Author: dlockwood2@berklee.edu

Greetings Challenge Ladder Combatants!

The grass season is upon us. Sigh.

While the pros duke it out in prep for Wimbledon, we here on the challenge ladder duke it out for that esteemed top spot on the ladder that matters.

Speaking of which, well done to Ronald Grimsby who defended his pre-season ranking on top by defeating last year’s champ, Alan Tang, in a 6-2, 7-5 sizzler on June 2nd!

If I know Alan, there will be a second battle.

Early season congrats to Neang and Daniel who lead the Points Competition with 24 and 21 respectively.

Also must give props to Neang for two super tie-breaks in the last few days, both were 11-9 scores, one was a victory (over yours truly, ENRAGING!) and the other was a loss (congrats to Neal)

The web page seems to be functioning well, all hail to Chris Wood: web master-Cat Woman extraordinaire!

Remember that when you challenge someone on the dashboard, you ALSO need to follow up by emailing or texting them to actually set up the tennis match.

See you out there.

Thus ends my grass reflection

-Douglas

Hello June!

We are in week 2 of the Summer Challenge ladder and already there has been some drama on the courts, courtesy of some super tie-breaks, some three setters and just a lot of running.

Some updates on the new platform: PLEASE READ

When you submit a challenge on your Dashboard, an email will automatically be sent to your opponent: yay! They still have to Accept on their dashboard. Then the two of you can work out a time and date to play etc. You cannot plug in the result of the match until it has been Accepted by the opponent on the dashboard.

For Going on leave (vacation or injury): when you click on ‘Inactive’ you will have the ability now to include what dates you will be gone and when you will return. This will look like a Yellow dot on your status and will let players know not to challenge you for the time you will be gone.

When you are actually gone/Inactive, your dot/status will turn Red

This will look Your status while you are Active will be Green. When you include

When you return, click it back to Active and it will become Green again.

Thanks all, looks like a beauty week for tennis!

Doug

Hello out there in tennis land.

While Roland Garros begins tomorrow, OUR summer challenge ladder begins TODAY! Mais oui!

Some announcements:

I’m happy to report we are already at 30-strong players here on ‘opening day’ of the ladder. Some new names. Some familiar names. Exciting!

Please let friends know they can still join the ladder at any time this summer.

Make sure you are current in your Tennis 4 All Membership dues (due June 1). otherwise you will be BOUNCED instantly (and dramatically) from the ladder. Don’t be that person.

Players can now switch themselves between “Active” and “On Leave” from their Dashboards

When you click on “Change”, you get a calendar where you can enter the date you’ll be coming back (or TBD  for injuries). On that date, the ladder will automatically change the player back to “Active”.

On the Ladder page, you can hover over the “On Leave” text and a popup will appear showing the player’s return date

Also: Players who are “On Leave” can switch back to “Active” if they want to return earlier than their Return Date. Also, players on leave cannot initiate any challenges until they return.

Helllooooo

We have reached the end of the Summer Challenge Ladder of 2025. When you read this, it will be Saturday. Sunday the 28th is the last day of official match play. Will there be a sudden surge by someone? Will Tang remain untouched? Will Clarke reach 1,000 points? Please get any results into me by monday.

Tuesday I will announce winners and a final sassy-recap, duh.

Until then, play your hearts off this weekend. Let’s GO!

-Doug

Greetings!

As the US Open begins it’s opening rounds, we are entering the final month of play on the Tennis 4-All Summer Challenge Ladder. Still lots of nice weather to be had and lots of opportunities to make a move!

A few updates of note: Steven Crowe makes his top 5 debut this week after two consecutive third set wins over Tom Walsh and…..ME! I can’t be mad at Steven though. Not only did he deserve the win, he also came thru with a band-aid when I cut myself on one of those awful tennis ball tops! Rookie move on my part! Thanks for the Band-Aid, Steven.

Romie Fulgencio is also on the move of late, taking #1 Alan Tang to a decisive third set before Tang took control and then following that up with two wins over Clarke Gasper and Neal Riley. Keep going Romie!

Our top 5 on the leader board are: Alan Tang, Roman Krasikov, Jason Wu, Dana Coombs and Steven Crowe

Over on the Points Ladder, the top 2 players have created some distance with their constant play! Nice job Clarke Gasper being the first to 50 with a total now of 51 points. Followed by Neal Riley with 47 and then Kevin Lalli and Neang Chea tied for third with 33 points each.

Remember the last day of official play is September 28th.

Get out there. Bring Band-Aids

-Doug

Hello out there!

Welcome to August!

Some lovely tennis weather this weekend and for the upcoming week: keep making playdates!

As the Montreal and Toronto tournaments near their conclusion with #1 Coco Gauff being taken down last night by Victoria Mboko, there has also been a shakeup on top of our very own challenge ladder…on July 21st Alan Tang defeated Roman Krasikov in a third set 7-5 blockbuster: thousands of lucky fans were present to watch this epic match.

Congratulations Alan. I wonder how long you will stay….

Roman then had the AUDACITY to defeat yours truly this past week, 3 and 3. It was not pretty tennis but ya know what, he got the job done and I am furious. Revenge will be sought.

A special shout out to Kevin Lalli. This guy has played in SEVEN super tie-breakers this summer. SEVEN! This speaks to his competitiveness and…fitness! I applaud that. Nice work, Kevin! You are right there.

On the points ladder, Clarke Gasper continues to dominate with a whopping 45 points. The race for second however, is TIGHT, with Kevin ‘Super-Tie’ Lalli at 25, Neal Riley and Neang Chea tied at 24 and Caleb Adams right under them with 23. Remember that first and second place finishers on the Points ladder will both receive unfathomable prizes at the end of the challenge season!

Keep on keeping on and remember to always double check my recording of scores and points and placement etc because…I make mistakes.

See ya!

Doug

Heloooooo!

Forgive me: I am way overdue for an update on some things happening on the 2025 Challenge Ladder.

But here goes, my first report: we have 35 players this summer, which is awesome. Please remind any friends who you think might be interested that they CAN still join, there is always room on the ladder for more rungs!

Special shout out (and vague concern?) for Neang Chea and especially Clarke Gasper. Back on June 22, Neang played not once but twice in one day (!) Clarke also played twice in one day on June 11 and then, what’s worse, on June 19, which if memory serves was a terribly hot day, he played THREE times! I do not understand either of you but….well done!

I encourage you all to NOT get into a tie break with Daniel Benitez-Posada: he has won Two deciding tie breaks #clutch

Update on the 2 Ladders: Challenge Ladder and Points Ladder

Congrats to Roman Krasikov who on July 4, defeated Jason Wu (7-6, 6-3) to take over the top spot on the Challenge ladder. But I ask you…is that position secure? Do I sense a wiggly rung? Take care up there, Roman. Folks are thirsty.

Congrats also to Clarke Gasper, Caleb Adams and Neang Chea. Clarke is in first place on the Points Ladder with a whopping 34 points, Caleb is in second with 20 and Neang is just behind with 19. Remember, there are end of the season prizes for #1 AND #2 on the Points Ladder. This means they have all been playing a lot of tennis, which is the whole idea: well done to you 3!

Just a friendly reminder that only the Winner of the match needs to email me the result and please remember to include the info on Who challenged Who as different points are allotted for those things.

Stay hydrated out there. The heat is real.

Wimbledon quarterfinals are almost here…who will take it this year? Who will rise up? Those same questions are being asked right here at the Challenge Ladder. Who has the answers?

-Doug