At least no one has to go to the wasteland of
LB Houston. So, if you aren’t playing and want to see the best matches
(like me), what will it be?
4.5 looks like this: Greenhill and SpringPark to sectionals... or JCC
Friday at 6:00pm at Brookhaven: (1) Greenhill/Rossouw versus
SpringPark/Aguilar OR (2) JCC/Reiman versus Brookhaven/Harllee. There aren’t many years when a JCC –
Brookhaven match wouldn’t get top billing but the Greenhill – SpringPark match
could be the finals. The established
lion versus the young interlopers. Or
something like that. I really think
Greenhill has to win this. If a first
year team led by a 4.0 bump up takes them out its gonna really sting. Gotta go with JCC after their earlier 4-1 win
over Brookhaven in flight play, even though JCC won two third set tie breakers
in that one.
Saturday at 8:00am at Canyon Creek: (1) Greenhill versus
Brookhaven OR (2) SpringPark versus JCC.
I’ll take Greenhill but I’d go watch the second match. Whether SpringPark wins or loses the first
match, both teams will be staring down possible elimination from sectionals and
this one could be tense.
Saturday at noon at Canyon Creek: (1) Greenhill versus JCC
OR (2) SpringPark versus Brookhaven.
These will still be very interesting matches no matter the
standings. I’d expect it's still three
teams fighting for two likely sectionals spots so every line still
matters. I’ll take Greenhill and Springpark
here but no easy matches will be had all weekend.
4.0 looks like this: McKinney and High Point to sectionals.
Friday at 6:00pm at Canyon Creek: (1) High Point/Somabut
versus Huffhines/Jayaram OR (2) Garland/Sisk versus Huffines/Ratcliffe – gonna
take High Point and Garland in these two matches. Huffhines/Jayaram has made a nice undefeated
run but I gotta think Somabut is taking this seriously this year and won’t fall
prey to his Achilles heal of playing the wrong guys when he shouldn’t. I just don’t see the high end talent on
Huffhines/Ratcliffe.
Saturday at 8:00am at Brookhaven: (1) Huffhines/Ratcliffe
versus McKinney/Kanchi OR (2) High Point/Somabut versus Garland/Sisk. As the QT winner and therefore fifth seed,
McKinney has to go four matches in two days so how far can you ride the same
singles guys? This match should be a
little bit of a breather for them though.
Garland has some talent but I still think High Point advances.
Saturday at noon at Brookhaven: (1) High Point versus
McKinney (this is likely the finals) OR (2) Garland versus
Huffhines/Jayaram. The second match will
be a question of who empties the bench first.
Huffines is likely 0-1 so I’d hope they are still giving it their best
lineup. Garland likely has a loss
too. We’ll see. The marquee matchup is High Point and
McKinney. I picked McKinney at the
beginning of the season and I’m staying with them.
Sunday at 8:00am at Brookhaven: (1) Huffhines/Jayaram versus
McKinney OR (2) Huffhines/Ratcliffe versus High Point. McKinney and High Point are both still in the
running for city champion and the mythical runner up bid to sectionals so both
keep winning.
Sunday at noon at Brookhaven: (1) Garland versus McKinney OR
(2) Huffhines versus Huffhines. Sisk is
a nice guy and I’d imagine he pulls names out of a hat for this match to get
some guys a playoff match. I’ve got to
go with Huffhines in the last match.
High Point is hungry!!!
ReplyDeleteNot McKinney hungry. I'd be afraid to get between Raja and a buffet.
DeleteIt's ugly, I've seen it, so true!
Deleteyou just don't know the power of HP. players you aren't familiar with.. They'll take Rafa and any buffet all day long. Oh and HP made it without cheating. Straight up honest tennis.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, Rafa has Teterud the buffet buster backing him.
DeleteLet's take a closer look at HP. Start with Knick Tran , who looks to have tanked all of 2015 to get to 4.0 and has been "hidden" by only playing two matches this spring. Sounds like the Tiny Le method. Any others look questionable?
ReplyDeleteKnick is good! I'm talking Teterud good!
DeleteNo one is that good!
