Tennis Tipping Rules & Questions

• Managers Thread: thread where managers can apply for tournaments and ask questions on any aspects related to managing.
• Ask the Board Thread: any questions related to the game can be asked in this thread.
• Ranking threads: Singles, Doubles, WTF Race & Challenger Race.
• TT Code of Conduct: establishes the expected behavior and the responsibilities of managers and players.
• AdeyC’s Tennis Tipping Management Guide
• Evita’s TT Management Spreadsheets (update - 2016 TB rules)
• Tennis Tipping Statistics Website

- Tournament threads should be posted on Friday (two weeks before the start of the tournament).

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2.1.2.1 Singles:
a) ATP 28 or 32 player draw: 32 player draw -> 28 direct entries (1 or 2 special exempt spots if applied), 4 qualy spots (16 player qualy draw, 32 in special occasions*)
b) ATP 48, 56 or 64 player draw: 64 player draw -> 55 direct entries (1 or 2 special exempt spots if applied, 1 WC), 8 qualy spots (32 player qualy draw)
c) ATP 96 or 128 player draw: 128 player draw -> 112 direct entries (1 WC in Masters 1000 events), 16 qualy spots (64 player qualy draw, 128 in Grand Slams)

2.1.2.2 Doubles:
a) ATP 28 or 32 player draw: 16 team draw -> 14 direct entries, 2 qualy spots (8 team qualy draw, 16 in special occasions*)
b) ATP 48, 56 or 64 player draw: 32 team draw -> 28 direct entries, 4 qualy spots (16 team qualy draw)
c) ATP 96 or 128 player draw: 64 team draw -> 56 direct entries, 8 qualy spots (32 team qualy draw, 64 in Grand Slams)

*In special occasions, the number of participants can be increased in order to give all the players a chance to play.

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2.2.1.1 Singles

• The post of the commitment must be clear and made by the player themselves.
• Players mustn’t delete a commitment post.

2.2.1.2 Doubles

• The post of the commitment must be clear and made by one* of the player of the team.
• If a player wishes to change doubles partners at any point before the deadline, the player must clearly withdraw from doubles with the current partner prior to committing with a new partner.
• Players mustn’t delete a commitment post.

*One-player commitment: A single entry post by one of the members of a doubles team is enough to commit the whole team to the doubles competition.

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2.2.2.1 Singles
a) First deadline

• Players have 10 days (from Friday till Sunday) to commit to the singles tournament.
• The first entry deadline is always Sunday 6 PM current time in Europe - CET or CEST - except for Grand Slams, which need a suitable deadline for their different schedules.

-There is no first deadline for Challengers.
b) Final deadline

• The Friday before the start of the event is the final deadline (the exact time is up to the manager) for changes and late registrations.
• The final deadline can be extended if there are still spots available in the Main Draw or if the tournament’s qualifying starts on Sunday (Except in challengers, where there is only one deadline the Friday before the start of the tournament. Anyone who commits after this deadline should be considered an ALT, even if the MD is not full).

2.2.2.2 Doubles
a) Final deadline

• Players have two weeks (from the Friday when the thread is opened until the Friday before the start of the tournament) to commit to the doubles tournament. The deadline is the same as the final deadline for singles commitments.
• The final deadline can be extended if there are still spots available in the Main Draw or if the tournament’s qualifying starts on Sunday.

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2.2.3.1 Late Entries
a) Singles: Players who commit to the tournament after the first deadline and before the final deadline will be registered as Late Entries (LE) and placed on the bottom of the entry list, ordered by commitment time.
b) Doubles: There aren’t Late Entries in doubles.

2.2.3.2 Alternates
- Teams and players who commit after the final deadline and before the start of the qualifying (or the main draw if no qualifying is played) will be registered as alternates and placed on the bottom of the alternates list, ordered by commitment time.

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2.2.4.1 Number of changes allowed
- Players are allowed to change the tournaments (only once).

