The USTA started Nationals later than normal this year but is still wrapping up the 2nd weekend in November, so the schedule is more compressed with a full four events this first weekend.
The 18 & Over 3.5 men were in San Diego and they had a 3-way tie for the last semi spot with Intermountain taking it despite having the same court record and sets lost as SoCal, but they lost fewer games so they advanced even though their game winning percentage was not as good, another case of the flawed tie-breakers choosing the wrong team. They joined 4-0 Middle States, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic in the semis and Intermountain came through in their semi 4-1 to face Mid-Atlantic who won 3-2, where Intermountain took the title. The simulation had three of the semi-finalists as favorites or contenders, but Intermountain was a bit of a surprise.
The 18 & Over 3.5 women had a 5-way tie at 3-1 for two spots, Florida and SoCal taking them on court record. SoCal took out NorCal 4-1 while Florida beat Intermountain 3-2 before Florida won the final 4-1. The simulation had Florida, SoCal, and Intermountain but NorCal was a surprise.
The 40 & Over 3.0 men were in Scottsdale and just one 4-0 team, Florida, with 5-way tie for the remaining three spots saw Southern, PNW, and Intermountain take the spots on court record. Intermountain beat Florida 5-0 while Southern took out PNW 3-2, before Southern won the final 5-0. The simulation liked liked Intermountain, Southern, and Florida, but PNW was a surprise.
The 40 & Over 3.0 women saw three 4-0 teams in Middle States, SoCal, and NorCal, and then a 4-way tie for the last spot with Eastern taking it on court record. Middle States beat Eastern 4-1 while SoCal beat NorCal 3-2, and then SoCal won the final 4-1. The four semi-finalists were all in the simulation's top-6, so not bad.
The 40 & Over 4.5 men were in Surprise and had three 4-0 teams, Southern, SoCal, and Mid-Atlantic, Southern only losing one court, and then a four way tie for the last spot with Intermountain taking it on fewer sets lost over NorCal and Midwest. Southern ended up winning it beating Intermountain 4-1 and then SoCal 3-2 after SoCal beat Mid-Atlantic 3-2. The simulation liked Southern as the favorite with SoCal next and Had NorCal as a favorite along with Intermountain as a contender as was Mid-Atlantic, so a very good prediction.
The 40 & Over 4.5 women had just a 2-way tie at 4-0 for two spots, Southern, and Mid-Atlantic, and then four teams vying for the last two spots at 3-1 with NorCal and SoCal taking the spots on court record. The semis saw Southern beat SoCal 3-2 and NorCal beat Mid-Atlantic by the same score, and then Southern won 3-2 in the final. The simulation had Mid-Atlantic and SoCal as favorites and NorCal and Southern as contenders.
The 40 & Over 4.0 women were in Orlando and had five tied at 3-1 for one semi spot and it went to Southwest on court record, them joining 4-0 Mid-Atlantic, SoCal, and Florida. Mid-Atlantic beat Southwest in one semi 3-2, and Florida beat SoCal also 3-2 where Mid-Atlantic won the title also 3-2. The simulation had Southwest, SoCal, and Florida as the top three teams with Mid-Atlantic a contender, so not too bad.
Last, the event I was at, the 40 & Over 4.0 men had four 4-0 teams, but very nearly had five before my team upset Midwest in our last match. The irony of my team "saving" the USTA from five 4-0 teams is not lost on me as I would have had fun writing about it happening again, but my team fought and pulled out the win much to New England's delight as they would have been the 5th 4-0 team going home. It is actually the second time a PNW team upset a 4-0 bound team avoided five 4-0 teams in just two weeks. Florida, Southern, and Eastern were the other semi-finalists and Florida beat New England and Eastern got by Southern with three match TB wins, and then Florida won the final. The simulation had Eastern, Midwest, and Southern as favorites and Florida as a contender, just New England was a bit of a surprise.
On a personal note, playing at the National Campus was a blast, it was my first time there and it is a great facility. Not making the semis we even took the opportunity to play on clay on Sunday since we rarely have the chance. We had a very tough schedule facing the teams that finish 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th and they had a combined 14-2 record, one loss to us (Midwest) and the other loss when two of those played each other. But we still had a great time and had competitive matches, I alone had three match tie-breaks, one going to 20-18! Thanks to the USTA for putting on a well run event.
Congratulations to all the champions.
Congrats to you Kevin! What an accomplishment.
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