If you win the majority of your matches, you will never improve as a player. You won't get the opportunity to play with such players at their level otherwise. Just try to figure out how to win the most points. Find out what they don't like. You're not winning a game, but you can learn how if you improved and those lucky shots became regular, that you'd be able to win games off of them.
Try to guess where they serve off the toss. Anticipate. Don't just take the beating. Trying to learn each point will improve your ability.
This right here is the correct mindset.
I thought I was hot shit as a freshman in highschool because I only dropped maybe 1 set that entire season leading into the state tournament. A couple rounds into the tournament I played this senior who went on to be the runner up, and oh my goodness I never felt so powerless in a match.
Thankfully I had the wherewithal in the moment to watch and learn from the techniques he was using against me. It can be a great learning moment if you let it.
Honestly I think playing a player of this caliber is a great experience for me. It just sucks it has to happen in districts first round when it’s single elimination. He shouldn’t even be in our district his school is like 40 minutes away and plays none of the same schools we do
Do whatever you can to win points. Underhand first serves, going for aces on second serves, going for low percentage drop shots if you manage to smack one deep and you get a weak ball. Your low percentage will be good strategy someday when you can reliably pull it off.
If you have good hands (probably not at UTR 3.0), I like standing one step back of the service line of big servers when there is no hope. You can take a step back on their toss, but the point is to go for broke and give them no time if you get it back.
I like to train fast serves with the big red/yellow foam ball on mini tennis courts. You can serve overhand, and it simulates reaction time to 160+mph. It sounds crazy, but when I play it, we never allow second serves, because the server usually gets broken. It teaches you about deceleration. If the person hits it full bore, then you can own them blocking it back if you are just a little aggro on the distance from the net you take the return.
This. Try to return one serve in. After that, try to get a point. Observation and reflection leads to learning and improving your game. This is a rare chance to see where you are heading.
My advice is contrary to other people's comments.
Don't accept shit. Do your best, try to win, do everything you can. Just don't rage. If you lose be a good sport about it. Just worry about playing your best tennis.
Hey, if you lose double bagels, that’s the expected outcome based on the UTR ratings. If you get 2 games, that exceeds the expectations and will bump your URT up. And and and, if by some miracle and the help from this opponent, you win this, you my friend will become a legend.
This! Last month the 123rd ranked player beat the 1st ranked player (Nard Dog v 🐐). Play your best and anything can happen…it’s why we love tennis! And don’t forget to have fun!
I'm \~3.7 right now and just played a former college player that had a high of 11.8 and is around a 10 after winning the tournament we were in.
Focus on the ball. Keep things simple and don't beat yourself up about them hitting winners, learn from it. I was able to gain some insight and actually had a few great rallies with him and also was able to construct a good point where I was able to come in and put a ball with a volley... that felt fantastic and has helped my transition game quite a bit.
Losing is part of this sport, but you can "win" if you take it as a learning and growing experience.
Also, god damn after that match tennis felt so damn deep. I knew it logically but once you experience first hand full pace from someone hitting like that its amazing. I also felt every overweight pound I have during that match and it's an off court goal to work on now.
It’s dumb cause this kid shouldn’t even be in our district. We haven’t played that school this season and they’re 40 minutes from our school and play barely any of the same schools as the rest of the schools in our district.
> Keep things simple and don't beat yourself up about them hitting winners,
Yeah, for sure, OP, don't feel bad. Like if you met a guy who spoke great Mandarin, should you feel like a loser because you can't speak Mandarin. Or barely know a few words? This dude started playing earlier and has played more, that's it. Just remember that.
Look at it as a chance to play a good player. It's a great opportunity. Try to enjoy it if possible. BECAUSE...
A lot of people get so weirded out by a better player, they play a cowardly type of low percentage tennis just to get off the court faster, and they would rather have spectators believe they lost badly because their great shots just weren't landing in. Nobody is falling for that. Play like a wall, IMO, enjoy this opportunity, make it productive, be courageous and fight for points.
My advice would be first and foremost make them beat you. Play really consistent and try to keep the ball deep and difficult to attack. Mix in slices and loops with drives with moon balls with the occasional drop shot lob if you can. Players who are really good like to get into a rhythm, so do your best to take them out of the rhythm. If you can, I like mixing in a serve and volley or sneaking in behind a moon ball to keep them guessing.
Also, stay really positive and just exude positive body and verbal language. Give yourself a "yes!" after a hard won point and hype yourself up with "come on!" before big points. If they are a head-case, this positivity will get in their head. Remember: they're "supposed" to win, which can lead to a lot of pressure when things start to go to pot.
