USTA rules allow for there to be a 1.0 rating level gap between players which means at 7.0 a 3.0 and 4.0 can play together, at 8.0 a 3.5 and 4.5 can, and you get the idea. But the question always is if these non-balanced pairs do better or worse than a balanced, e.g. 3.5/3.5 or 4.0/4.0, do?
I've looked at this before for 7.0 and 8.0, but I thought it was a good time to take a look again and get a bit more specific and detailed. So here goes.
In each case below, the first level is the male and second is the female. And I've looked at the various different combinations to have a complete picture.
For 7.0, here is how it breaks out for the 18 & over Mixed leagues over the past few years:
- 4.0/3.0 vs 3.5/3.5 - The 4.0/3.0 wins 60% of the time
- 3.0/4.0 vs 3.5/3.5 - The 3.0/4.0 wins 52% of the time
- 4.0/3.0 vs 3.0/4.0 - The 4.0/3.0 wins 57% of the time
Here is the same for the 8.0:
- 4.5/3.5 vs 4.0/4.0 - The 4.5/3.5 wins 61% of the time
- 3.5/4.5 vs 4.0/4.0 - The 3.5/4.5 wins 51% of the time
- 4.5/3.5 vs 3.5/4.5 - The 4.5/3.5 wins 60% of the time
And the same for 9.0:
- 5.0/4.0 vs 4.5/4.5 - The 5.0/4.0 wins 57% of the time
- 4.0/5.0 vs 4.5/4.5 - The 4.0/5.0 wins 58% of the time
- 5.0/4.0 vs 4.0/5.0 - The 5.0/4.0 wins 51% of the time
As before, it appears the unbalanced pairs will generally do better than balanced, and the unbalanced with the higher rated male is going to be stronger. But it does change some by level with 9.0 being the most different.
Now, of course it is going to depend on the actual ratings of the players involved. For example, at 8.0, two strong 4.0s are likely going to do better than a weak 4.5 and weak 3.5. But the stats above are from looking at tens of thousands of matches the last few years so tell us what happens on average.
What do you think? Do you have an explanation for why unbalanced seems to rule?
Hi Kevin, do you have an email or other form to reach you with a question on ratings and the USTA site? Mine is johncotey@gmail.com if that's easier. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYep, ratings@teravation.net. I'll send you an e-mail.
Delete@Kevin I'm about to play some mixed 7.0 as a 3.0A player. We have a team loaded with 4.0 women. I'm curious to get your explanations about why we see these results. Is there something different about the way men and women are chosen at the various ratings in 7.0 for example? So do 4.0 men and women have the leverage to pick higher skilled 3.0 players (dare I say higher rated) as partners? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteA simple answer is that Mixed attracts stronger players for the lower rated player of unbalanced pairs. You are an example, as a 3.0A you are at the top of the 3.0 range, so when you play against 3.5s you may be playing 3.5s anywhere in the 3.5 range and not be that much weaker.
DeleteThe other answer is I think that most tennis players find it hard to pick on the weaker player all the time, so if you are an unbalanced pair, you may have the strongest player on the court, and if they get enough balls, they have a big influence on dictating play. If all the balls go to the weaker player, that wouldn't be the case but it is hard to do that, and the weaker player can be positioned to diminish the negatives.
Thanks.
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