Tennis for SuperSenior Men

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Common misconceptions about Seeding

The USTA adopted the Points per Round (PPR) system as an objective way to avoid the numerous and time-consuming appeals that arose with the use of the previous method. While PPR recognizes achievement, it's not a good predictor of future results so players should not expect to be seeded solely on the basis of their current place on the 12-month Rolling Standing List.

For example, take player A, who wins the national grass and national clay events but plays no other tournaments thus earning 2016 points. Take player B, who was runner up in both tournaments and also won two Category II tournaments. Player B has 2544 points and will be ranked above player A yet player A has beaten player B twice and should be seeded higher. Further, strong players who move to a new age division will have zero points while deserving of being seeded — but they won't be if standings determine the seeds.

Men's Intersectionals (link)

Arlington TX, November 20-23

"Welcome to tennis, Texas-style! The 2008 USTA National Men's Intersectional Team Event will be held in Arlington, Texas, headquartered at Arlington Tennis Center, 500 W. Mayfield Road, Arlington, Texas 76014.

"This hard-court Championship will bring the best players representing their Sections in the 75s, 65s, 55s, 45s and 35s age groups.

"Arlington Tennis Center is an award-winning public facility, with 20 outdoor lighted hard courts and a full service proshop. ATC is located in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, with convenient access to major highways, hotels, DFW Airport, dozens of restaurants (many within walking distance of both the facility and hotels) and entertainment venues. Of course, Arlington is the 'old' home of the Texas Rangers and the new home of the Dallas Cowboys! Visit us on the Web at www.arlingtontennis.net to learn all about ATC and where your teams will be playing the 2008 USTA National Men's Intersectional Team Event!

"We are currently working on several special options for the tournament, including a welcome night on Wednesday with 'adult beverages,' lunch on site each day, 'adult beverage' time on site each afternoon, a trainer on site during the event, a match board for convenience in identifying teams on court, and for the very important 'significant others' who will be traveling with the players ... special packages at local shopping malls and entertainment venues. We are also working on plans for the banquet(free to players and guests).

"Entries open August 1, and the deadline is October 20. Sometime in early summer, if you could give us a 'guesstimate' as to the divisions your section will be fielding teams, we would appreciate it! We look forward to seeing new and familiar faces at this year's event. More information will follow soon. We hope to see your Section in Arlington, Texas this fall for the 2008 USTA National Men's Intersectional Team Event!"

Team Formats
75s: 2 singles, 1 doubles - maximum number of players per age division team - 4
35s, 45s, 55s, 65s: 3 singles, 2 doubles - maximum number of players per age division team - 7
Players may compete in both singles and doubles. A player may play in two different age divisions if eligible, but may play in only one age division in singles and only one age division in doubles on the same day.

Competition Format
The competition in each age category may be compass draw, modified compass draw, round robin, or innovative draws that will promote maximum team play over a specific period of time. The tournament committee will determine which format to use, so that each team plays a minimum of 3 team matches.

Play in these Team Championships will count as a Category II tournament played and players will receive ranking points as specified in this table.

2008 Category I National Results

New Orleans LA, April 7-13 (65 Clay)

Top seed Jimmy Parker doubled up with a dominating performance in the singles. Parker, seeded number one, won his first five matches with the loss of only ten games (total). He bested William Simon 6-1,6-1 in the semis and then had to go all out to defeat third seed Joe Bachman 6-4,7-5 in the final. Bachman had bested second seed Fred Drilling 6-2,6-4. Parker & Ken Robinson cruised to victory in the doubles losing only seven games in the eight sets they won. Parker & Robinson defeated the unseeded team of George Balch & Peter Smith 5-7,6-0,6-1 (quarters), then Ted Hoehn & Leland Housman 6-2,6-1 (semis) and then Drilling & Ray Lake 6-1,6-2 (finals). Drilling & Lake had ousted the third seeded team of Dean Corley & Michael Stewart 6-4,6-2.

Complete Results

Rancho Mirage CA, April 7-13 (60 & 90 Hard)

Top seed Brian Cheney garnered another gold ball with a narrow win in the 60 singles over second seed Hugh Thomson 7-5,3-6,7-6. Oddly, Thomson had bested Terry Ehlers by the same score in the semi-finals while Cheney had won the last eight games to oust Bob Litwin 7-5,6-0. Brothers David & Dan Bohannon triumphed in the 60 doubles by dint of three consecutive perilous wins: Daud Ahmed & Richard Johnson 6-2,4-6,7-6 (quarters), Litwin & Neal Newman 6-1,6-7,7-5 (semis) and unseeded Laurence Hammel & Stuart Malin 6-2,4-6,6-2 (finals). Hammel & Stuart had enjoyed an injury walkover over the team of Brent Abel & Charles Hoeveler in the semis.

Alex Swetka continued his winning ways in the 90s. Swetka bageled Edmundo Giffoni 6-0,6-0 in the semis and then defeated Fererico Barbaza (score not given) in the final. Swetka & Robert Mix won the doubles with wins over Barrett Scallet & Norman Stoll 7-5,6-1 and then over Barbaza & Giffoni 7-6,6-4. Barbaza & Giffoni had crushed Tracy Strong & Jim Talman 6-0,6-0.

Complete Results

Houston TX, March 24-29 (70 & 75 Indoors)

Fred Farzanegan introduced himself to the 70s with a splash by winning the gold ball with convincing wins over Bob Duesler 6-4,6-1 and Herman Ahlers 6-4,3-6,6-1. Ahlers had defeated Courtney Henderson 6-3,6-0 in the semis. In the 70 doubles Duesler & Jim Nelson once again prevailed handily while losing only twelve games (and no sets) in four matches. They topped Lee Hamilton & Henderson 6-3,6-0 in the semis and then surprise finalists Thurston Barnett & Bill Ulmer 6-1,6-1. Barnett & Ulmer had surprised second seeds Neil Hurlbut & Bill Hyde 4-6,7-5,7-5 in the opening round and then Greg Kohles & Chuck Nelson 6-4,3-6,6-4 in the semis.

George McCabe had an outstanding tournament in the 75s by winning both the singles and doubles titles. Overall McCabe won eight matches without the loss of a set. In singles McCabe bested Scott Denison 6-4,6-4 in the semis and then Chuck Devoe 7-5,7-5 in the final. Devoe had defeated 2007 winner Tom Springer 6-2,6-4 in the semis. McCabe & Jack Vredevelt won the doubles with a semi-final win over the unseeded team of Roger Gruggett & Richard Haskell 7-6(5),6-2 and a final win over second seeds Devoe & Russell Seymour 6-3,6-3. Devoe & Seymour had edged out Bob Isenberg & Chuck Nelson 6-2,1-6,7-5 in their semi-final match.

Complete Results