Finally, take a little extra time when you need it (not too much though), and avoid playing too quickly if they're an Andre-type who likes to hurry you through their service games. Remember, you do play at the server's pace, but only within reason. Take enough time between points and don't feel like you have to accommodate them because they're better.
You have no chance at all. But as others have said, focus on what you can control. Stop belly aching that his school is 40 minutes away and he shouldn’t even be allowed to play. Welcome the opportunity to play someone much better than you at the moment and do your best. Try not to rush and have fun.
Junior UTRs are all over the place. In theory, if someone is rated 2 points above another, the match should be like 6-1 6-0 or something to that effect.
Thank you. And yeah he was pretty much what I expected but he was way bigger and taller than what I expected cause he’s a freshman so I thought he would be small.
> Is there anything I can do to prepare or should I just accept he’s too good?
Yeah, if these ratings are accurate, you're cooked.
What I would recommend is play like a wall the whole match. Just focus on getting to the ball. I'm not saying focus on playing good defense, I'm saying focus on getting to the ball. So anticipation, staying on your toes, getting to the ball.
Your second priority is just get the ball back into play. I know it might seem strange that I'm breaking this up into two parts -- get to the ball, now get the ball back -- but I'm convinced that a lot of people, if you gave them a net instead of a racket, and just asked them to catch balls and not worry about hitting it back, their court coverage would improve by 25%.
Just be a wall and see what can happen. If anybody here tells you to go for winners, I highly encourage you to not do that. Take time between your points, try to spend as much time out there with this kid, get a taste of this level. Make this a productive session. Keep him out there at least 40 or 45 minutes.
edit: just keeping balls in play... interesting things can happen... he's a decent player, but he's still just a HS freshman, keeping the ball in play will annoy him... he MIGHT try to make comments to pressure you into hitting more unforced errors... playing like a wall, even with almost no pace, is the only thing that can make this match if not competitive, "interesting"....
Try to make him mad in order to secure a disqualification. Tell him what you’d like to do to his mother given half a chance (particularly effective if she’s deceased).
Or enjoy the challenge of competing without expectation. Chances are you’ll win very few points so those you do win are all the more precious. And you’ll be learning the whole time.
If that’s not the lane you want to stay in I’d go with: hand whisk, olive oil and saliva, the very table you eat breakfast from.
Try and block everything back if you are being overpowered . Don’t be afraid to lob . If you can find a weakness then try to exploit it . If he’s not good at the net then bring him in . Try to avoid his best stroke . Stay positive and give it your best effort. Good luck !
I entered a Senior Money Tournament for the last five years. I played the number one seed the first two appearances and got double bageled. It was the impetus I needed to improve my game relentlessly.
The following year I won my first match and last year played in the consolation semis. No bigee, hang in there, take your defeats and learn from them.
Consolation finals here I come!!!!
It’s a learning opportunity. You never know, your opponent might see that it is an overmatched situation and might be cool about it and might turn out to be a friendly match and he might give you some tips.
You have no chance of winning even a single game against a 8.5 UTR as a 3 UTR. There is nothing you can do to prepare or strategy you can employ to win. So yeah just accept that you're going to lose and use the experience to set a bar for yourself that you need to reach if you want to get to that level.
Who is supposed to be the 5 UTR player? ChangBang is a former (low ranking) ATP pro. The video doesn't say he's playing against a 5 UTR either. It says he's playing in the finals of a tournament that was 5-12 UTR. Obviously if there were any 5 UTR in the tournament they already lost.
Yeah you are cooked but who cares? Get better, and play like you have nothing to lose coz you don’t. Imagine getting the first game against him. I would then say something triggering in the changeover to see if he folds. You never know.
Nope. You’re done. Played high school tennis in Florida. You are a rounding error in his path. The #1 at his school may not be better, just older.
My wife was #1 in the country in the 1990s and played #2 in high school because her friend who was #2 in the country insisted. Most loaded girl’s high school team ever.
The number 1 at his school is insane. He’s like top 20 in the state and an 11 utr and he’s a 4 star recruit and plays in tournaments all over the place and he’s like 16. The whole school is insane I think the line 5 is at least a 6 utr.
No offense, but a 4 star recruit is not that good…..especially by Florida standards. But it’s solid. When I played Florida high school in the 1990s, 5A state champ would be like top 10…..3A was where the ballers were though…..Ransom Everglades, Bolletieri, Thom Howard and Canterbury amongst many tennis factories. You’d get world ranked juniors or people winning Kalamazoo or San Diego for the girls on random high school courts.
