USTA League National Championships - Why do cities with warmer climates dominate? or do they?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Fly on May 4, 2011 at 1:28pm

I think it's probably a matter of sharpness. 

I've noticed that my game bounces up and down pretty heavily depending on how much practice I've been getting. 

When I left high school I was probably a solid 5.5, took about 5 years off (put on 80 lbs, probably lost a ton of muscle mess), and then started back playing at 3.0, bumped to 3.5, then to 4.0 where I struggled for about the first month or so at practice and my first match, but I've won 0,1 and 1,1 in my last two matches. 

 

The difference? I always start out sluggish at whatever level I'm at because I'm usually busy at the beginning of the year with work/school, and by the late spring, I have more time to practice, and become sharper, which can make all the difference in the world. 

 

I'm guessing that players from the warmer regions who are serious about competing top out in sharpness, at their particular level, so aren't good enough to get bumped, but are playing as well as they could for their given abilities. Those in the colder climates are probably not playing as often during the winter, and have to get sharp again as the year goes on, perhaps not even playing their best once they go to nationals. 

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Permalink Reply by Mike Dong on May 4, 2011 at 5:57pm

Interesting.  I'm not sure why that would be.  I have heard that a 4.0 player here in CA would be more of a 4.5 player say in NC.  I'm not even sure if there is any validity in that claim but I personally think that athleticism can prevail in any weather!  :)

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Permalink Reply by Mark / The Mayor on October 21, 2011 at 9:46am

I can say that the teams from AZ (especially Phoenix) tend to be stronger than those from my home state NM.  I think a large part of it is from people self-rating lower than they should be.  This seems to be more cut-throat in Phoenix.

 

It is hard to say based on just one match, but I beat a 4.5 from CA fairly easily and I'm a NM 4.5...

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Permalink Reply by Jazz Burks on October 23, 2011 at 8:12pm

I agree with Dan. With year round good weather these players do have a distinct advantage. Of course the skeptics will just say, "play inside!" You must realize that logistics come into as to locations of indoor facilities, availability, fees etc... These would be fine if this was our livelyhood but we pay the USTA to play not the other way around. I'm sure the Midwest squads could win at Nationals but it would take a great squad of handpicked talent.

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