Rules of tennis australia
Tennis Australia will be changing the Australian Ranking tournament structure in some key areas from January 1, 2017 with the goal of simplifying and improving the customer experience at these tournaments as well as competitive opportunities for aspiring Australian tennis players.
The Australian Money Tournaments (AMTs) and Junior Tournaments (JTs) are the cornerstones of the Australian Ranking system, which currently lists 4212 males and 2059 females based on performances in tournaments over the past 12 months. Nick Kyrgios and Samantha Stosur currently hold the title of Australia’s top ranked male and female player.
Since mid-2015, discussions have taken place between Tennis Australia, its Member Associations and other key stakeholders to evaluate the Australian Ranking tournament structure for 2017 and beyond. Using the insights of customers (parents and players), coaches, tournament organisers and officials, Tennis Australia will be implementing the following changes:
- Ensuring tournaments and competitions can successfully co-exist by separating them into specific blocks during the year (this will occur gradually in some areas of Australia)
- Junior Tournaments and low-level Australian Money Tournaments to avoid clashes with school days (limited exemptions will apply for national championship and international tournaments)
- Condense the spread of tournaments across four (4) levels and not five. Tournament levels will be Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.
- Introduce the Fast4 and Best of 2 scoring formats into singles events at the Bronze AMT and Bronze & Silver JT levels to reduce the length of tournaments
- Restrict entry numbers into Platinum and Gold AMT and JT events to ensure these events only cater for the high-performance player market
- Increase the amount of officials and education opportunities for 12/u & 14/u Bronze and Silver level tournaments
- Each tournament will be required to submit a tournament match plan with their sanctioning application to help organisers better plan and schedule their tournament(s)
- Incentivise tournaments to conduct better customer experiences through awards and funding opportunities
- Encourage junior players to compete longer in junior tournaments by only allowing players to accrue AMT ranking points from when they turn 15 years of age
- In a pilot exercise, Victoria will restrict the top 10 players in their age group from competing in Bronze junior tournaments to ensure introductory tournament players experience the right level of competition
Code of Behaviour
The Code of Behaviour regulates behaviour breaches related to and during tournaments and weekly competitions in Australia.
2017 Australian Ranking Tournament Rules and Regulations
The 2017 Australian Ranking Tournament Regulations are now available, with sections added/modified underlined accordingly. You will notice that all rules covering both the AMT and JT circuit are covered within one document. However when needed, sections within the document refer to AMT’s and JT’s only and even further, various requirements across each level. The Australian Ranking (AR) Rules and Regulations are included in this document (see Appendix 1)
The most significant Australian Ranking rule change for 2017 is in regards to the breakdown of an athlete’s best eight singles and best six doubles results. Please note the structure in place for 2017. The entire Australian Ranking rules are listed in Appendix 1 of the above document.
Best eight (8) singles & best six (6) doubles results – regulations
The following information serves as the rules for the allocation of Australian Ranking points –
An athlete’s combined (singles and doubles) Australian Ranking will be made up of their best eight (8) singles plus 25% of their best six (6) doubles results, with the following mix of results dependent on their age:
Athletes will only receive AMT points from the end of the month once they have turned 15 years of age.
Athletes will have no restrictions on results as of the end of the month once they have turned 17 years of age.
NOTE: Only results achieved in the past 12 months of a ranking release contribute to an athlete’s Australian Ranking
Results will be grouped either junior or post junior (open) according to the following table:
This mix is as follows –
1. Athletes that are 12 years of age or younger (i.e. born within the year 2005 or later)
Singles: Best eight (8) results will only be calculated from tournaments contested in either 12/u or 14/u tournaments;
Doubles: 25% of best six (6) results will only be calculated from tournaments contested in either 12/u or 14/u tournaments;
2. Athletes that have turned 13 years of age and are still 14 years of age (i.e. born in year 2002 (until they turn 15 years of age), 2003 or 2004
Singles: Best eight (8) results can be calculated from tournaments contested in either 12/u or 14/u tournaments. If applicable, athletes can have results from a maximum of three (3) 16/u and one (1) 18/u events count towards their ranking.
Doubles: Best six (6) results can be calculated from tournaments contested in either 12/u or 14/u tournaments. If applicable, athletes can have results from a maximum of two (2) 16/u and one (1) 18/u events count towards their ranking.
Please note a major change for 2017 – Player’s will now only receive points from Australian Money Tournaments (AMTs) from the end of the month once they have turned 15 years of age. For example, if a player turns 15 years-old on September 1, they will receive AMT points when the End of September rankings are released on October 8.
3. Athletes that have turned 15 years of age or still 16 years of age (i.e. born during years 2000, 2001 and within 2002)
Singles: Best eight (8) results can only include a maximum of four (4) post junior tournaments. (Note that the mix here could – for example – include eight junior results, however can only have a maximum of four post junior results);
Doubles: 25% of best six (6) results can only include a maximum of three (3) post junior tournaments. (Note that the mix here could – for example – include six junior results, however can only have a maximum of three post junior results);
4. Athletes that have turned 17 years of age or older (i.e. born within the year 2000 or earlier)
Singles: No restriction on formation of best eight (8) results;
Doubles: No restriction on formation of 25% of best six (6) results;
Extreme Weather Policy
The policy is designed to protect competitive tennis players from injury and illness that may result by playing tennis in extreme weather conditions.
Australian Ranking Tournaments Dress Code
Like most sports in Australia, tennis has certain requirements for players’ dress and equipment. These requirements vary depending on the type and nature of the event.
Tennis Etiquette and Rules for Non-Umpired Matches
The Rules of Tennis, as published by the ITF, assure the presence of a Chair Umpire or other officials to determine and interpret particular situations. Rules for non-umpired matches cover certain situations where players are determining their own matches.