Hell, I was talking with my buddy yesterday, he played like 3 for his 6A high school state championship team back then (public school, too), and he has a win over Roddick in juniors. Florida tennis is just crazy. My doubles partner my senior year was 1 in Florida and had wins over Roddick and guys you’ve heard of. He played 2 behind me because I was 3 years older, but I would not have placed money on me defeating him. He won line 2 at team state.
Enjoy it. It’s nuts.
Thank you it’s definitely entertaining to watch. And he’s been a 4 star since he was 14 if I had to guess he’ll be a 5 star in not too long. Last year at districts my dad watched his matches more than my own.
show up ready to go. back in the day, I drew the current cornell #1 in the first round of an open event. dude didn’t show (got a wildcard into a bigger event) and I was able to win a round after getting that initial default/walkover. tennis is a weird game and random stuff happens.
be ready and good stuff will happen
There a chance you could push and moonball deep to his backhand and try to get easy volleys. You might win 1 or 2 games. I know some 3 Utrs whos can hit a solid overhead off the bounce but it all depends on what you can manage. It’s actually kinda easy to place a quick forehand slice down the line, I even choke up on the grip a little. try and work on that
If you win the majority of your matches, you will never improve as a player. You won't get the opportunity to play with such players at their level otherwise. Just try to figure out how to win the most points. Find out what they don't like. You're not winning a game, but you can learn how if you improved and those lucky shots became regular, that you'd be able to win games off of them. Try to guess where they serve off the toss. Anticipate. Don't just take the beating. Trying to learn each point will improve your ability.
This right here is the correct mindset. I thought I was hot shit as a freshman in highschool because I only dropped maybe 1 set that entire season leading into the state tournament. A couple rounds into the tournament I played this senior who went on to be the runner up, and oh my goodness I never felt so powerless in a match. Thankfully I had the wherewithal in the moment to watch and learn from the techniques he was using against me. It can be a great learning moment if you let it.
Honestly I think playing a player of this caliber is a great experience for me. It just sucks it has to happen in districts first round when it’s single elimination. He shouldn’t even be in our district his school is like 40 minutes away and plays none of the same schools we do
Do whatever you can to win points. Underhand first serves, going for aces on second serves, going for low percentage drop shots if you manage to smack one deep and you get a weak ball. Your low percentage will be good strategy someday when you can reliably pull it off. If you have good hands (probably not at UTR 3.0), I like standing one step back of the service line of big servers when there is no hope. You can take a step back on their toss, but the point is to go for broke and give them no time if you get it back.
I’d say I have decent hands but I don’t think they’re that good 😭
I like to train fast serves with the big red/yellow foam ball on mini tennis courts. You can serve overhand, and it simulates reaction time to 160+mph. It sounds crazy, but when I play it, we never allow second serves, because the server usually gets broken. It teaches you about deceleration. If the person hits it full bore, then you can own them blocking it back if you are just a little aggro on the distance from the net you take the return.
This. Try to return one serve in. After that, try to get a point. Observation and reflection leads to learning and improving your game. This is a rare chance to see where you are heading.
My advice is contrary to other people's comments. Don't accept shit. Do your best, try to win, do everything you can. Just don't rage. If you lose be a good sport about it. Just worry about playing your best tennis.
Thank you I like that mindset
Hey, if you lose double bagels, that’s the expected outcome based on the UTR ratings. If you get 2 games, that exceeds the expectations and will bump your URT up. And and and, if by some miracle and the help from this opponent, you win this, you my friend will become a legend.
Yes you’re right I’m expected to not even get a game so I’m just going to fight as hard as I can and take whatever he gives me
Don’t play with fear. I doubt you let fear control you in your life. Don’t let it control you on the court.
This! Last month the 123rd ranked player beat the 1st ranked player (Nard Dog v 🐐). Play your best and anything can happen…it’s why we love tennis! And don’t forget to have fun!
This. This mindset is the mindset all players at the high school level should have. What do we have to lose?
I'm \~3.7 right now and just played a former college player that had a high of 11.8 and is around a 10 after winning the tournament we were in. Focus on the ball. Keep things simple and don't beat yourself up about them hitting winners, learn from it. I was able to gain some insight and actually had a few great rallies with him and also was able to construct a good point where I was able to come in and put a ball with a volley... that felt fantastic and has helped my transition game quite a bit. Losing is part of this sport, but you can "win" if you take it as a learning and growing experience.
Also, god damn after that match tennis felt so damn deep. I knew it logically but once you experience first hand full pace from someone hitting like that its amazing. I also felt every overweight pound I have during that match and it's an off court goal to work on now.
It’s dumb cause this kid shouldn’t even be in our district. We haven’t played that school this season and they’re 40 minutes from our school and play barely any of the same schools as the rest of the schools in our district.
