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Have you ever dreamed of what it would be like to play professional tennis on the world’s biggest stages, yet possess virtually zero percent of the talent, fitness, or dedication required?
Well, in 2010, the US Open, one of the biggest annual professional tennis tournaments, gave ANYONE that chance!
CULT TENNIS brings you player profiles and analyzes some of the best stories in the world of Tennis! Subscribe to see more content like this, and thank you for stopping by!
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I love all your videos. Keep up the good work
@Sleepy Joe yeah it’s been like that for 6 months
8-7 40-15
ein Beitrag des Mittwoches, 9. August 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The whole current, world´s population of now living humans, ... could compete in a knock out tournament ... of 33 rounds! Problably every human, could be genetically related, to every other human! > 8 "billions" (> 8 Miliarden) ... 2 ^ 32 > x > 2 ^ 33 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ e. g. November: subnational/national/continental northern hemisphere: mostly indoors southern hemisphere: mostly outdoors rounds no. 1st; 2nd; 3rd; 4th; 5th; 6th; 7th; 8th; 9th; 10th; 11th December: subnational/national/continental rounds no. 12nd; 13rd; 14th; 15th; 16th; 17th; 18th; 19th; 20th; 21th January: national/continental rounds no. 22th; 23th; 24th; 25th; 26th January: Melbourne Australian Open: 1st round (XXVII); 2nd round (XXVIII); 3rd round (XXIX); Eigth Final (XXX); Quarter Final (XXXI); Semi Final (XXXII); Final (XXXIII) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I did this in 2010 on the US Open grounds and got blown off the court. Did it on a whim thinking that so many people would sign up but instead I ended up getting to play a match. It was a bucket list event and hadn't picked up a racket in almost 2 years leading up to it. It gave us total amateurs the opportunity to say we play in a qualifying tournament for the US Open. With that said, it made me fall in love with the sport all over again and I'm very glad I did it. I probably would've done slightly better now that I've played and made progress with my game.
This just highlights the depth in tennis . I don’t think it’s unfair having former pros play . A amateur never had any real hope of winning in qualifying .
yeah levels in tennis are incredibly deep. Most amateurs cannot even win at Futures level, let alone qualifying levels of a Grand Slam.
it was used to see HOW a amateur played against a pro, NOT to win.
Yeh, he's talking like tennis is poker, where you might go on a hot streak and beat a pro. The real reason this was scraped is probably money related.
@@brucesmith1544 or in golf, I might get lucky on a par 3 and beat a pro, but never in a million years would I have a chance at a par 4 or 5. In Tennis over the last few decades good luck winning if your name isn' t Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.
@@brucesmith1544 I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be so stupid. Please flap those jowls some more.
Cult tennis editing is so good I almost forget to listen to the content.
same bro same
Fr bro
I just wish he uploads more often
Huh? I've NEVER heard about that! Incredibly interesting content as always man!
Dude, your content are above or atleast the same level as this. You are incredibly down to earth person. Respect ! 🥰😎
It's called the 'OPEN' for a reason, there are qualifying tourneys every year. Same with Golf. US 'OPEN' !!!!! OPEN means open to anyone.
Even so, there's nothing wrong with the tournament. They do it also in Italy (or used to) for the Rome ATP 1000. Of course no amateur is capable of winning this thing. Tennis doesn't work that way but at least you give them a chance
Imagine a Happy Gilmore of tennis.
We need more of the amateurs to try their luck in the Grand slam somewhat you know,😊
Its quite funnt he highlighted Holger Rune in the beginning. Yesterday he won one of the biggest non-grand slam tournaments against no other than Novak Djokovic
The same thing happened with American Idol and multiple other talent shows. People with serious training or experience quickly became the predominant contestants who went far in competition and they quickly left behind the notion of the "diamond in the rough" absolute beginner discovering a life changing opportunity.
@zunaidparker - This is about a REAL LIFE event not some nonesense TV crap.
@@who9387Learn how to spell and maybe you'll have an opinion that I can actually respect.
Dang, too bad this doesn't exist anymore. I'd have loved to sign up for this and get brutally murdered since I have no talent. Also, it's called the US Open, so having it be literally open is a fun concept.
That makes no sense. It’s called US Open not for that reason. All the grand slams end with Open but only the US Open had that signup thing so no that’s not how the US Open got it’s name.
