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USTA Tournament Seeding Matters

On By Teresa Merklin

On a tournament by tournament basis, seeding is one of the most consistently controversial topics for USTA recreational play. Whether it is too early to complain about the seeding at an event is a frequent theme in the Facebook group for active USTA Texas tournament players. I am of two minds on this topic. Those divergent perspectives are reflected in the point from a feedback letter I recently submitted to the USTA Adult Competition Committee (ACC) which has purview over USTA Adult Tournament Tennis.

Even Shorter Formats at Nationals

On By Teresa Merklin

I participated in the inaugural year of the USTA NTRP National Championships. That tournament is played using “Fast4” format. I have also played a similar version of short set tennis in local UTR tournaments. Those experiences is what brings me to the next point of my feedback letter recently submitted to the USTA Adult Competition Committee. (ACC) In a way, it is a preemptive strike against something that the USTA hasn’t done yet, but might consider in the future.

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Let’s Play 3

On By Teresa Merklin

This weekend the “Unplugged” themed posts continues to expand on points of feedback that I recently submitted to the USTA Adult Competition Committee. (ACC) A lot of women in the Senior Tennis Community are currently doing the same thing. The declining participation in tournament tennis coupled with recent USTA “innovations” exacerbating the problem has brought us to a precipice. Point #4 advocates that the scoring format in the main draw for National Level 1 (and really 2, and 3) tournaments should always be a full 3 sets.

Scott Perlstein: Winning Doubles

On By Teresa Merklin

The book selection for this week is “Winning Doubles: Strategies, Key Concepts, and Shot-By-Shot Playbook for Players at All Levels.” It was written by Scott Perlstein, who is a veteran tennis instructor in California. I believe Perlstein may be the originator of the doubles playbook concept for tennis. The book is dominated by pictures of doubles positioning while still packing a wealth of information as supporting text.

A Type 3 Tennis Ball Mystery for When You’re High

On By Teresa Merklin

As we were exploring the four types of balls approved for sanctioned tennis competition last week, I stumbled across a YouTube video containing screen shots from the 2012 version of the “ITF Guide to Products and Test Methods.” One of the pages depicted in that video illustrated notional bounce paths for three of the four types of approved tennis balls. That image also contained a note that the Type 3 tennis ball is also permitted and recommended for play at High Altitude. It is a complete mystery why the ITF would make that recommendation.

The Best of Bag Check: Tamira Paszek

On By Teresa Merklin

Overthinking tennis is the hallmark of this site. Tennis equipment and gear is in my wheelhouse. Consequently, the “Tennis Channel’s Bag Check” promotional clips always command my rapt attention. A well-equipped racquet bag is essential in tournament tennis. Those necessities in the bag might be the difference between winning and losing a match.

Taylor Townsend Speaks Out

On By Teresa Merklin

Last week women’s professional tennis player Taylor Townsend released an essay titled “You Ain’t Never Been No Little Girl, Taylor Townsend” on The Players’ Tribune. It is a powerful account of her personal journey in tennis. The essay also provides some insight into the machinations of the USTA Player Development Program when Townsend was a rising junior. It also reflects less than positively on the culture of the USTA encapsulated by the Player Development Program.

Draw Format for National Level USTA Tournaments

On By Teresa Merklin

Feed in Consolation through the Quarterfinals (FICQ) should be used for all National Level Amateur Tennis Tournaments. For anyone not familiar with that tournament format it is a close approximation of double elimination. A player who loses a match in the quarterfinals or earlier could still finish as high as 5th in the tournament. Players who lose in the semifinals play a match that decides 3rd and 4th. That is a significant match for a Bronze Ball in a National “Gold Ball” event.

USTA Tournament Players at Every Level

On By Teresa Merklin

One of the most worrisome part of the ongoing USTA Tournament restructuring has been the repeated theme that tournaments have to adapt to “consumer preferences.” On the surface, that isn’t a bad thing if that decision is backed up with valid data that accurately captures consumer preferences specific to tennis tournaments. It is apparent that the USTA has decided that shortening the length of matches in general will lead to increased participation. I have yet to see tennis specific research that backs up that assertion. Additionally, while shorter formats may be better for local level tournaments, that same sentiment doesn’t translate to the National Levels of Competition.

Competing at the Highest Levels of Tennis

On By Teresa Merklin

I recently submitted an email with lengthy feedback and observations specific to National Level Senior Women’s Tennis to the USTA Adult Competition Committee. (ACC) The talking points contained in that message echo themes that have appeared on this site over the past two years. When playing the Westwood Senior Championships a couple of weeks ago, I was struck at how pervasive the concerns over the impacts of recent tournament changes and implementations are within the Senior Women’s Tennis community.