2.2.4.2 Changes & Late Entries
a) Singles: Players who change tournaments will be registered as late entries (LE) and placed on the bottom of the singles entry list, ordered by ranking.
b) Doubles: Players who change tournaments will be registrered as regular entries in doubles.

2.2.4.3 How to change tournaments?
Players must withdraw from the tournament they’ve previously entered before being accepted in the entry list of another tournament:
- Step #1: withdraw from the tournament you've previously entered (post "OUT" in the tournament thread).
- Step #2: commit to the tournament you want to play (post "In as LE" in the tournament thread).

2.2.4.4 Deadline
- Any changes must be made before the qualifying draws are posted (players are no longer able to withdraw from a tournament after the qualifying draws are posted).

2.2.4.5 Cancelled Tournaments

• If a tournament is cancelled, players committed can pick a new event without being considered a LE.
• There is an exception to this rule regarding cancelled challengers. The player's commitment to the cancelled challenger must've occurred before the first deadline of the ATP tournament they are switching to for them not to be considered a LE.

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2.2.5.1 One tournament per week
- Players mustn’t commit to different tournaments played in the same week.

2.2.5.2 Multiple commitments

• It happens when a player commits to more than one tournament in the same week.
• How to proceed:

a) Case #1: If the multiple commitments are not noticed by the managers, points gained by the player in any of the two tournaments will not be considered.
b) Case #2: If the infraction is noticed before the tournaments start, only the first commitment will be valid and no punishment is applied.

2.2.5.3 Rule exception (GS first weeks)
- Players are allowed to commit to Challengers during Grand Slams first weeks as well as to enter the Grand Slam qualifying event. Players who lose in the Grand Slam’s qualifying are then able to play the challenger (check rule 2.4.1).

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- Players who are banned from MTF will not be allowed to play TT.

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- Players ranked inside the Top 30 are allowed to play Challengers/Futures as long as they are placed at the bottom of the entry list as late entries in reverse order of ranking.

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2.3.1.1 Definitions:
Direct acceptances: players who are directly accepted into the Main Draw.
Qualifying list: players who are directly accepted into the Qualifying Draw.
Alternates list: players who don’t make the Qualifying Draw. Alternates are still able to play if there are players who forget to send picks on the first day of qualifying (or main draw if there is no qualifying).

2.3.1.2 Entry order
Entries are ordered by the TT Rankings (rankings from two weeks before the start of the tournament).

• Doubles teams: the combined positions of each player are added together and the total is used to determine the entry order.
• Unranked players: unranked players should be listed in order of commitment.
• Late entries: Late entries should be placed on the bottom of the entry list (after the unranked players), ordered by commitment time.
• Alternates: Players who commit after the final deadline should be placed on the bottom of the alternates list, ordered by commitment time.

2.3.1.3 Ties

• Singles: If there’s a tie in the singles list, the players should be ordered by commitment time.
• Doubles: If there’s a tie in the doubles list, the teams should be ordered by the sum of ranking points of each player. If the sum of points is the same, the tie should be broken by the highest individual doubles ranking of the best player of each team.

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2.3.2.1 Eligibility

• Players who are absent from TT for at least 3 months are eligible to apply for a Protected Ranking.
• After being inactive for 18 months or more, the player is no longer eligible to apply for a Protected Ranking.

2.3.2.2 Calculation
- The Protected Ranking is the average ranking of the first 6 weeks of the player’s absence.

2.3.2.3 How to ask for a PR?
- Players must ask for a Protected Ranking in the PR thread before they commit to any tournaments.

2.3.2.4 Number of PR's
The number of Protected Rankings depend on the length of the absence:
a) 3 months out = 3 PR
b) 4 months out = 4 PR
c) 5 months out = 5 PR
d) 6 or more months out = 6 PR

2.3.2.5 Singles & doubles
- Protected rankings apply to singles and doubles (there’s a separate PR for each of the competitions).

2.3.2.6 How to use a PR?

• Players must inform the tournament manager whether they will use a PR before the first deadline (or the final deadline, if LE).
• If the player gets a direct acceptance to the tournament with their current position in the entry rankings, the PR is not used.