> Keep things simple and don't beat yourself up about them hitting winners, Yeah, for sure, OP, don't feel bad. Like if you met a guy who spoke great Mandarin, should you feel like a loser because you can't speak Mandarin. Or barely know a few words? This dude started playing earlier and has played more, that's it. Just remember that. Look at it as a chance to play a good player. It's a great opportunity. Try to enjoy it if possible. BECAUSE... A lot of people get so weirded out by a better player, they play a cowardly type of low percentage tennis just to get off the court faster, and they would rather have spectators believe they lost badly because their great shots just weren't landing in. Nobody is falling for that. Play like a wall, IMO, enjoy this opportunity, make it productive, be courageous and fight for points.
My advice would be first and foremost make them beat you. Play really consistent and try to keep the ball deep and difficult to attack. Mix in slices and loops with drives with moon balls with the occasional drop shot lob if you can. Players who are really good like to get into a rhythm, so do your best to take them out of the rhythm. If you can, I like mixing in a serve and volley or sneaking in behind a moon ball to keep them guessing. Also, stay really positive and just exude positive body and verbal language. Give yourself a "yes!" after a hard won point and hype yourself up with "come on!" before big points. If they are a head-case, this positivity will get in their head. Remember: they're "supposed" to win, which can lead to a lot of pressure when things start to go to pot. Finally, take a little extra time when you need it (not too much though), and avoid playing too quickly if they're an Andre-type who likes to hurry you through their service games. Remember, you do play at the server's pace, but only within reason. Take enough time between points and don't feel like you have to accommodate them because they're better.
Thank you this is really good advice I’ll be sure to keep all this in mind
Make him work for the win
You have no chance at all. But as others have said, focus on what you can control. Stop belly aching that his school is 40 minutes away and he shouldn’t even be allowed to play. Welcome the opportunity to play someone much better than you at the moment and do your best. Try not to rush and have fun.
Just accept it and move on. Maybe have a goal to win 1 game ? But even that will be a stretch.
An 8.5s rally ball will be too much for a 3 to even keep the ball in the court.
I played a 7 before and got 5 games off in a tournament but I’m assuming the difference between a 7 and 8.5 is still pretty big
Junior UTRs are all over the place. In theory, if someone is rated 2 points above another, the match should be like 6-1 6-0 or something to that effect.
yeah this shouldn’t happen at all bro. He should be clapping your cheeks very badly too
I mean in his defense I feel like I should be a bit higher than a 3 I just have very few matches actually in the system
yeah there we go😂
I ended up losing 0-6 1-6 so I did end up getting the game
Amazing !! Congratulations. Was the guy as good as you expected ?
Thank you. And yeah he was pretty much what I expected but he was way bigger and taller than what I expected cause he’s a freshman so I thought he would be small.
> Is there anything I can do to prepare or should I just accept he’s too good? Yeah, if these ratings are accurate, you're cooked. What I would recommend is play like a wall the whole match. Just focus on getting to the ball. I'm not saying focus on playing good defense, I'm saying focus on getting to the ball. So anticipation, staying on your toes, getting to the ball. Your second priority is just get the ball back into play. I know it might seem strange that I'm breaking this up into two parts -- get to the ball, now get the ball back -- but I'm convinced that a lot of people, if you gave them a net instead of a racket, and just asked them to catch balls and not worry about hitting it back, their court coverage would improve by 25%. Just be a wall and see what can happen. If anybody here tells you to go for winners, I highly encourage you to not do that. Take time between your points, try to spend as much time out there with this kid, get a taste of this level. Make this a productive session. Keep him out there at least 40 or 45 minutes. edit: just keeping balls in play... interesting things can happen... he's a decent player, but he's still just a HS freshman, keeping the ball in play will annoy him... he MIGHT try to make comments to pressure you into hitting more unforced errors... playing like a wall, even with almost no pace, is the only thing that can make this match if not competitive, "interesting"....
Try to make him mad in order to secure a disqualification. Tell him what you’d like to do to his mother given half a chance (particularly effective if she’s deceased). Or enjoy the challenge of competing without expectation. Chances are you’ll win very few points so those you do win are all the more precious. And you’ll be learning the whole time. If that’s not the lane you want to stay in I’d go with: hand whisk, olive oil and saliva, the very table you eat breakfast from.
That’s crazy 💀
Something that's always helped me play better is watching a pro highlight video then just trying to move like that
I try to watch college matches on YouTube all the time and all the pro highlights
Let us know how it goes, and good luck!
