Have you ever played a pro?

I have a chance to see Chen Longcan playing against couple 2000 Ranking player in my club. I just felt bad for them since they were very frustraded. Chen Longcan just blocked and pushed (without even attacking). He played very relaxing, but others could not handle it.

years ago, when i got started in tt - i used to train in the same club with members of the nigerian national team (some ranked in the top 200).  we'd play 11 point games back when games were to 21 points. i remember getting a point or two it was usually a shut out - but it was awesome experience and fun, for me at least. 

i was at mounties and desperately wanted to play with william henzell, but everyone else grabbed the opportunity while i was shooting away. [camera]

Ive played Swedish junior Mattias Karlsson a few months ago, i had setpoint in one set. He was better than me in the short game, and i had some troubles with his short pimples(on the forehand) But in the open game i was decent.

tommyzai wrote: Yesterday I had the opportunity to play a former member of the Chinese National Team. He's over here visiting his son, who's in college and was looking for someone to hit with. He heard, "Tommy Zai plays." Apparently, he was having trouble finding someone in this area to play with. I'm very happy he found me. You know how this sport is . . . not much fun playing someone way below your level, so that was what I was worried about . . . him feeling like it was a waste of his time. He wants to hit again next Sunday so I guess I wasn't a total waste. Luckily for me he mostly flat hit . . . I'm pretty good at power+angle blocking and playing fast. He also did a lot of lobbing and letting me smash away. That was a blast . . . literally. Don't ask how I did when he practiced his serves! I just wanted to share this and ask if anyone else has had this kind of opportunity and what it was like.

I have hit with quite a few pros but in competitive matches the best I have played were Ding Yi (CH & AUT) and Xu Zhengai (CH) both in exhibition matches for Jamaica vs China.
I remember being very self conscious about not being humiliated as I  knew there was the real possibility of a zero game in front of an audience. I felt more like a spectator than a player, it was really surreal and quite intimidating I ended up being in a hurry to lose quickly and being careful not to 'cho' or make them beat me up any worse.
I remember playing some great points and still seeing my best shots hit past me, especially against Ding Yi.
I spent the whole match trying to find his backhand and on the few occasions I did, I picked up a backhand smash.
I also played Aron Li former chinese squad player in the commonwealth games 2002 playing for New Zealand.
I felt that Li was moving to hit my serves even before I served the ball! He seemed to be reading my mind while I was playing him.
I think I played the best rally of my life in this match (I saw the tape) and I still lost the point!
Playing the chinese is really discouraging to me, but after the match , you feel supefast for your next opponent.
Petermoo

I played a couple of quite good players.

tommyzai wrote: Yesterday I had the opportunity to play a former member of the Chinese National Team. He's over here visiting his son, who's in college and was looking for someone to hit with. He heard, "Tommy Zai plays." Apparently, he was having trouble finding someone in this area to play with. I'm very happy he found me. You know how this sport is . . . not much fun playing someone way below your level, so that was what I was worried about . . . him feeling like it was a waste of his time. He wants to hit again next Sunday so I guess I wasn't a total waste. Luckily for me he mostly flat hit . . . I'm pretty good at power+angle blocking and playing fast. He also did a lot of lobbing and letting me smash away. That was a blast . . . literally. Don't ask how I did when he practiced his serves! I just wanted to share this and ask if anyone else has had this kind of opportunity and what it was like.

 

I played with Jiang Jialiang. His footwork is shot, but his forehand is still a rocket. He mostly blocks now, until he gets a weak ball to put away.

I was good for about 1-2 points a game against my sponsored player, alfred najem. He's 2500.

man i envy you, waldner is in my wishlist before i die hehehe

I played Thomas Keinath at the Killerspin Spinvitational in Chicago.  They have a 41 point handicap event that they throw a few pros into and i got lucky enough to get him early in the draw.

I was ~1100 USATT rating at the time and they spotted me 35 points in a game to 41.  I lost 39-41      His serves were destroying me and his loops were so well placed that i rarely touched them.

He was very nice and i got a couple pictures with him and he told me how bad my serves sucked and offered a bit of help.  Ever since this happened, the Spinvitational has always been one of my favorite events and i will continue to attend it and sign up for the 41 point handicap event.

theman wrote: holy crap swiffers, u do have a living legend? worl champ? man thats awesome

 

As i already say: Maybe he let me win the first set, because normaly he should not lose a set against me! Anyhow, i was proud that i won the set :-)

petermoo wrote: swissping wrote: 2 Years agoe i played against Lucjan Blaszczyk. I won the first set, but it was just for fun, so maybe he let me win the first set .-) If you won a set against Blaszyk, you are the real big man in this forum. Congrats Petermoo