2.3.2.7 PR's & Seedings
- Protected Rankings can’t be used for seedings.

2.3.2.8 Tie (PR & regular ranking)
- In case of a tie, a player or team using a PR will be placed below a player or team using the regular ranking in the entry list.

2.3.2.9 Expiration of PR's
- Protected Rankings expire 9 months after being granted.

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2.3.3.1 Eligibility
- Players may receive a Special Exempt into the Main Draw of the following week’s tournament if they reach the singles final of the previous week’s tournament and meet one of the following criteria:
a) A qualified event for special exempt to an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament is the singles event of another ATP World Tour Masters 1000, ATP World Tour 500 or Grand Slam tournament.
b) A qualified event for special exempt to an ATP World Tour 500 tournament is the singles event of another ATP World Tour 500, ATP World Tour Masters 1000, ATP World Tour 250 or Grand Slam tournament.
c) A qualified event for special exempt to an ATP World Tour 250 tournament is the singles event of any ATP World Tour 250, ATP World Tour 500, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 or Grand Slam tournament.
d) A qualified event for special exempt to an ATP Challenger Tour tournament is the singles event of an ATP World Tour or ATP Challenger Tour tournament within the same geographic region, unless there are no Challengers in the same region the following week.

• Any player in the qualifying or alternates list is eligible to receive a SE, even if the player is a LE.
• Top 30 players aren’t eligible to get Special Exempts into challengers.

2.3.3.2 How to apply for a SE?
- Players must apply for the SE spots before the final deadline.

2.3.3.3 Postponed play & SE eligibility
- If Friday’s play is postponed or tournament schedule , players who are still alive in the singles tournament are eligible to receive SE spots of an event in the following week, even if they don’t reach the tournament final.

2.3.3.4 Selection of SE's
- If there are more players than available spots for Special Exempts, the players will be selected according to the TT rankings (rankings from two weeks before the start of the tournament).

2.3.3.5 Number of SE's
- Number of special exempts per tournament:
a) ATP Masters 1000 & ATP 500 Tournaments: one Special Exempt
b) ATP 250 Tournaments & Challengers: two Special Exempts
- If no players meet the SE criteria or apply for the spots, the first player(s) on the qualifying entry list should be promoted from the qualifying draw to the main draw.

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2.3.4.1 Qualified tournaments

• One Wild Card will be given into the singles main draw of each of the qualified tournaments.
• The qualified tournaments will be listed in a specific thread for Wild Cards.

2.3.4.2 How the WC works

• Points accumulated at challengers played prior to a qualified tournament (according to a pre-estabilished calendar) will count for a specific ranking.
• A player must win at least one of the challengers to be eligible to compete for the WC.
• The player who scores the highest amount of points will be awarded a WC into the Main Draw of the qualified tournament.
• If the ranking counts for two qualified tournaments, the player ranked first will get the WC reserved for the first of the two events and the player ranked second will get the WC for the second event.

2.3.4.3 How to break ties
- Ties are broken by the following:
a) fewest number of events played.
b) number of titles in challengers which count for the WC ranking.
c) position in the latest Singles Entry Ranking.

2.3.4.4 WC's & direct entries
- If the player who earns the WC already has a direct entry or chooses not to use the WC into the qualified tournament, the next player in the WC ranking will get the spot.

2.3.4.5 How to apply for a WC?
- Players must apply for the WC spot before the final deadline.

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2.3.5.1 Eligibility

• The champion of a singles tournament of any level may receive a Wild Card into the singles main draw of the same tournament in the following season.
• The champion of a tournament which is not played in the following season will not be eligible for a Wild Card to defending champions.

2.3.5.2 How to apply for a WC?
- Players must apply for the WC spot before the final deadline.

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2.4.1.1 Entries
- Players are allowed to commit to both a Grand Slam and a challenger played in the first (week #1 challenger) or the second week (week #2 challenger) of the same Grand Slam.