DeleteThere are no questionable's this is 2016 We will see what these two teams do this weekend
ReplyDeleteHigh Point Somabut
DeleteMichael Zambrana went 2-6 at 4.5 to get down, now 6-0
James Schick went 2-3 at 4.5, now 3-1
Knick Tran went 0-9 at 4.5, now 1-1
Adam Blumberg (former 5.0) went 0-4 at 4.5, now 5-0
Cliff Lazarine went 1-2 at 4.5, now 7-0
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
ReplyDeleteI must agree!
ReplyDeleteyou might be over analyzing those stats. there is a HUGE difference in the level of game between 4.0 and 4.5. Some of those stats looks normal... hence I said "some". plus you also have to think of a few important factors like your partner, weather, injuries, and simply bad tennis days. not excuses but facts. not everyone is a cheater. the one's that cheat got caught. Lets just see how these two teams finish off this weekend.
ReplyDeleteYou know what a good excuse is? - still an excuse.
Deletewho is this Teterud dude that people keep talking about??? Somebody has to help me out I have never heard of him.
ReplyDeletePatrick Teterud is just an average 4.0 nothing more!!!!
ReplyDeleteI would say below average 4.0. On the other hand, he says he thinks he is a 5.5.
DeleteAny comments on Garland/Sisk?
ReplyDeleteNo
DeleteThat's why I say let's see what happens this weekend with these guys. No excuses
ReplyDeleteCities Weekend Prediction:
ReplyDeleteRaja & Sisk join forces to take down the Gloden Coral buffet Sunday evening
That should end the all you can eat policy.
Deletethat not nice. pick on Tennis not humans!!
ReplyDeletethat what's wrong with today people no morals
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteI just consider this blog all for fun. making jabs and poking around. nothing is taken seriously.... at least on my behalf. let's not make this a moral thing. it's all in good fun!!!
DeleteThat's about all they will be taking down. The Golden Coral buffet HAHAHA
ReplyDeleteBe carefully. Other people thought that and ended up getting suspended.
ReplyDeleteNo politics on this board. I am sure there are plenty of other places to express your political beliefs.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI have removed that before too. Just like your statements now.
DeleteWhy is it so difficult for the DTA to post results after each round of play?
ReplyDeleteDid you expect a sudden competence?
DeleteLooks like Sisk has a line one singles ringer too.
ReplyDeleteI hope he plays Tran in the morning.
He played Tran and gave him the GTC treatment.
DeleteWhat Kanchi's team is doing is ridiculous and criminal.
ReplyDeleteRajiv Kommineni only lost one game is each of two matches today but is rated a 3.5? JOKE.
Sounds similar to Aguilar last year.
ReplyDeleteBig John's team will destroy Rajiv Kommineni and Raja Kanchi's cheating team tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteDream on. Kanchi's team beat HP 5-0 without dropping a set. GTC beat HP 3-2 and needed a match tiebreaker to get the 3rd win.
DeleteWhat a feel good story, a 3.5 overcoming the odds to wallop a guy who tanked his way back to 4.0. Tears forming forget the Olympics this is true sportmanship.
ReplyDelete9:39
DeleteSafe to say you probably haven't win anything
Doesn't matter. Two teams go. Raja for sure. Great story for a first time captain. Sisk there before. Raja 4.0 team quietly becoming a national contender
ReplyDeleteGreat job Sisk he finally beat Somabut..
ReplyDeleteWow, surprised by 4.5 result, Springpark was telling everyone they were headed to nationals and they didn't even make it to sectionals. #dontlooktoofaraheadbecauseyoumightgethitfrombehind
ReplyDeleteWhen Valdemort was asked to play and declined Springpark was in trouble. Solid team but zero experience in big match play. 4.5 weak this year for some reason
DeleteAll the good 4.5s are playing 4.0 now. LOL
DeleteCan someone who was there give a recap of the Garland match vs Mckinny with two of the matches "retired"? thanks!
ReplyDeleteKanchi and Sisk had an agreement to help self rates since both go to sectionals.
DeleteTry again. No self rates in those matches. Kanchi loses one big, one close, and retires up a set. After not losing a line all weekend?
DeleteTimothy Mickey 4.0S and gets beat bad. B You need try again.
DeleteThe initial question was about the retired matches. There were no self rates in those matches.