@@spillomina What makes it considered "Open" in tennis, since Darts, Billiards, and Golf all do some sort of open qualifying system for their open events
@@spillomina That is exactly how the US Open got its name. It's just that things have changed in the 140+ years since the inception of the tournament.
Never thought I’d see Redfoo hitting a tweener 😂
I don't see the problem with the outcomes, what would the alternative be? Some amateur player who won against other amateurs going to the US Open and getting smashed? How is that any better
I was looking for this exact comment. Thanks 🙏🏻
Yeah, this is stupid. The beauty of an open tournament is that it gives everyone an opportunity to qualify based on merit. But it doesn’t guarantee spots to people who wouldn’t qualify on merit. My local semi-pro soccer team tries to qualify for the US Open Cup every year. They never make it. Heck, they never expect to make it. But they get to take their shot.
Another great video mate! We have the Australian Open Wildcard Playoffs here but no amateurs play its usually Aussies who are ranked outside 200
I played in it in 2010, just for the experience of playing at the Cincinnati Masters venue. Plus it came with some cool swag.
Love this video. I played the 2012 Tournament in the Texas Section and it was a great experience even though I had no delusions of going far. I met my first of 3 goals by not getting beat 6-0, 6-0. I got beat 2 & 2 and it was a fun match. The tournament went all out for Texas and we got a lot of freebies that year. I was just glad I tried it...
Part of the reason I think that tennis is not as popular in the us is that it is seen as a rich snobby person sport because before my friend made me start playing that’s how I saw it until I started playing and realized that literally anyone can play
Thanks for your videos! I just started tennis this year and your videos have been really enjoyable
I played Cecil Mamiit last month in a tournament. He’s still crazy good.
@@Topsailpirateexperience not cap dumb***, go check my utr record lmao
@@Topsailpirateexperience Why would someone lie about that lol?
@@Topsailpirateexperience they lie about having played tennis against nobody ex-players that no one has heard of?
REALLY!! I played agains Nadal with sandals and I beated him. Sadly the game is to booring for me to consider going pro. Not worth the pain
@@randomsomeone4696 check my utr records lmao
It was a genius idea for all the amateur like us to try our luck at US OPEN.
How many Fuzzy yellow balls videos on youtube have I watch back in the day? Now hes the sponsor in another great tennis channel, that put a smile in my face
The best tennis channel out there! Great video as always, thank you!
If they were going for pure marketing hype, like the first Rocky movie, the best possible way I could see it happening is having a lottery for an exhibition match against a retired well known player, or the loser of a previous round if they choose to stick around. The exhibition will be played at Arthur Ashe stadium as a "opening band act" before the finals. Limit it to 1 set, or even to 4 games a set with no let serves if necessary, so that it doesn't affect the start time of the main event. No former pros, and the participant has show the ability to keep the ball in play and hit serves. Head to your local tennis center to take a basic competency test and buy the lottery ticket. There is a running joke around the olympics that we should have one spot for the average human to put the performance of Olympic athletes into perspective. I like that idea. It will give us a better perspective of how much better the trained athletes are. If would pay $200 for a chance to face Sampras, Agassi, Navratilova, Hingis, or any other famous retired player in an exhibition match. I would get totally humiliated, but I expect some sympathy and support for the underdog, the crowd to go wild if I manage to score a single point. They could even use the proceeds of the lottery to fund USTA.
That would be so cool, I know I’d get destroyed if I played one of them but it would be so fun playing them in front of a big crowd
Good idea You’d have to be pretty terrible though not to even get 1 point
@@donnyvandebeek6998 eh not really, I have played tennis for 5 years and I doubt I’d win a point. Maybe a very lucky ace just maybe
@@donnyvandebeek6998 I meant winning a legit point, when the former pro isn't taking it easy, that is not an unforced error from them or mishit shot from me that turns into an un-returnable drop shot or a winner. It will be hard.
@@electric_boogaloo496 no offence but you cant be great then. I can hit winners against anyone and i mean anyone (harder against top 20 of course) and i’m not saying i’m a pro or anything
Just found your channel and watched all your videos in a week. Great content
I don't see the issue with any of the outcomes. Of course pros who didn't get an automatic spot would play and probably win and of course your odds of then qualifying are low because you're by definition some of the weakest players. But that doesn't change the theoretical opportunity it gives and the fun of that.
Wait what is the loophole mentioned in the actual title???