2.4.1.2 How to proceed (week #1 challenger)?

• Players who make the main draw of the Grand Slam (singles or doubles) should be removed from the entry list of the week #1 challenger.
• Players who decide to send picks as potential Lucky Losers on the first day of the Grand Slam's main draw should be removed from the entry list of the week #1 challenger.

2.4.1.3 How to proceed (week #2 challenger)?
- Players who reach the Grand Slam R16 (Singles 4th Round or Doubles 3rd Round) should be removed from the entry list of the week #2 challenger.

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2.4.2.1 Entries
- Players are allowed to commit to both Indian Wells/Miami and a challenger played in the second week (week #2 challenger) of the same ATP Masters 1000 event.

2.4.2.2 How to proceed?
- Players who are still playing the ATP Masters 1000 by Saturday should be removed from the entry list of the week #2 challenger.

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1) Aren’t players able to commit another player for singles?
Not anymore. This rule was changed in the 2012-2013 off-season.

2) Am I allowed to change tournaments after the second deadline?
Yes if the draws haven’t been posted yet. Once the draws are posted, it’s no longer possible to withdraw from a tournament. Alternates can still be added to the bottom of the list.

3) I was an alternate for tournament A but didn’t make the qualifying draw. Then I realized tournament B still had Main Draw spots available. Am I allowed to play there?
No. Players are only allowed to play one tournament per week. Alternates aren’t allowed to play anywhere else that week even if they didn’t make it to the draw.

4) My partner has already committed my doubles team to the tournament. Do I need to confirm the commitment in the thread?
No. Your partner’s commit is enough to confirm the team’s entry.

5) I’ve entered the Tournament A, played in week X, and the Tournament B, played in the following week (X+1). If I make the Tournament A final but don’t enter the Tournament B main draw directly, do I have to withdraw from the Tournament B qualifying to be able to play the Tournament A final?
No. Since the tournaments are played in different weeks, you’re allowed to play both the final of Tournament A and the qualifying of tournament B.

6) I chose to use my PR to get into a tournament, but it turns out I would have entered the main draw with my regular ranking. Was my PR used or do I get to use it somewhere else?
You get to use it somewhere else. Your PR is only used if your current ranking isn’t high enough to get you a place in the main draw.

7) I’ve reached the doubles final of Tournament A. Am I eligible to request a SE into the doubles main draw of Tournament B, to be played in the following week?
No. Special Exempts are exclusive to singles.

8) I still haven’t played the singles SF of Tournament A on Friday, but I'm interested in a potential SE spot in Tournament B, played in the following week. How should I proceed?
You must request the SE spot in the Tournament B thread, even if your match hasn’t been decided yet. You don’t necessarily have to wait until the last moment to post your request. Just make sure you do it before the final deadline.

9) How should managers proceed if the potential SE players are yet to play their matches on Friday?
If the main draw is to be made before a potential Special Exempt player plays on Friday, then such place(s) shall be drawn in the same manner as qualifier, i.e., four qualifiers ("Q") and one or two "SE". Each of the five or six slots are marked "Q/SE." As soon as the "SE" match results are known, either the "SE" or the next Direct Acceptance (if the SE lost) is randomly drawn and inserted into the draw.

11) I committed to a Grand Slam, but didn’t make the Main Draw. Do I have to withdraw from the tournament I’ll play in the week before the GS to be able to play the GS qualifying? And what if I reach the final of a tournament and don’t get a SE spot, do I have to withdraw from the qualifying of the tournament played in the following week?
The answer is ‘no’ to both questions. You can play both tournaments, as they’re tournaments from different calendar weeks.

12) I lost my Grand Slam match on Saturday. The week #2 challenger I chose to play only starts its qualifying on Sunday and main draw on Tuesday. Am I able to play the challenger? Wasn’t there a rule that said ‘R16 – out of Qualifying’ & ‘QF – out of MD’?
Sorry, you’re not able to play the challenger. This rule is no longer valid. If you reach the GS R16 (4th round Singles/3rd round Doubles), you’re automatically removed from the challenger’s entry list. Grand Slams’ R16 are usually played on Friday & Saturday, except for the US Open (played on Saturday & Sunday).