ReplyDeleteRumor is the match scores were planned and worked out before the matches. Fretz also played to lose to keep their 4.0's down. There is not one believable score as there is so much going on behind the scenes. Very smart move by the captains to have the outcomes already decided.
DeleteNo denying the Self rate took the loss on purpose. I saw him play. He was not the same guy who killed Ohl and Burton.
DeleteOf course he took the loss on purpose!! You are kidding right. Everybody new that was coming before the match started
DeleteEither way, congrats to both teams. They should both do well and hopefully give Dallas a chance at getting to nationals.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to both teams. I witnessed many of the matches and they should be ashamed of themselves with all of their 4.5 & 5.0 out of level players beating up on legit 4.0 players all weekend. What a disgrace!! So many 6-0 6-0 singles match results against good players. Hopefully U.S.T.A officals will take notice to these results and take action needed to level the playing field. The 2 Captains should be proud of beating the system again.
ReplyDeleteWho in raja team is an out if level 4.5 to 5.0 player? Give me some names
ReplyDeleteYou can discount most Fretz team scores. They are known tankers so those results a joke. Today's results and retires a joke as well. To say these matches were played in good faith would be ridiculous. Most of these guys would get destroyed at 4.5
ReplyDeleteRivera, Thakkar, Kommineni, probably teterud after playoff results 2 bagels, Horsley, Fullerton, Do you need any more???
ReplyDeleteTeterud a 4.5? Please
ReplyDeleteIt's the mike Kelly method. Cheat and lose until you need to win. Dallas will win more sectional titles and maybe some national ones, but they will lose the respect of the normal tennis player who doesn't want to tank to win a glass ball. I have a legit glass ball national title and it's now in the trash. This is all bs and I hope people are proud of themsleves. No more in level players will ever go to sectionals.
ReplyDeleteWhat did Kelly do? He not even playing men's Dallas tennis. Although I will admit 15 trips to nats absurd. Until Raja goes 16 times I don't think comparing him to Kelley fair. Raja put a good team together but to say he is cheating not fair. Kelley not even playing tennis now so maybe he will fade away!
ReplyDeleteAre you an idiot 7:48? What did Kelley do? Have you seen his Dallas and FW mixed results? Gimme a break. He is making those leagues look like a joke even w 5 or 6 different partners! 15 nationals means winning sectionals 15 times. THAT IS STUPID GOOD! Put the best 5.0 you know in his shoes in his matches and they don't come near what he has done. Totally agree w 7:37
ReplyDeleteYet he is on a fast track to 4.0
DeleteHow many years has this blog complained and talked about tankers and cheating the system??????? IT WILL NEVER STOP OR CHANGE ANYTHING! IT IS A WASTE OF TIME!
ReplyDeleteSad but true.
DeletePic of Raja and Sisk at GC buffet coming....can't win anything right??
ReplyDeleteSisk players out of level Yaremenko, Cloninger, Pariente, Puttkammer, Palacioz
ReplyDelete. r
Kanchi gave it to him.
DeleteEveryone out of level if you win!!
DeleteStraight up Kanchi wins 4-1, with Sisk maybe winning one doubles line.
ReplyDeleteKanchi has done what no one has done in recent years. Controlled all year long. Take notes once sectionals gets here.
ReplyDeleteTony Le was out, and glad that teams were tanking. It will help his Cheating cause. This time next year we will be bashing him again.
ReplyDeleteYes. This will continue year after year and posting and complaining will do nothing. The DTA will have to begin suspending players that win. That is the only way and that is just temporary. The same people will keep winning year after year after year.
ReplyDeleteU.S.T.A. needs to do a better job about tanking in Fall leagues to keep players from bump-ups. All they need to do is look at Winning players in the Spring that lose in the meaningless fall
ReplyDeleteA "better" job? They're not doing the job at all. The tanking could not get any more blatant then it has been the past few years and the USTA has done nothing.
DeleteWe've now reached a point where there are so many tankers and the difference between them and the typical player is so great they can take turns tanking in spring matches, even playoff matches, and still comfortably get the team win.
So many tankers, might be easier to name the non-tankers from these teams. Everyone else a tanker.
ReplyDelete