An engineer overthinks tennis in a daily journal.
Today I am returning my attention to the post COVID-19 protocols implemented a couple of weeks ago at the “$Prize Money Austin UTR Open @ Austin Tennis Academy. ” Earlier this week I wrote about the ball hygiene practices implemented during that tournament in “Tournament Ball Safety Protocols.”
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Yesterday I wrote about how the financial and liability structures of the USTA and UTR was very likely a dominant contributing factor in the decisions the organizations made about the suspension of tennis tournament play under COVID-19. Today I am exploring how the independent nature of UTR creates an agility advantage for UTR event organizers.
It is striking to step back and realize that only tennis tournament activity that is going on right now in my geographic region is under the banner of UTR and other events that are not sanctioned by the USTA. There is a very obvious explanation for this. At the onset of the COVID-19 crisis the USTA National Office suspended play tournaments as well as other events such as leagues and team tennis. UTR never suspended play. But why?
A deep dive into ball hygiene protocols implemented at a recent UTR tournament conducted in my geographic region.
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I have been thinking a lot about what the “new normal” will be when competitive tennis resumes. I am starting to see some tentative plans for flex singles leagues and tournament announcements. Will tournament swag bags contain a mask to wear in the pro-shop and a bottle of hand sanitizer?
I legitimately almost forgot that today is the last day of the month. This means that it is time for another introspection on the project.Read More
This project was started long before the bow-wave of the COVID-19 crisis swept the nation. As I write this morning, I am living under a “shelter-in-place” mandate from my local government. Life is very different than it was a month ago when I wrote my last reflection.
It should come as no surprise that my social circles are heavily populated with avid tennis players. I am aware that a lot of the tennis players in my life will find a way to play no matter what. Others are wondering what the implications of continued play are in the age of COVID-19 and how to do so in the safest way possible.
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The US Soccer Federation shocks me. Not because blatant misogyny is a a clear problem for that organization, but rather because it is so deeply rooted that it is regarded as a valid legal claim. So what does this have to do with tennis?
When I started in on the best-of-three and best-of-five set rules for matches, I mentioned that the format is inextricably linked to gender politics. InRead More