13) What happens if a player is banned from MTF? Would they still be able to play TT?
Case #1: If the suspension doesn’t end until the start of a TT event, the banned player will be removed from the tournament.
Case #2: If the suspension happens after the start of the TT event, picks sent before the ban starts running will still count. Picks for the following rounds will not be accepted until the suspension is ended.

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3.1.1.1 Draw size
- Tennis Tipping follows the same draw sizes as the ATP, with the exception of byes, which are not used in TT:
a) ATP 28 or 32 player draw (Challengers, most of the ATP 250 & 500 Tournaments):
o Singles -> 32-player main draw & 16-player qualifying draw
***Challengers/Futures DO NOT have qualifying events.
o Doubles -> 16-team main draw & 8-team qualifying draw.
***Challengers/Futures DO NOT have qualifying events.
b) ATP 48, 56 or 64 player draw (some ATP 250 & 500 Tournaments, most of the ATP Masters 1000):
o Singles -> 64-player main draw & 32-player qualifying draw
o Doubles -> 32-team main draw & 16-team qualifying draw.
c) ATP 96 player draw (Indian Wells & Miami):
o Singles -> 128-player main draw & 64-player qualifying draw
o Doubles -> 64-team main draw & 32-team qualifying draw.
d) 128 player draw (Grand Slams):
o Singles -> 128-player main draw & 128-player qualifying draw
o Doubles -> 64-team main draw & 64-team qualifying draw.

** challenger rules are kept separately here Challenger Rules 2020

3.1.1.2 Increased qualifying draws
- In special occasions, the size of the qualifying draw can be increased in order to give all the players a chance to play.

3.1.1.3 Reduced qualifying draws
- If there are less than two players in the qualifying list for each qualifying spot of the Main Draw, the tournament will have a custom qualifying draw which will give less spots to the Main Draw, as follows (examples for 32-player events):
a) 32 players: all players are directly qualified to the MD; no qualifying is played.
b) 33 players: 31 players are directly qualified to the MD; the remaining two players play a 1-match qualifying round.
c) 34 players: 30 players are directly qualified to the MD; the remaining 4 players play a 2-match qualifying round.
d) 35 players: 29 players are directly qualified to the MD; the remaining 6 players play a 3-match qualifying round.

3.1.1.4 Minimum draw size
- The main draws of a Tennis Tipping event must have at least 16 singles players or 8 doubles teams for the tournament to be run.

3.1.1.5 Filling the doubles draw
- After the final deadline (including any extensions allowed by the rules), the manager is allowed to randomly pair up players in order to fill the draw - up to the minimum number of teams required for the doubles tournament to take place.
a) Applicability: this rule applies to tournaments which have at least 16 singles players but less than 8 doubles teams.
b) Number of teams: up to 8 doubles teams.

3.1.1.6 Cancelled tournaments

• Prior to the final deadline, a tournament will be cancelled if the minimum number of players and teams is unlikely to be reached.
• Players can then move to other tournaments being held in the same week without being marked as late entries.

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3.1.2.1 Definition
- Seeds are players or teams who are given preferential positions in the draw based on the TT rankings (rankings from two weeks before the start of the tournament).