An amateur can't even dream of winning a match at the ITF level. That's the harsh truth. Lol
Serious? Itf players are kinda amateurs. But maybe amateur is something else in tennis then what kno
@@liberateurmind9998 ITF players are professionals as well. They play at an extremely high level where they could beat any club pro without breaking a sweat.
@@thearjunmahadevan im only a Tennis watcher so i always thought its like amateur level. Amateur boxers could also Beat any random guy working out couple times a month . Thx for clarifying
@@liberateurmind9998 yes no problem
Nice video! But the assumption that an amateur would even have a chance to beat a professional in the qualiying draw and eventually enter the main draw, makes no sense at all. Tennis is not a flip of a coin, tennis pros literally sacrifice their youth for it.
Honestly, though I’m really not mad at D1 players being able to win. To me an ncaa title winner is an amateur.
Well people like Steve Johnson has won the title, not necessarily an amateur
Danielle Collins, currently a top 10 pro player, won that title as well
Ternedo - Emma Raducanu had to play 3 qualifying rounds then went on to win the US Open title in 2021 and she was a full time student a few months before.
@@heavygamer9511 obviously after his career progressed. I meant current or directly adjacent college players. Anyone still permitted to compete in NCAA competition is an amateur.
I knew you would cover this sometime. I really wanted to play in this, but I never got the chance. I didn't care if I went up against someone who was levels above me or a low lever professional. It would have been all about the experience. I mean, you never know. Since there was no seeding, I could have played someone around my same skill level at least in the first two rounds. I get why the USTA stopped the tournament, but having us all mixed in together in a wide open competition just seemed really cool to me.
You're absolutely amazing! Deserve a million subs and more!
Start a channel giving tutorials on editing. I’d pay to learn from you. Incredible work as always.
Cover the Italian tournament because I had no idea their turnout was so good
In Italy we have the same system of qualifying for the Rome Masters 1000 tournament. Many tournaments are distribuited on all the territory beginning from basic to upper levels with many draws merging one in each other and all the winners of those tournment are invited in Rome to do a pre-qualifying tournament that gives a plenty of wc for the official main draw and qualifying draw of the Masters1000 tournament. Obviously only atp level players can finally achieve that wc...😉😉
Your vids are awesome!
Very good insight. Had no idea such an event existed.
Cecil Manit now sings for JOURNEY!!!
Ahhh yes my favorite tennis player Yonald Doung
Your audio is peaking, just FYI... meaning voice get's distorted when you talk louder at some points, so turning down the mic recording level would help reduce / eliminate this noise... Thx for your videos! :)
Yes, unfortunately only noticed after the recording session, should be better in the next video :)
Great vid as always
Can you do a video on Marco Cecchinato? Not sure if there's even a story there but I find his drastic fall from grace baffling
He's nothing new though, we have seen bigger prospects failing and falling quickly, like Ginepri, Gulbis, Janowicz etc.
please never stop making videos
Ohh kay didn't no US open would let our little Jimmy compete with the likes of Djokovic when he can't even shop for groceries by himself
The USTA needs to take some pointers from the USGA, which has an outstanding qualifying system for the US Open and the various US Amateur Events (they have like 10 different amateur tournaments total). Just do something like this: -Have a clear distinction of who qualifies as an amateur vs professional -Open to anyone with an NTRP of ~4.0 or higher to set a minimum skill level (equivalent of minimum handicap requirement) Or better yet, bring back the US Amateur for tennis, which they discontinued in 2010 and give the finalists wildcard draws into the US open. Otherwise, don't name your tournament "US Open" if there's no path for people to qualify.
They need to bring this back. This is how the us open works for golf and it’s great. I refer everyone to the modern day classic movie. Tin Cup
What a weird coincidence, I just so happen to possess 0% of the skill needed to be a pro tennis player.
where’s that super athlete in anime that wins the whole thing even if he came from nowhere?
One of the best documentaries online
Great video! Hope that your channel will get more recognition :D
There was nothing specifically wrong with the concept. Having lower ranked pros or retired players go through still fits its initiative. Oddly enough, Wimbledon got the story that the USTA was aiming for when the Marcus Willis run happened - he got a wild card into the pre-qualifying draw, then ran through that to get the QWC, won those matches to make the main draw won a round and then faced Federer. Yes, a professional but definitely fit the everyman model the US Open aimed for.
