tennis, life and a few things in between

This year, the Open is held at Sarasota Sports Club, April 6-13. The venue is far nicer than 2013‘s Payne Park.

The prize money is $100,000. Singles winner from round of 32 takes $14,200 for playing 4 matches.

The past champions include: Kei Nishikori, James Blake, Sam Querrey, Nick Kyrgios, Francis Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Daniel Galan and Daniel Altmaier.

A few facts:

1. A surprise to see USA Coal … seriously? AI says, USA Coal isn’t a company but refers to the coal industry.
2. The broken umbrellas: can’t they afford to use a decent umbrella?
3. bathroom tissue box is empty

The ticket to Day 2 is $35. It’s all singles: some are round of 32 and some are qualifying rounds.

We watched three matches:

1. D. Dutra da Silva def Bruno Kuzuhara: 6-4, 6-4 (Q) @ Bollettieri center court
2. Patrick Maloney def Corentin Denolly: 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 (Q) @ Nishikori Court
3. Filip Cristian Jiaru def Facundo Mena: 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 (R32) @ Bollettieri Court

Before leaving, I saw briefly Mark Lajal (the hairdo!) & Wu Tung-lin‘s round of 32 match. 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?

3600 Torrey Pines Blvd.
Sarasota, Florida 34238

It’s all about tennis: 19 har tru courts, 15 are lighted. On site, there is a decent sized swimming, and a fitness center (?)

We came here for the Sarasota Open, 2025.

The swimming pool looks nice. In late afternoon, there seems to be some children program/lesson going on.

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

三队男双 女双 混双 总共9场

俺打第二混双
男双 女双 打完后是 4-2
混双 全军覆没. 俺打的最差 惭愧面对搭档. 难得能跑的 而且打的好. 浪费了小鲜肉. 我们输3和2. 总结局7-2
输球好容易 – 躺平是不是就是这个意思?

很多女娃像谢淑薇(1986-) a backboarder 软绵绵的球总是回来 其实慢悠悠的回来是俺没本事打个回不来的不就完了? 还是那班清晨的男娃们好
对手男6尺高 输了一分后就问我 有没有碰到球
Seriously, are you kidding me?
俺问 “你是在质疑我的诚信吗?”
… 然后他说他不知道什么规则不规则的
无语 无聊
…
打完后 女娃赶着要电话
俺真心没兴趣. 她们是3.5 满城区的跑. 又不是usta 可以盼望打national
清晨男到是有一队 不过是7.0的… 觉得6.0 比较有希望. 他可能觉得有些受辱 (?)
没有4.0的男 怎么打7.0?
不八了
对不起输了
…
吃吃喝喝吧
明天又是一个艳阳天