tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post1448640327737176254..comments2024-03-26T09:23:26.937-04:00Comments on ZooTennis: Rubin, Gordon Advance in Wimbledon Junior Qualifying; US Women Have Good Day at Wimbledon; USTA Clay Court Wild Cards; Altamirano and Donaldson Meet in 2013 Kalamazoo Final RematchColette Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905215531491180014noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-71217494018281324892014-06-30T00:07:29.091-04:002014-06-30T00:07:29.091-04:00It is apparent to me that these posts are made by ...It is apparent to me that these posts are made by parents of junior players that are living it everyday and have experience raising their kid through the junior system. Don't need their names to make the points any more valid than they are. Many times it is obvious, whether named or not, those that have never personally raised a player to high levels or at all, and give opinions because they are involved with jr. tennis, but only as an outlier. That includes many coaches that don't foot the bill or really understand the national and ITF systems.Names don't validate a thing...noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-32520843410340930172014-06-29T18:10:02.695-04:002014-06-29T18:10:02.695-04:00sounds like someone needs a hug…:)sounds like someone needs a hug…:)Mr. No Namenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-24115689251776684912014-06-29T14:56:02.488-04:002014-06-29T14:56:02.488-04:00With no names attached all this stuff is pejorativ...With no names attached all this stuff is pejorative pablum. Baseless assumptions. Happy SundayMarty Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160264621446227870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-8374014122920555672014-06-28T19:39:11.889-04:002014-06-28T19:39:11.889-04:00Agree, ITFs are changing. ITF 5s in North America ...Agree, ITFs are changing. ITF 5s in North America have become very entry level compared to the clout they use to have. Now many mid level players see them as a good place to start and get out the USTA and overcrowded US ITF system, which is good if you can afford the travel. The old rule was you didn't play ITFs till you dominated or won some national events. Not true anymore, they have become a training ground with pretty weak draws. The US ITFs will get better players because of the fleeing from the national system and their cost effectiveness. The quota system is wreaking havoc. Why spend the money/time to send a top player to play 3 or four sub-par rounds before you hit someone worth playing in the semis or finals, if you ever do.<br /><br />In terms of clays, it's clay and its U.S. For many college coaches it doesn't mean so much and players have caught on to that. Combine that with lack of interest in a national ranking and a player's resources could be better spent elsewhere.Changing landscapenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-17331601040665356232014-06-28T17:27:02.630-04:002014-06-28T17:27:02.630-04:00Clay courts are terrible this year. I guess it al...Clay courts are terrible this year. I guess it all blew up in the USTA's face... Looks like a L3.Weak field at Claynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-19945808162122049112014-06-28T17:23:05.146-04:002014-06-28T17:23:05.146-04:00Blue chips and 5 stars - in response to the commen...Blue chips and 5 stars - in response to the comment below, I tried to find a tournament that fell the same time as a national tournament - there is one where players need to choose as their is some overlap.<br /><br />National L3 - End of Oct<br />Evert ITF October - End of Oct.<br /><br />http://www.itftennis.com/juniors/tournaments/tournament/info.aspx?tournamentid=1100029441<br /><br />This is a weak field? Almost every player is a blue chip or a 5 star at the ITF. <br /><br /> Now compare that field to the national that weekend Oct 2013 level 3. <br /><br />Night and day -<br />the players at the L3 ( 5 star to 3 star) <br />and the ITF ( blue chip and 5 star).Corynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-31829565846990728632014-06-28T16:14:19.040-04:002014-06-28T16:14:19.040-04:00Ironically the ITF system is also feeling the weig...Ironically the ITF system is also feeling the weight with ITF 5s and 4s filling with average players who are fleeing their section as well. It's not the best players, but people that can afford to travel to ITFs. They are playing ITFs when they haven't won anything in their section, let alone anything nationally. Those ITF levels have become so watered down in the last 12 months and look more like the old national 4s and 5s (sectional) events in terms of tennis level. What a domino effect on junior tennis.ITFs feeling itnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-25703692417351972572014-06-28T12:01:07.213-04:002014-06-28T12:01:07.213-04:00Haven't you noticed? The best USA players hav...Haven't you noticed? The best USA players have essentially told the USTA to stick their tournaments up their you know what and are playing ITF tournaments instead. Joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-62237074133005560122014-06-27T18:26:42.395-04:002014-06-27T18:26:42.395-04:00The USTA's first mission should not be Coachin...The USTA's first mission should not be Coaching Players but to provide a Tournament Structure which provides the best competition for our USA players. If USTA wants to develop players, then provide a tournament structure that gets the best players to play their respected best events. This seems it would be so simple after ALL these years but it is massively regressing.<br /><br />USTA Nationals are getting weaker and weaker. As are the Sectional tournaments. <br /><br />Everything should be synced from: Local, State, Sectional and National. <br /><br />disasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-79388089286996185492014-06-27T17:05:05.203-04:002014-06-27T17:05:05.203-04:00Elite US Juniors gave up on clays (and most of the...Elite US Juniors gave up on clays (and most of the USTA tournaments), and we now have a very so-so tournament down in Florida this year. <br /><br />Lesson for USTA - Best players will seek out the best tennis and it is not in the land of the #1000 ranked national player who got in under a quota.Dannoreply@blogger.com