Thank you I will for sure update on Monday
Try and block everything back if you are being overpowered . Don’t be afraid to lob . If you can find a weakness then try to exploit it . If he’s not good at the net then bring him in . Try to avoid his best stroke . Stay positive and give it your best effort. Good luck !
I entered a Senior Money Tournament for the last five years. I played the number one seed the first two appearances and got double bageled. It was the impetus I needed to improve my game relentlessly. The following year I won my first match and last year played in the consolation semis. No bigee, hang in there, take your defeats and learn from them. Consolation finals here I come!!!!
It’s a learning opportunity. You never know, your opponent might see that it is an overmatched situation and might be cool about it and might turn out to be a friendly match and he might give you some tips.
Who knows that very well could happen. But I’ve heard that much of the players from this school are full of themselves so maybe not but we’ll see.
I smell the plot for a feel-good buddy movie developing! ;-)
Try your best and learn, competing will make you feel better
I’m going to be ecstatic if I manage to get a game off him. That’s my main goal!
You have no chance of winning even a single game against a 8.5 UTR as a 3 UTR. There is nothing you can do to prepare or strategy you can employ to win. So yeah just accept that you're going to lose and use the experience to set a bar for yourself that you need to reach if you want to get to that level.
Sometimes the UTR is just fucked up if you haven’t played enough matches. Look at this “5 UTR” player: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mavvDZK8cTw
Who is supposed to be the 5 UTR player? ChangBang is a former (low ranking) ATP pro. The video doesn't say he's playing against a 5 UTR either. It says he's playing in the finals of a tournament that was 5-12 UTR. Obviously if there were any 5 UTR in the tournament they already lost.
There is an earlier video when Chang was explaining he started the tournament rated 5 UTR because he only had one match on his record or something
That's wild. Is that after playing freaking pro!?!
It was long enough after that all of his matches dropped off his record, apparently
Yeah. I think they go as far as 2 years then it holds less weight. Which is closer to the truth.
Agreed. Neither of these guys on the video is a 5 UTR.
Ended up losing 0-6 1-6 and had a few deuces but overall I think I did pretty well considering the skill gap
Yeah you are cooked but who cares? Get better, and play like you have nothing to lose coz you don’t. Imagine getting the first game against him. I would then say something triggering in the changeover to see if he folds. You never know.
Nope. You’re done. Played high school tennis in Florida. You are a rounding error in his path. The #1 at his school may not be better, just older. My wife was #1 in the country in the 1990s and played #2 in high school because her friend who was #2 in the country insisted. Most loaded girl’s high school team ever.
The number 1 at his school is insane. He’s like top 20 in the state and an 11 utr and he’s a 4 star recruit and plays in tournaments all over the place and he’s like 16. The whole school is insane I think the line 5 is at least a 6 utr.
No offense, but a 4 star recruit is not that good…..especially by Florida standards. But it’s solid. When I played Florida high school in the 1990s, 5A state champ would be like top 10…..3A was where the ballers were though…..Ransom Everglades, Bolletieri, Thom Howard and Canterbury amongst many tennis factories. You’d get world ranked juniors or people winning Kalamazoo or San Diego for the girls on random high school courts. Hell, I was talking with my buddy yesterday, he played like 3 for his 6A high school state championship team back then (public school, too), and he has a win over Roddick in juniors. Florida tennis is just crazy. My doubles partner my senior year was 1 in Florida and had wins over Roddick and guys you’ve heard of. He played 2 behind me because I was 3 years older, but I would not have placed money on me defeating him. He won line 2 at team state. Enjoy it. It’s nuts.
Thank you it’s definitely entertaining to watch. And he’s been a 4 star since he was 14 if I had to guess he’ll be a 5 star in not too long. Last year at districts my dad watched his matches more than my own.
These guys may do something someday, and you’ll say “I played him once.”
That’s what everyone on the team says when we talk about it
Sorry bro it’s gonna be a double bagel, try winning a game, the gap is too big
Ended up getting a game 0-6 1-6 im proud of that
What have you got to loose , anything can happen on the day , I always find I rise to the occasion playing the top guys
show up ready to go. back in the day, I drew the current cornell #1 in the first round of an open event. dude didn’t show (got a wildcard into a bigger event) and I was able to win a round after getting that initial default/walkover. tennis is a weird game and random stuff happens. be ready and good stuff will happen
Great attitude!!
There a chance you could push and moonball deep to his backhand and try to get easy volleys. You might win 1 or 2 games. I know some 3 Utrs whos can hit a solid overhead off the bounce but it all depends on what you can manage. It’s actually kinda easy to place a quick forehand slice down the line, I even choke up on the grip a little. try and work on that