First, we had all teams able to play four matches each which gave more players a chance to play at Nationals vs the old format where most teams only played three matches. I think everyone involved appreciates this.
Second, we didn't have any events finish with only undefeated teams in the semis. While it was possible for this to happen, and it was even possible to end up with 5 or more undefeated sending an undefeated team home, it didn't happen and we had ties for 4th place and the last semi spot.
Third, the ties were all with 3-1 records. While it was possible for ties to happen with 2-2 records, it did not happen this weekend.
Fourth, the size of the ties on record ranged from 5 teams for 2 spots for the 4.0 men and women, to 3 teams for 1 spot for the 5.0+ women. It is possible for these ties to be significantly larger though.
Fifth, the tie-breakers were then important. The 4.0 men had 3 teams tied on court record so it went to sets lost and was decided there, and the 5.0+ women had two teams tied on court record but it was also decided on sets lost.
The 5.0+ men got all the way to sets lost and was still tied, and despite Mid-Atlantic having won more sets and being 1-0 vs Southern's 0-1 vs a common opponent, Southern won the tie-breaker by losing one less game as that is the next tie-breaker used after sets lost. Just one game decided who advanced when there were far more objective metrics to use first. This seems like a horribly flawed tie-breaker system, lets hope it doesn't affect another team in the next few weeks.
Sixth, we had a team that made the semi-finals disqualified! The 4.0 women had two undefeated teams and 5 teams at 3-1, but one of the 4-0 teams, Caribbean, had a grievance filed against them for not having the minimum 8 players and was not allowed to play in the semis, instead the 5th place Southern moved in to the slot.
Seventh, we had a 4.0 women's team, Midwest, lose a match to a semi-finalist, but still make the semis themselves and get to avenge their loss in the final over Missouri Valley. We knew a team could have to beat a team twice in the new format, but it happened already.
Eighth, the weather held. The new format has more matches to play, so having good weather is even more important than before. There was a chance of thunderstorms, but they either stayed away or didn't amount to much as from what I can tell, all matches were played as full matches on schedule. Yea!
Ninth, we had generally traditionally strong sections make the semis, particularly for the men. Here are the counts:
- Caribbean - 4.0M, 4.0W*, 5.0+M
- Southern - 4.0M, 4.0W*, 5.0+M
- Texas - 4.0M, 5.0+W
- NorCal - 5.0+W, 5.0+M
- Florida - 4.0M, 5.0+M
- SoCal - 5.0+W
- Mid-Atlantic - 5.0+W
- Missouri Valley - 4.0W
- Midwest - 4.0W
- New England - 4.0W
We are only one weekend in, but just 5 of the sections take up 12 of the 17* semi-finalists spots. And for the men those 5 sections took up all 8 semi-finalist spots. This is perhaps an artifact of the new format, as in the past a non-traditional team from a weak flight could make the semis and a traditional team from a strong flight would miss out, but those traditional sections can now make the semis despite a loss, so the new format will probably cause this trend to continue.
Tenth, despite all the excitement of this weekend, there are more possibilities to come including:
- Four undefeated teams make the semis meaning no controversy or tie-breakers
- Five teams go undefeated and one is sent home without making the semis which would be unfortunate
- A six or more way tie for a semi-final spot and the confusion and controversy that might ensue
- A tie at 2-2 for a semi-final spot, and won't that be a doozy
- More than two teams in a tie having to go to the really flawed games lost tie-breaker
- Teams being tied on the games lost tie-breaker and going to the feared "method to be determined by the Championship Committee" to break the tie
- A team scheduled to be there doesn't show up and the USTA has to change the schedule on the fly
So there is still a lot to look forward to. Stay tuned for more simulations and predictions this week. And if you want even more info to help scout opponents and plan your line-ups, contact me about flight or team reports.
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