Author: dlockwood2@berklee.edu

Summer Challenge Ladder 2025: Results and Awards!

Greetings from the Summer Challenge Ladder Commissioner

I am writing to inform you about the winners of the 2024 Tennis4All Summer Challenge Ladder

After defeating then #1 ranked James Houlden on May 25th, Alan Tang took over the #1 spot and…was never challenged again. Well done, Alan! Sometimes it just takes one win!

For playing the Most Tennis, we give out prizes to the top Two players. This summer, well out in front with a whopping 46 points is Ian Wang!

It was a tighter battle for second place but in the end, by a mere one point, the second place finish goes to Steve Goldman with 34.

Well done, Ian and Steve!

Finally, the award for biggest jump UP the ladder from start of summer to end (May 25 to Sept. 29). He began at the #27 spot and by summer’s end there he was, all the way up at #12, a jump of 15 rungs! This prize also goes to…Ian Wang!

Thanks to all who signed up and participated this summer. See you in 2025.

Until then,

longlegs

The Ladder Folds this Sunday!

The countdown has begun.

This Sunday the 29th of September is the last official day for the 2024 Summer Challenge Ladder and STILL there are questions that need to be answered….such as….

Will anyone shake Mr Tang? Mr. Houlden and Mr. Krasikov continue to loom directly underneath him on the second and third rungs respectively but there is only one spot at the top and he has been holding it for pretty much the whole summer…will anyone challenge him this week? Come on, People!

Over on the points ladder, Mr Wang continues to lead with 40 points, Mr. Goldman has the second rung at 34 points and Mr Wu is right there with 33 points. Remember on this ladder, it is the top TWO who will both receive prizes of inestimable worth…(Trust.)

The other prize for who has made the biggest jump from start of summer to end of summer I shall keep a mystery.

All will be revealed by the end of next week. On that note, if you do play this week/weekend, please try and get me your results by Tuesday October 1st so I can announce final results by Friday and the massive celebrations can begin!

Yours always,

Dougie of the Longlegs

One Month to Go!

Greetings!

The US Open begins today, even as the Summer Challenge Ladder arrives at the homestretch

We have just about one month to go, and I am writing with a few updates:

On the Ladder itself, the top 3 players continue to have the last names of:

Tang

Houlden

Krasikov

There is only ONE prize in this category and that’s for the player who ends up #1: will it be one of these 3 or will there be an attempt to dethrone as the season reaches its’ conclusion?

On the points ladder, the top 3 names are:

Wang

Goldman

Wu

Remember here that the top TWO point-accumulators will receive prizes.

Some August tight matches of note include:

Grosdidier over McDonough:  6-4, 7-6 (6)

Wang over Jackson in a rare official 3 set match: 7-5, 2-6, 6-2

Goldman over Chak:  6-3, 4-6, 10-8

Remember the official last day of competition is September 29.

Happy almost September! Play on!

-Doug

 

August is Upon-us!

Greetings Challenge Ladder Athletes of the World!

An update.

August is here and while some things change, some things stay the same on the ladder.

Up top, it is still Tang, Houlden and Krasikov holding the #1, #2 and #3 positions. But will Krasikov’s extended vacay render him rusty upon return? Time will tell.

Wu and Grosdidier have been making major strides up the ladder…can they make it all the way to the top?

On the Points Ladder, it is a tie for the top 2, with Coombs and Wu and Jackson is looming just one point below. Remember, the top 2 on the points ladder will receive Extravagant prizes!

Some very close scores of late: Jackson over Lalli, Coombs over Wu and Grosdidier over McDonough being especially close.

The ladder goes until the end of September so it is not too late to make your run! I know its hot (!) but hydrate and play early or late if you can.

Let me know if you have any questions or if I have failed you in some way.

I worked on my second serve today after double faulting an entire game away on Tuesday night. What are you doing for YOUR second serve?

-Doug

 

Summer Challenge Ladder is on FIRE!

Greetings Ladder Participants!

I have been remiss in my sassy updates.

Deal with it.

