For years now, I've been a member of the USTA. I love what it is, and I love being a part of it. However, there is one seriously disturbing flaw in how things are done: the appeal process.
From what I've been told, when a player gets rated up a level, like from 3.5 to 4.0, the player can hit the appeal button on the USTA site and go back to being a 3.5. What that means is that we have a legitimate 4.0 player being allowed to play 3.5. That reduces the fun of the league.
I'm an above average 3.5 player that can sometimes beat lower-level 4.0s. So when I get hammered 6-2, 6-0, or worse, something isn't right. When I find out they've appealed, it's just frustrating knowing I played someone that the USTA ranked at a higher level and shouldn't be in my league.
Teams have used 4.0 players, that have appealed to 3.5, as their singles players for an entire season. Unless someone files a complaint (and I think pays), they get away with it. And when a complaint is filed, the offending team has to forfeit their matches. Why even let it happen at all?
I just traveled hundreds of miles, and paid hundreds of dollars, to compete in a tournament this weekend. I get home and find out that our final loss (5-7, 6-1, 1-0) was to someone that was a 4.0 and appealed. It's so frustrating. All it does is make me want to appeal when I become a 4.0. There's no reason for me to do so, other than everyone else does it.
USTA: Please stop letting people appeal their rankings.
Thank you.