I played in this lol
Ok, but where’s the Alcaraz vídeo?!? 😁
I can't believe no one made a movie about a former tennis player aged 29 who never turned pro because it didn't bring in enough money to support his poor family. Then when his father gets terminally (or he owns money to a mob boss) they can't pay the bills so he decides to sign up for the us open playoffs. He wins the play offs and has a fairy tail run in the tournament until he faces the best player in the world in the finals. After an epic five set match he unfortunately loses but gets the respect of the world and the money to save his family.
I'd watch that movie!
As kid i thought that all "open" tournaments were literally open for anyone
generally an "open" tournament means anyone can enter. I don't know why they call it an open if that's not true...
Here I thought the issue was amateurs making it. And then it turns out the winner's were to professional.
So you're saying that a tennis tournament was consistently won by....a really good tennis player? NO!
Interesting, I always thought that the US Open in tennis was like that in golf, but apparently it's not really "open" but was sort of open for a few years.
I watched one tennis video about the disappearance of carpet courts and now KZhead thinks I must be a tennis nut. …I say as I watch another tennis video.
Very interesting. Here in Indian Wells we basically have the same exact thing for the masters 1000 we have, except its still being held (not past two years because of covid). But the main complaint for the US Open pre-qualifying tournament seemed to be that pro's were using it to get into the qualifying draw. But am I the only one that doesn't see a problem with it? I mean think about it, what would be the point if an true amateurs were too win the pre-qualifying tournament. We all know what would happen, they would get rounded 0,0 in 35 mins in the first round. So why would banning a lower ranked pro's from playing it? So, personally I think its a nice opportunity for a lower ranked pro/D1 player to compete in the US Open qualifying draw. Also, for the pre-qualifying tournament here in Indian Wells, basically the same thing happens. Every year a lower ranked pro(about 300-700 ATP) wins it. Its also a very fun tournament, why? Because there are still amateurs that sign up and get to play and even win rounds! Giving an exciting illusion that there is a chance, while very low, that they could qualify for the qualifying draw. In my opinion, I think they should bring the US Open pre-qualifying tournament back.
Fortunately in Golf you have to have documented proof that you have the skill level to compete in the US Open, and then you have to get through a qualifying tournament to even earn the right to show up at the Event. Then, you have to qualify AGAIN to get a chance to play on the weekend to finish in the money!!
cecil is a cool dude. i played with him when i was in high school lol
Let’s go new upload
Ah yes, “ruining it for everyone.” That old chestnut.
without a doubt your the top person i get excited for when they release new video🔥🔥🔥
Which software u use for editing
I would totally watch that tournament
what loophole, I don't think anyone expected amateurs to win
The Grand Slam money prize is obscenely high, even to play and get knocked off in the FIRST ROUND, you will get prize money equivalent to ONE YEAR's salary!!. You hit the jackpot just getting to play in the USOPen GS.
The problem with banning professionals from the tournament is that the winner will get crushed in the first round of qualifying every time. Still, maybe it’d still be worth it, it’d be a fun story if any of them ever made it farther, like a college basketball 16 seed beating a 1 seed.
I played in 2010. I only needed to win three more matches, then the entire sections playoff draw, and then three qualifying matches to make the main draw of the US open
So close :-D Well done anyway, hope you had fun.
Can't wait to see your first video on Alcaraz
Just draw from the applicant pool randomly, problem solved. Marketing goal achieved.
I love these videos! pretty much because I can relate and "lived" all of them lol... I remember low level pros flying to Hawaii because that section was weaker and easier to win...I remember practicing with Blake 2 weeks after the US open and we were figuring he would have had to win 21 matches to win the US Open from the start! I think the USTA stopped the tourney because... "They didn't like foreign players like Rubin Sthatham (New Zealand Davis cuper) and other foreign low level pros "stealing" the USTA US Open WC! they then held invitational tourney with only Americans for a Grand Slam WC (ensuring an American winner)
if I recall correctly one of the years Blake played at the CT tourney at Yale and I saw him and a bunch of other players and thought "I'm pretty sure I saw these guys pretty recently at some challenger events"...wasn't surprised Blake won hahaha in any case Johnny Blaze id like to connect offline if possible. It's been a while and I think I last saw you at the Binghamton Challenger where you played dubs with my coach..
@@CaptZiad I played Blake quarterfinal round of the Nationals at Yale, I gave it all I had, won a few games, and he was just too good. It was such a fun concept and I hope they bring it back, but with some of those rule changes
everyone expect Novak Djokovic 🙄
that is why it is called the US OPEN. It is the same in Golf, but you need to play/score well enough in qualifier tournaments.
