Weeks 10 & 11 - ATP Masters 1000 - Indian Wells, CA, USA (hard) - doubles

TomTraubert · Futures level

RE: Weeks 10 & 11 - ATP Masters 1000 - Indian Wells, CA, USA (hard) - doubles

Jan · Hall of fame

I still can't find it within myself to like these mtb's

Spectator · All-time great

Ditto. Loathe them. So often they're almost like a game of chance. Then again, I suppose you'd lose some of the singles players if they were three-set matches. (Not that many of the very top singles players - barring the one genuine doubles team among them - are left)

Miriambee · Futures level

Dom and Treat a break down in the first set 2-3*

indiana · Tennis legend

In an ideal world, I'd prefer best of 3 normal sets in doubles.

But personally I have much more of a problem with no Ad, which just so fundamentally changes the dynamics and psychology of the individual games.

MTBs can help a lot in estimating a maximum time for a doubles match and thus for scheduling ( sometimes to give more of a stage for doubles ) and I have certainly heard of some specialist doubles players that have come round to it.

Clearly the MTB is in general much more chancy than a normal final set ( though as I said, not that the sets are "normal" any more ). But you do have to effectively get the best of at least 18 points in a final pressurised situation. I think too often ( and to a large extent inaccurately ) that is described as a "lottery".

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Things improved when Dom & TCH followed Col & Ross on court, the MTB working to their advantage...

R2: Treat Huey (PHI) & Dominic Inglot CR 48 (20+28) defeated (5) David Marrero & Fernando Verdasco (ESP/ESP) CR 18 (7+11) by 3-6 6-3 [10-7]

******

QF: Treat Huey (PHI) & Dominic Inglot CR 48 (20+28) vs (2) Alexander Peya & Bruno Soares (AUT/BRA) CR 6 (3+3)

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes !! Well done, Dom and Treat.

TMH · Futures qualifying

Fantastic win.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

indiana wrote:
In an ideal world, I'd prefer best of 3 normal sets in doubles.

But personally I have much more of a problem with no Ad, which just so fundamentally changes the dynamics and psychology of the individual games.

MTBs can help a lot in estimating a maximum time for a doubles match and thus for scheduling ( sometimes to give more of a stage for doubles ) and I have certainly heard of some specialist doubles players that have come round to it.

Clearly the MTB is in general much more chancy than a normal final set ( though as I said, not that the sets are "normal" any more ). But you do have to effectively get the best of at least 18 points in a final pressurised situation. I think too often ( and to a large extent inaccurately ) that is described as a "lottery".

Have to say I'm largely with you on this one. I personally do find the MTB quite exciting - as I find any TB exciting and amongst my own circle of tennis types I think about half feel the same way. However, the No Ad decides games almost with the toss of a coin and, like you, I can't stand them and haven't yet found anyone else in favour either!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes, I agree.

The MTB, like a regular TB, serves a useful purpose and is quite exciting.

It is also completely 'neutral'.

The No-Ad point rule clearly favours the weaker team i.e. if you were to play against Rafa, the chance of you winning one point would be slim but not negligible (flukes and whatever). The chance of you winning two points is considerably less (of winning a game, WAY WAY less, etc. etc.).

KK · Club Coach

I agree too. In fact I find the one point on deuce rule staggering in professional sport. I have played it in a few charity tournaments on the third deuce and even in those circumstances it feels irritating and unfair.

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

I would like to see doubles go back to traditional three (and five) set matches.
I don't like the "deciding point" rule - makes breaks of serve more simple/frequent, and would like to see a return to a "proper" final set.
Does anywhere other than Wimbledon and DC have 5 sets matches? I think all GSs should have 5 set matches
I know that'll never happen with schedules etc, so if I had to ditch one it'd be the "deciding point" on deuce.

Mind you possibly the most annoying think is commentators referring to them as "championship tie breaks" doh

-- Edited by savva0122 on Tuesday 11th of March 2014 03:56:53 PM

steven · Tennis legend

Dom & Treat recovered from a set down to take the 2nd seeds into a decider, but sadly it wasn't to be - great effort though:

QF: Dominic Inglot & Treat Huey (PHI) CR 48 (20+28) lost to (2) Alexander Peya & Bruno Soares (AUT/BRA) CR 6 (3+3) by 7-6(4) 6-7(3) 10:7 :=(

Edit: Apparently Dom & Treat were *5-3 up in the MTB at one point

-- Edited by steven on Wednesday 12th of March 2014 02:31:13 AM

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

steven wrote:
Dom & Treat recovered from a set down to take the 2nd seeds into a decider, but sadly it wasn't to be - great effort though:

QF: Dominic Inglot & Treat Huey (PHI) CR 48 (20+28) lost to (2) Alexander Peya & Bruno Soares (AUT/BRA) CR 6 (3+3) by 7-6(4) 6-7(3) 10:7 :=(
Edit: Apparently Dom & Treat were *5-3 up in the MTB at one point

That is so disappointing. I was keeping an eye on progress, then dozed off at the start of the MTB & then could hardly bear to comment when I came to! cry

Spectator · All-time great

Well, at least they have the distinction of having taken 8 more games off Peya and Soares than Federer and Wawrinka did (PS d FW 6-4, 6-1) ... not to mention four more than the Murray brothers.