Decathlon Doubles Dare 2005

There was an error with the original seedings, so new draws and schedules have been posted. Please check the draws for your new start times!

The tournament director reserves the right to change match start times up until the day before the start of the tournament. Remember to COME BACK TO THE TOURNAMENT HOME PAGE ON THURSDAY, 9/22/05, to review the final tournament schedule. The referee will be using the point penalty system in conjunction with the final tournament schedule to penalize late arrivals. No shows are subject to tournament suspension. more info

According to section I.G. of the USTA Regulations, the Tournament Committee has the responsibility for determining seedings for single-elimination tournaments. The seedings should represent the Committee’s subjective ratings of the various players’ chances of winning the tournament, as justified by all available evidence, including, but not limited to, rankings, current records, types of surface, and particularly head-to-head encounters. Unfortunately, the Northern California section has seen fit to take this responsibility out of the Tournament Committee’s hands. According to the Northern California section, the Tournament Committee must determine seedings using the most recent individual standings lists. Currently, these so-called “standings” lists simply rank players by the total number of grand prix points they have accumulated. They do not rank players by records, head-to-head encounters, or any other evidence of ratings described in the USTA regulations. In other words, the standings lists do not represent true ratings. By requiring the Tournament Committee to use the seedings lists, the Northern California section has defeated the purpose of the USTA regulations, which is to ensure players of recognized outstanding ability do not confront each other in the early rounds. The draws I posted on Sunday night represented my subjective ratings of the teams as justified by all available evidence. However, after one or more players complained that I had not used the seedings lists, and after I received a call from the Northern California office, I felt obligated to redo the seeds in accordance with the Northern California section rules. Thus, I had to regenerate the draws and schedules, which I posted on Monday at around 2:00 pm. If I had the time and energy to fight this battle, I would. But for now, let me just apologize for having to repost the draws and schedules. I am still very excited about the event, which I hope will be the best tournament of the year. Good luck! -Kirt Iverson

Please make sure you arrive early enough to find a parking spot and to check in at the tournament desk before the start of your match. If the main Decathlon Club parking lot is full, you might find parking at the office complex next door or at the Decathlon executive offices, which are located behind Decathlon Club (on Kifer between Bowers and Corvin).

The Decathlon Doubles Dare is ONE OF THE LAST TOURNAMENTS OF THE 2005 GRAND PRIX SEASON. The Grand Prix is a series of tournaments linked together by a point system to determine invitation to the Grand Prix playoffs. The top 8 entries in each category will be invited to play in the Grand Prix event. more info

Last year's players voted the first annual Decathlon Doubles Dare one of the 3.5 Tournaments of the Year. That means this year's 3.5 participants will win 1.5 times the standard number of grand prix points! Congratulations and thanks for your support!

This just in: Michael Wilkinson, the Weekend Warrior, will be covering the Decathlon Doubles Dare for Norcal Tennis Daily! more info