The format: 8 players a group, round robin, playing 7 matches; rally scoring to 15, win by 1 point.
The top four players with the highest points, go to play off: round robin, 3 matches, rally scoring to 11, win by 1 point. The score points decides #1, #2 and #3.
I won 3, lost 4 matches, finished 7th in total points: coach put me in Tier 2 – I’m at Tier 3 level – who kept saying don’t think about tennis … think pickleball -:)
April 16, 2025 at 11:06 pm
· Filed under Musing, Tennis
So, the British tennis player – wild card – Harriet Dart (1996-; 2015, $2,891,681) becomes overnight sensation due to her comment on her opponent Lois Boisson (2003-; 2021?, $127,741) at R32, “… Can you tell her to wear deodorant, … she smells really bad …” @ 2025 Ope de Rouen: she lost to the French, 0 and 3.
Rouen is a small city on the Seine river, in the NW corner of France, population 116,331. It’s a WTA 250 tourney (April 14-20), winner takes home $275,094, which is far better than the Sarasota Open.
Before leaving, I watched briefly R32 Mark Lajal (the hairdo!) & Wu Tung-lin‘s match. Lajal’s team erupted thunderously, when Wu Tung-lin missed his backhand put away at the net. It was the second set and Lajal won it 7-5, forcing the third, who ultimately won 6-4.
Patrick Maloney (no wiki page) is an American, obvious I’m rooting for him. Then the chair umpire said, “ma’am please don’t clap for free error.”
Maloney asks, “is that a rule?”
Ump said, “No, just not a good etiquette.”
Mmmm… How about the screaming pig? Is that a good etiquette? How about Lajal’s team members?
My last usta sanctioned competition was nearly 10 years ago (2016?), if my memory serves me right. This one is for real: us vs Sun, another community.
… I’m so not competition ready! …
The format is usta’s: best of 3 sets; 7 point tie break for the first two sets, and super 10 point tie break the third set – both use Woman’s.
There are 9 matches/courts: three each of men’s, women’s and mixed doubles. I played 2nd line of mixed doubles with Kevin W., lost to Tracy R and Wayne K.: 3-6, 2-6, the worst outcome of the mixed doubles bracket. Our club lost 2-7 over all.
We got off to a good start, leading 2-0. Then the heavy set, 6′ Wayne asked if I touched the ball.
I absolutely did NOT. I was not even close to the ball. I despised dishonesty. He said, “oh, I heard something.”
Maybe your own breath?
They’re slow, procrastinate, have water break on even games. If they just take a sip and return to court I won’t say a thing. It’s 1pm and hot. But they linger … When I serve, he said he isn’t ready.
“You play at server’s pace.”
He said he doesn’t know any usta rules… so he’s type of person who likes to have the last say, for the sake of saying something petty. I don’t like quibble too -:)
Maybe that’s his strategy, to disturb and it worked. We began to play their game, which is slow lob and backboard, that everything comes back. I then suddenly realize why I don’t like to play with women. I don’t have the patience. This shows, I’m def not competition ready.
The last game of the last court: Helene P. / Neal P. def Y/Gu
Getting into the parking garage is super difficult – long wait at traffic light, then the traffic itself. There are sections in the garage that are corned off for the valet parking. Seriously, where are the valets? We’re late for the game – for me, the national anthem is the highlight. So I’m pretty mad.
The game is very much one sided. A grand slam home run in the 5th inning by Mets 1st baseman Pete Alonso (1994-), his first of the year, which is kind of sealed the outcome. Mets would defeat Marlins 10-4.
The LoanDepot park is an arena with retractable roof. It’s air conditioned tonight. At Miami Open because there isn’t roof, so the finals are affected by the element.
The small box of popcorn is very much appreciated.
There are these letters on the ground – do they mean anything, or just a decor? A, N, O could be Loan but M or W? … Some fans said it’s a nod to the Orange Bowl.
Women’s final, Jessica Pegula was defeated, 5 and 2.
We normally go to the earlier rounds, like in 2023 and 2024; but this year, due to meeting up with friends and they’re in Miami during the final. So women’s final it is – very unfortunate.
What’s new in rackets? The blues
Mens doubles final plays first: Marcelo Arevalo & Mate Pavic def two Brits, Lloyd Glasspool & Julian Cash. Arevalo (1990-) is a 34 years old journey man (2012, US $3,362,558) from EL Salvador. He got emotional after the last point, and held his son (?) when receiving the trophy.
The match is straightforward. We endure the animal like grunts … How it is fair that the spectators are required total silence, not a peep, while the players are screaming their hearts out, out there?
The Open, the 40th edition, since 1981, is March 18-30; singles winners take in $1,124,380, runner up $597,890.
Parking: over the last two years, we paid $35 each time, discount for SunPass holders. The full price is $40. we’ve been parking in lot 18 orange. Prepay is $30 but park in #14 yellow, which is farther, we’ve to walk on the street to get to the overpass by #18. There are golf carts that offer ride by #14. I didn’t ask how much.
Itau (Itaú founded in 2008 in São Paulo, Brazil) is a private bank …
We won the final of our 2025 MLP at 9:5 over the 2nd place team Linda’s Dinkers Anonymous. All seven teams (4As, 3Bs) play at the same time 6:30. Bracket A is a tie at 4:4 and Bracket B won 5:1.
The third place is Hell’s Kitchen, 4th is Gherkins 2.0 (Sally & John A and their lineup; I played my first playoff with John in 2023), and the last is Dinkers & Drivers who failed to make the playoff.
A little pat on the shoulder: we B bracket won all our matches: 4 regular weeks and two playoffs. It’s not an easy task but we managed.
Today, my partner and I won both games for the B bracket:
w/ Inez def Diane and Donna 25:10
w/ Inez def Diane and Donna 25:19
Since it’s rally scoring and I’m on the right hand side, so I served out both matches. The first match was a forced error and the second match I ended it with an overhead.
The second match when we were at 24, I missed four points, including a serve: what was going on with me???
One good thing about this tourney is I learned a lot, from my partners and from spectators, who are just more critical, which is good.
Mixing it up: as I was going to warm up in the pool, I saw my ex partner and mistaken her as my current. She said, “Irene, we’re not playing together.”
Me, “Yes we’re.”
She, “No, we’re not.” then showing me the lineup, did then I realize she isn’t Inez. Irene, get a grip, will you?
I, “oh well, all the white girls are look alike.” … to cover my embarrassment.
Was I nuts? Yes I was … both captains Linda and Ed told me “just forget about it” and go to play as I normally do. “There’s a player who goes into kitchen all the time and no one said anything …” But I’d rather to change my serve because I want to win fair and square. AND I did, which is more satisfying.
Both opponents are very nice. I called their ball good when I wasn’t sure, early on, which is what I always do: 99% out is still 100% IN. It was probably out because my partner asked about it. Then it was Donna who gave us a close baseline call. At the second game, Diane called an out ball good. I’m generous on line calls but I won’t contradict a call during a competition – the cardinal rule.
My partner has experience and is awesome. During many long rallies – that is what Irene does who knows not much, Inez would come in and put it away. The practiced we’ve yesterday helps.
If there is one thing that I take away from this tourney is how much I learnt from everyone, my teammates, my partners and spectators: thank you all. Some are more critical than others but I benefit from it nevertheless.
In the second match, I returned the ball without bouncing – feeling utterly dumb and inadequate. My partner said that she does that too: a great partner who’s supporting you however they can. Kim is forever complimentary, which gives me confidence.
All in all, thanks to the organizers, my captain, teammates and the spectators: it was a great run.
The second pickleball tourney of the year.
