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What to do... 10-0

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Tevia Sapire
Tevia Sapire Asked 15 years ago

Hi pingskills

I recently played a very easy match in the mixed doubles senior inter regionals. In the final game we were up 10-0 and 2-0 in games. I was recieving serve. The serves were quite high and had very little spin so if I wanted to, I could kill the ball anywhere on the table, especially since they had to serve to my forehand.

My partner asked if we should give them 1 point just to be nice and not make them feel bad by losing 11-0 or not stuff about and take the match immediately.

What would you guys do in this situation. In my family there are a lot of VERY competitive sportsmen and they would definately not give them that point.

In the end i decided i would let the luck of the draw handle it(kind of)... so i hit the serve as hard as possible with no spin and if it went in then sorry for them but if it went out then they can have the point. I did sort of not aim for the table just to make sure it looks like I tried to get it in. Anyway I missed and then hit a winner off the serve at 10-1. The croud cheered for them when I missed because it was sort of a miracle.

 

Alois Rosario
Member Badge Alois Rosario Answered 15 years ago

Hi Tevia,

This is an interesting one.  I think it always depends on the situation. 

If it is a social match then it is probably good to give them a point.

If it is a competitive match against a reasonable level player they may take it as being patronising to be given a point.  Personally I would want my opponent to try their best and beat me 11 - 0 if they could.  

I think you had a good solution.

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Douglas Hill

Douglas Hill Posted 15 years ago

In a senior mixed doubles competition I would have started adjusting my game well before 11-0/2-0.  Usually, in my experience, a score this lopsided happens because one or both of the partners can't handle heavy spin on the serve, so I start giving predictable spin on serves to that opponent.  It gets the ball into play, so we can feel we're playing points, not just harvesting points.  I do vary the placement.  I serve with focused attention, not with a casual condescension.  Once the ball is in play, I play hard.  Of course, if my partner wasn't OK with this I wouldn't do it.

I'm not a top player, nor ever will be, so I may not be a good model.  As I was growing up, my family emphasized competition within a framework of sportsmanship.

Ji-Soo Woo

Ji-Soo Woo Posted 15 years ago

I agree with Alois.

Even if I were playing Timo Boll and was down 0-11, 0-11 and 0-10 in the final set, I'd want him to finish me off to the best of his ability.

I hate division 1 players who play "nice" with you.  When they start playing in a condenscending manner, it makes it hard for you to play your best too.

Anyway, you learn more from your losses, and if you really lose that badly, you've probably got a LOT of lessons to take away!

Douglas Hill

Douglas Hill Posted 15 years ago

I always find Ji-Soo's comments insightful and the above is certainly a valid point of view.  However, if you had ever talked a weaker partner into playing a senior mixed doubles match with you, saying "Come on, it will be fun, the worst we can do is lose!", you might think ruthless opponents look a bit like jerks.  It just feels different than a singles match.  I could be dead wrong.  Sometimes the sense of what the event means is different to the different people at the table.
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