Make a video essay about Iga Swiatek pleaseeeee
The winning prize is more a carrot on a stick and a necessity. Having it be a big Joe Smoe vs Joe Smoe ordeal makes the results useful in seeing and determining new, upcoming, or "wild-card" playstyles and strategies. Having big league guys go in for the carrot on the stick breaks the actual usefulness of the tournament (and sanctioning officials are going to see it as breaking their carefully crafted player flow)
Sounds completely fair, where's the issue??
My friends eric roberson and yasmin schenck made it to the U.S. open main draw this way in mixed doubles 🎉
Ballin
Hahaha I remember this I said to my coach he should do this when I was 8 lol
"A nationwide phenomenon" Was not aware it ever existed lol I'm not sure what the complaint is here...that all seemed like common sense to me.
I have concentration problem. I have no clue what was video was about.
Australian Open still has this. I know a few club pennant guys that tried. Golf has always had it.
Without a qualifying path such as this, you shouldn't be calling it an open. The point of an open is that anyone can qualify for the main tournament. Of course, no one expects the random weekend player to make it...but that shouldn't be the point. Maybe 1 in a million shot a weekender does or maybe more likely some high level player who was overlooked on the invite list gets an outside shot. That is the point. Look at golf, both the US open and the British open have this same type of qualifying. It is a chance for anyone to qualify, not just those invited. That is really the point of an open.
Another great video! I agree that they should have just excluded anyone with Pro experience from the tournament, but I also thing they should go as far as doing exactly what what alluded to at the beginning of the video. The winner should skip US open qualifying and get a wild card slot straight to the main draw. It would get much better engagement because there's not much hype in knowing you'll just be ousted in the first round of qualifying to some guy nobody has ever heard off, but the thought of standing across the net from Novak on center court would bring a ton of people to give it a shot. Plus it rewards the first seed with the closet thing to a first round bye. It would be great for publicity and you don't even have to give them all the prize money as a first round loser (give em 30% and the rest to a charity).
Yeah, the intro made it sound like you could get into the US Open main event. I suppose that's technically true, but only after getting through qualifiers, and there was 0% chance any amateur would have come close to managing anything like that. People have no clue just how ridiculously good these players are who have to fight through qualifiers. They would blow even a USTA 5.5 off the court. Still, it's a neat concept.
It's a nice idea that an amateur could come in and have a fairy tale story. But the reality of tennis is that it's extremely difficult for an amateur to play, practice, and get quality coaching nearly often enough to have any hope against a pro. Let alone the experience of playing points in front of a massive crowd. There was probably a time when this would have been possible, but most elite tennis players hit 10,000 hours before they are barely into their teenage years now.
I've never seen that tweener by Red Fu!! No clue he was nice like that
Of course no "regular man" can make it to US Open 😂 How can you beat people who've been training for like 20 years?
I feel like on a long enough time scale, eventually some amateur would find some success. Every once in a blue moon there would be someone with a combination of luck and just being naturally gifted enough to at least win a round or two against some lower ranked pros.
@@elijahwatson7837 You still need to train almost everyday to (potentially) do that. You cannot be a "weekend" player.
Can you do a video on how Pickleball is impacting Tennis in the US.
Hey man, great work as always! You should talk about the rise of Carlos Alcaraz and how he’s redefining the game of tennis right now, but I think you should save that for after the French Open, because he could go the distance unless a certain 2 people stop him
He went out in Wimbledon
This is one of the only sports where an "Open" tournament doesnt have qualifiers that anybody can enter. I can enter any Chess Open and get merked by Grandmasters if I felt like it.
This isn't a loophole at all. The "Open" in US Open means it's open to all comers.
DREAM OF EVERY ROOKIE
hooray for FYB!
(3:55) Bode is pronounced like Beau-dee
Sorry but the only reason the USTA discontinued this event was because, after the first few years, it wasn't generating any revenue. All the insane people who actually thought that an UNQUALIFIED amateur would make it into the US Open via these tournaments stopped entering.
Damn you Blake Strode😂
Wait there were legitimately people who were upset that no one random shmoe from down the road made it to the big dance? Listen, the only reason people think tennis is so easy is because the skill gap is so so high. These guys are so good.
fat footfault at 7:00
Shouldn´t this be the very fundamental of any OPEN tournament? I always thought of the open tournaments to actually be open to anyone.
Yonald Doung - The True Champion