Technically, the event is called the Tom Fey Tri-Level Nat'l Invitational as for many years, it wasn't a USTA sponsored event but instead was run by Tom Fey, the Tennis Director at Indian Wells Tennis Garden for many years, and done as an Invitational. Tom passed away far too soon a few years ago, and the event now bears his name, but now the USTA runs the it as a National Invitational.
The timing of the event remains the same, right around the time of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, but this year it is in San Diego. Also, for many years the Invitational invited teams playing in the 3.5/4.0/4.5 division to play, but now the USTA holds the event for three different divisions for both genders, 3.0/3.5/4.0, 3.5/4.0/4.5, and 4.0/4.5/5.0.
The stature of the event has grown as a result with teams from all of the sections participating in at least one event.
- Women's 3.0/3.5/4.0 has 14 teams (Hawaii, Intermountain, and Midwest missing)
- Men's 3.0/3.5/4.0 has 14 teams (Hawaii, Caribbean, and Intermountain missing)
- Women's 3.5/4.0/4.5 has 16 teams (Caribbean missing)
- Men's 3.5/4.0/4.5 has the full 17 teams
- Women's 4.0/4.5/5.0 has 9 teams
- Men's 4.0/4.5/5.0 has 9 teams
That is a whopping 79 teams all playing over the weekend, which it appears necessitates some different scheduling to what we normally see for a Nationals. Normally it is a Friday to Sunday event, but this weekend has:
- 3.5/4.0/4.5 division being played 3/7 thru 3/9
- 4.0/4.5/5.0 division being played 3/8 thru 3/10
- 3.0/3.5/4.0 division being played 3/9 thru 3/11
Even with the staggered schedule, it is too big for one venue so the event is being co-hosted by Barnes Tennis Center and Balboa Tennis Club.
Given all the rain in California this year, a weather check is in order and the start of the event looks in a little danger as there are thunderstorms forecast for the 6th with hail possible and rain showers lingering into the morning of the 7th, but after that all looks fine with cloudy to partly cloudy skies the rest of the days.
Good luck to all the teams!
Couple of comments. Indoor play levels the playing field for the teams coming from areas that cannot play outdoors all year. It's unfortunate that USTA doesn't take that into consideration more often. We are seeing a major drop in the number of teams (we are down to 2 4.0 teams). What are you seeing Nation wide? Also, any comments or analysis available for the 55+ mixed Nationals coming up?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what you mean by your first point. Yes, some areas play indoors a good portion of the year while others are able to play outdoors. That perhaps puts the teams that play indoors at a small disadvantage when they play a Nationals/Invitational outdoors and aren't as accustom to it, but I'm not sure how that is really an issue? One could argue that some Nationals/Invitational could be in a Northern climate and played indoors to even the playing field, but it is really hard to find a location with sufficient court capacity that is willing to give it up for an entire weekend.
DeleteGenerally speaking, yes, some areas are down in participation and that shows in the overall numbers, but number of teams too. But some areas are in fact growing.
I likely will try to write about the upcoming 55+ Mixed.