3.1.2.2 Number of seeds
a) Main Draw:
o 16 players - 4 seeds
o 32 Players - 8 seeds
o 64 Players - 16 seeds
o 128 players - 32 seeds
b) Qualifying (always two seeds for each MD spot):
o 4 Q draw (2 MD spots) - 4 seeds
o 8 Q draw (2 MD spots) - 4 seeds
o 16 Q draw (2 MD spots) - 4 seeds
o 16 Q draw (4 MD spots) - 8 seeds
o 32 Q draw (4 MD spots) - 8 seeds
o 32 Q draw (8 MD spots) - 16 seeds
o 64 Q draw (16 MD spots) - 32 seeds
o 128 Q draw (16 MD spots) - 32 seeds

3.1.2.3 How to place the seeds in the draw?
- The placement of the seeds can be found here.

3.1.2.4 Eligibility

• LE's & SE's: Players who are Late Entries or Special Exempts are to be seeded if applicable, where ever there entry lands, either Main draw or Qualifying (exception : Top 30 can not be seeded in Challengers)
• Qualifiers & LL's: Qualifiers & Lucky Losers can be seeded if the Main Draw is released after the qualifying is over, but the tournament managers don’t have to wait for the qualifying to be played to post the Main Draw.

3.1.2.5 Restrictions

• PR: Protected Ranking is not used to define the seeding order.
• Top 30 singles players & Challengers:Top 30 singles players are not able to be seeded in challengers.

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3.1.3.1 How to place byes?
- Step #1: If there are not enough players to fill a draw (Qualifying or Main Draw), byes should be awarded to the highest seeds.
- Step #2: If there are still remaining byes, they should be awarded to the highest ranked unseeded players (rankings from two weeks before the start of the tournament).

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3.1.4.1 Definition
- Lucky Losers are players who lose in the final round of the qualifying event (or if more lucky losers are required, those players who lose the previous qualifying rounds) but still get to play the Main Draw of the tournament, replacing a player who doesn’t send picks on the first day of competition.

3.1.4.2 Ordering lucky losers
- The Lucky Loser order is determined by the following (for more information, check the TB rules):
a. Amount of correct picks (Qualifying Final Round)
b. Amount of correct SR's (Qualifying Final Round)
c. Amount of sets given to the winners (Qualifying Final Round)
d. PTS (Qualifying Final Round)
e. Amount of correct picks (2nd round if played)
f. Amount of correct SRs (2nd round if played)
g. Amount of sets given to the winners (2nd round if played)
h. PTS (2nd round if played)
i. Amount of correct picks (1st round)
j. Amount of correct SRs (1st round)
k. Amount of sets given to the winners (1st round)
l. PTS 1 (1st round)
m. PTS 2 (1st round)
n. PTS 3, PTS 4, …., PTS X-1 (1st round)
o. PTS X-1 (1st round – last match of the OOP)
p. GD (Qualifying Final Round)
q. GD (2nd round if played)
r. GD 1 (1st round)
s. GD 2 (1st round)
t. GD 3, GD 4, …., GD X-1 (1st round)
u. GD X (1st round - last match of the OOP)
v. Ranking

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3.1.5.1 Definitions
a) Missing player: For the purpose of alternates/lucky loser replacements, a player who forgets to send their picks on the first day* of competition (qualifying or main draw) will be considered a missing player.
b) Missing team: For the purpose of alternates/lucky loser replacements, a team will be considered missing in doubles if one of its players forgets to send their picks on the first day* of competition (qualifying or main draw).
*A player (or team) will not be considered missing if they send picks on the first day of a two-day first round but forget to send picks on the second day.

3.1.5.2 When to replace a missing player or team by a Lucky loser: First rounds only
- Lucky loser and alternates replacements only happen in first rounds (Main Draw or Qualifying). There’s an exception to this rule (Rule 3.1.6).

3.1.5.3 Possible replacements
a) Alternate:

• An Alternate will take the spot of a missing player (or team) in the Qualifying Draw.
• An Alternate will take the spot of a missing player (or team) in the Main Draw if no qualifying was played.
• An Alternate will take the Main Draw spot of a player (or team) who withdraws from the tournament after the qualifying draw is made but before the qualifying competition starts. In this case, the first player in the qualifying list will be the Main Draw alternate.

b) Lucky loser:

• A Lucky Loser will take the spot of a missing player (or team) n the Main Draw if the qualifying event was played.
• A Lucky Loser will take the Main Draw spot of a player who withdraws from the tournament after the qualifying competition starts.

c) Lucky Loser exception in FQR (Final Qualifying round)
- The best loser (LL1) will replace any match with 2 missing picks in the Final round of Qualifying, both singles and doubles (1 on 1 doubles matches are not permitted, these are also to be replaced by LL1)

3.1.5.4 No replacements
a) Two-day first round:
- Lucky losers or alternates will not replace a player (or team) who sends picks on the first day of a two-day first round but forgets to send picks on the second day.
b) Second round onwards:

• No lucky losers will be placed after the first round.
• If two missing players (or teams) are placed against each other, the match is decided by the TB rules - previous round(s) score(s).