It’s hot out there. Please hydrate.

As the Wimbledon tournament progresses with some new names, we have some new names on the local front as well: shout out to Ian Wang who is BOUNDING up the ladder in recent weeks, taking over the Points ladder with 19 total points (yours truly holds on to second place in a tie with Steve Goldman); Ian is also ascending up the Competition Ladder…how far can he go? All the way to the top? Only time will tell.

On the Competition Ladder, Alan Tang sits up there at the #1 rung, with newbie James Holden one rung of revenge below…Roman Krasikov can be heard in 3rd place, ready to POUNCE! I look forward to seeing how the top of the ladder might continue to shake in the next few weeks.

Please make sure you check that I’ve updated scores/points/placements correctly, as I am prone to error in these summer months.

Be safe out there in the heat. Play early or play late! And if you come across any outdoor courts you find especially beautiful and possibly uncrowded, please let me know and I can include that in the next post!

Beware of summer camps during the week now. #kids

Thanks all. Keep challenging, Keep moving. Don’t forget to floss.

-Doug

Summer Challenge Ladder: One Week Away from Match Play!

Greetings!

The 2024 Tennis 4 All Summer Challenge Ladder is One Week Away from Official Match Play.

We have 25 players signed up now and there is plenty of Room for You! The ladder extends infinitely!

For the mere registration fee of $10, a fun summer of challenging tennis can be yours!

Or, a challenging summer of fun tennis can be yours.

Here is the link to sign up. Do it. Click it. Love it.

2024 Challenge Ladder

(you can join the ladder anytime, truth be told, but….do it now. You know you want to…)

-Doug

 

20 and Counting: Join the Challenge Ladder Today!

I’m pleased to report that we have 20 folks balanced on the 2024 Summer Challenge Ladder.

There is still room for you! (in fact, you can join anytime)

Official matches can begin starting May 25.

For the tiny fee of $10, a summer of tennis is yours!

Here is the link

2024 Challenge Ladder

I am Doug

16 and Counting: The Ladder is Growing….

Greetings Tennis4All Community!

After one week of registration, I am happy to announce that the Summer Challenge Ladder has 16 contestants already.

We’d love you to join too!

For the mere registration fee of $10, you can enjoy the game of tennis and meet some wonderful folks to boot!

Here once again is the link which includes registration info and the Rules.

2024 Challenge Ladder

Please let me know if you have any questions

Match play officially can begin any time from May 25th on….

In the meantime, you are allowed to ask if anyone would like to play ‘a friendly’ (I know I am!)

Yours from the Tower,

Doug

 

Kiss Me Kate at Club Café!

HI folks!

Thanks to all of you who were able to come see ‘Three Sisters’, I really appreciate the support.

Now for something completely different.

I am singing.

I am part of Actors’ Shakespeare Project here in Boston (some of you came to see me in ‘As You Like It’ last June) and we are doing a Fund-Raiser concert of the songs from ‘Kiss Me Kate’ at Club Café in the South End on MOnday April 8th.

It will be a combination of actors from the company like myself AND musical theatre actors from Boston. Should be tons of fun. Our season began with ‘Taming of the Shrew’ so this is a bookend to that production too.

Here is a blurb with more info about the show and then the link to tickets if you are interested, thank you!

Time to “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” and fall “So In Love” with the Tony Award-winning musical that captured the hearts of musical megafans and Bard aficionados alike!

Join us at Club Cafe on April 8th for a night of revelry, refreshment, and rhapsody. Hosted by ASP Resident Artist Company members and Boston theatre power couple Paula Plum and Richard Snee, this evening will take a look back at some of the best (and sometimes most problematic) Cole Porter tunes from this rollicking and romantic adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew.

An all-star studded lineup of ASP RAC members and Boston’s brightest musical theatre stars will be announced soon.

Tickets to this one-night-only event at $75 and VERY LIMITED — be sure to book your seats expeditiously, as these tickets might be “Too Darn Hot!”

https://ci.ovationtix.com/921/production/1196200

Hope to see you there!

-Doug