Jazz Burks's Articles (9)

If anybody cared the last three matches went like this... I won a real lights out battle in the impending darkness at the Northwestern University outdoor courts. To quote the Ljubman, "spend some Euros and get some lights!" That match was on a sweltering hot Friday evening. On a cold gray Sunday morning I lost a real rock'em sock'em battle with a guy who I have always had big hitting wars. Fast forward to the next week to face my retriever nemesis and clearly was not ready to suffer as he…

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Finally, I'm up against a familiar opponent!Our history dates back to last season where he beat me in three sets in the spring and we played to a draw in fall. Third set was a victim of the rain. 

His game similar to mine. The big difference is he does not get get as many free points off the serve as I do and I'm not as good from the baseline as he is. His forehand can misfire at times, so the plan was to force the ball to that side and let the unforced errors pile up

The…

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Now that I played my last match it was time to play my first match. The place was a little closer to my house so it felt like a true home match. Temp was about 45 degrees Fahrenheit, another great spring day in Chicago.  It was about 5 pm so I was not sure if we would get the match in under natural light.

My opponent looked to be someone who had been bumped down so I was wary of higher level play. Once again he was a opponent with a one handed backhand and a big forehand.…

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My 1st match was actually my last match. My opponent was on vacation and wanted to get the match in. This being a flex league and I'm nothing if not flexible. I get the e-mail at work, but luckily I brought my bag and tennis clothes so we set up a time and place for the match.

I know another flex league sponsors Tennisopolis but as treacherous as the spring is in Chicagoland, playing in two flex leagues is tennis suicide. The match temperature was 52 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind…

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I've been playing Gladiator Tennis since 2012, before my return to tournament singles tennis. Well, 2013 was the year of a bum knee and right shoulder that pretty much put me on the singles shelf. 2014 saw me return to GT at the level I was at in 2012 (4.5). The spring season was an abomination. I got my clock cleaned for 5 straight matches, lost a heartbreaking 3rd set tiebreak, and then won…

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In my previous blog entry I stated my plan for my return to competitive tennis. Well this is how it went down...

First Match:

My internet scouting did seem accurate as my opponent appeared to lack the consistency of a top level 3.5 player but he did have solid technique that would warrant a move up from 3.0. In the first set I extended…

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Making my return to USTA competitive tennis tonight. I'm playing a 3.5 singles tournament. I've had little practice so I'm not expecting much in the tournament. I lucked out with my 1st opponent who appears to be a top level 3.0 who is starting to play up. My opponent played this event last year and ate a double bagel in his 1st match. I hope to keep that tradition going for him. If I beat him I meet the 4th seed who got a bye. Both matches will take place tonight.

The plan…

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This was too big to put in my status box so I'm sticking it in my blog.

Found out two things this weekend. One, as pretty as my backhand is I should play the forehand side in doubles. Unless my partners backhand is an utter liability. Two, my doubles racquet is my EXO3 93 Graphite and my singles racquet is my Diablo tour mid.

I must give a shoutout to my favorite writer L. Jon Wertheim for his new book STROKES OF GENIUS: FEDERER, NADAL, AND THE GREATEST MATCH EVER PLAYED. Anybody that reads Wertheim's online mailbag column and his Tennis magazine stories will recognize some of the anecdotes and stories previously covered. It is fun to read them again as they are woven into this epic battle. Also the book is not only about Federer and Nadal you do get tidbits about Nole, Daydenko, even journeyman Marc Gicquel gets… Continue