3.1.5.5 Eligibility

• Alternates and Lucky Losers must send picks to be eligible to replace a missing player.
• In doubles, both players of an alternate/lucky loser team must send picks.

3.1.5.6 How to place Alternates & Lucky losers in the draw

Placement's basics:

- More or equal alt/LL than missing players: check itens a, b, c & d (flowchart: link).

• Less alt/LL than missing players but more or equal alt/LL than matches with two missing players: check itens a, b, c, d, e & f (flowchart: link).
• Less alt/LL than matches with two missing players: check itens a, b, c, d, e, f, g & h (flowchart: link).

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a) Alternates/lucky losers should be placed according to the list order: first alternate/lucky loser gets placed first, second alternate/lucky loser gets placed second etc.

b) Place the first alternates/lucky losers in matches where neither player sends picks.

Example (basics 'b'):

Draw
#1 vs. #8 Missing picks from #8
#5 vs. #4 - Missing picks from #5 and #4 (place the first alt/LL here)
#3 vs. #7
#2 vs. #6

The first alt/LL must be placed in the second match (where both players failed to send picks).

#1 vs. #8
#5 vs. LL1
#3 vs. #7
#2 vs. #6

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c) If there is more than one match with two missing players, place the first alternates/lucky losers against the lowest ranked players involved in these matches.

Example (basics 'c'):

Draw
#1 vs. #8 Missing picks from #8
#5 vs. #4 - Missing picks from #5 and #4 (place the second alt/LL here, against #5)
#3 vs. #7 - Missing picks from #3 and #7 (place the first alt/LL here, against #7)
#2 vs. #6

Since there is more than one match with two missing players (#5 vs #4 and #3 vs #7), place the first alt/LL against the lowest ranked of the players involved in these matches (#7), then place the second alt/LL against the lowest ranked player of the other match (#5).

#1 vs. #8
#5 vs. LL2
LL1 vs. #7
#2 vs. #6

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d) After placing one alternate/lucky loser in each match with two missing players, place the following alternates/lucky losers (if there is any) against the lowest ranked players (rankings from two weeks before the start of the tournament).

Example (basics 'd'):

Draw after placing one alt/LL in matches with two missing players
#1 vs. #8 Missing picks from #8 (place LL3 here)
#5 vs. LL1 - Missing picks from #5 (place LL2 here)
#3 vs. #7
#2 vs. #6

Considering that #1 is better ranked than LL1, the following alt/LL (LL2) should be placed against LL1, then the next alt/LL (LL3) should be placed against #1

#1 vs. LL3
LL2 vs. LL1
#3 vs. #7
#2 vs. #6

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e) After the steps above and all the alt/LL available have been placed, if there are any alternates/lucky losers placed against a player who hasn’t sent picks, the draw should be adjusted in order to give the byes to the best ranked players who have been directly accepted into the draw (rankings from two weeks before the start of the tournament).

Example (basics 'e'):

Draw after placing one alt/LL in matches with two missing players - no alt/LL remaining
#1 vs. #8 Missing picks from #8
#5 vs. LL1 - Missing picks from #5 Alt/LL placed against a missing player - draw must be rearranged
#3 vs. #7
#2 vs. #6

LL1 is placed against a missing player, so the draw should be rearranged. The best ranked player without a bye is #2, so they should be given a bye and their opponent should be moved to play LL1.

#1 vs. #8
#6 vs. LL1
#3 vs. #7
#2 vs. bye

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f) If there are two or more alternates/lucky losers placed against a player who hasn’t sent picks, give a bye to the best ranked direct entry and place their opponent against the lowest alternate. Then give a bye to the following best ranked direct entry and place their opponent against the second lowest alternate.

Example (basics 'f'):

Draw after placing one alt/LL in matches with two missing players - no alt/LL remaining
#1 vs. #8
#5 vs. LL1 - Missing picks from #5 Alt/LL placed against a missing player - draw must be rearranged
LL2 vs. #7 - Missing picks from #7 Alt/LL placed against a missing player - draw must be rearranged
#2 vs. #6

LL1 and LL2 are placed against a missing player, so the draw should be rearranged. The best ranked player without a bye is #1, so they should be given a bye and their opponent (#8) should be moved to play the lowest alternate (LL2).

#1 vs. bye
#5 vs. LL1 - Missing picks from #5 Alt/LL placed against a missing player - draw must be rearranged
LL2 vs. #8
#2 vs. #6

The second best ranked player without a bye is #2, so they should be given a bye and their opponent (#6) should be moved to play the second lowest alternate (LL2)

#1 vs. bye
#6 vs. LL1
LL2 vs. #8
#2 vs. bye

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g) After all the steps above, if there is still a match with two missing players, the loser with the best score in the round will take this spot in the following round (rule 3.1.6.1).

Example (basics 'g'):

Draw after all the steps above - no alt/LL remaining
#1 vs. #8 Missing picks from #1 and #8 (match still has two missing players)
#5 vs. #4
#3 vs. #7
#2 vs. #6

No further changes are made. The best loser from this round takes the spot in the second round as a R1 LL

Round 2
Loser with the best score from R1 vs. #5 or #4
#3 or #7 vs #2 or #6

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h) If there is more than one match with two missing players after all the steps above, place the losers with the best score against the lowest ranked players.

Example (basics 'h'):

Draw after all the steps above - no alt/LL remaining
#1 vs. #8 Missing picks from #1 and #8 (match still has two missing players)
#5 vs. #4
#3 vs. #7 Missing picks from #3 and #7 (match still has two missing players)
#2 vs. #6

Results
#5 def #4 5:4
#2 def #6 3:2

After the R1, best loser from R1 (LL1) is placed against the lowest ranked player (#5). The second loser (#6) is placed in the other match.

Round 2
(LL) LL1 vs. #5 (LL1 takes the spot from match #1 vs. #8)
(LL) #6 vs. #2 (#6 takes the spot from the match #3 vs. #7)

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Examples: cases - step by step

Case #1: There are more or equal eligible alternates/lucky losers than missing players:
a) Step #1: identify the matches where neither player has sent picks.
b) Step #2: insert alternates/lucky losers in each of these matches.
-> If there is only one match with two missing players: insert the first alternate/lucky loser in this match.
-> If there are two or more matches with two missing players: identify the lowest ranked player involved in these matches and place the first alternate/lucky loser against this player, then identify the second lowest ranked player involved in these matches and place the second alternate/lucky loser against this player, etc.
c) Step #3: list every player placed against a missing opponent in ranking order (rankings from two weeks before the tournament).
d) Step #4: place the remaining alternates/lucky losers against the lowest ranked players in the list above - the first of the remaining alternates/lucky losers should be placed against the lowest ranked player in the list, the second of the remaining alternates should be placed against the second lowest ranked player in the list, etc.

Case #2: There are less eligible alternates/lucky losers than missing players:
a) Step #1: identify the matches where neither player has sent picks.
b) Step #2: insert alternates/lucky losers in each of these matches.
-> If there is only one match with two missing players: insert the first alternate/lucky loser in this match.
-> If there are two or more matches with two missing players: identify the lowest ranked player involved in these matches and place the first alternate/lucky loser against this player, then identify the second lowest ranked player involved in these matches and place the second alternate/lucky loser against this player, etc.
-> After the placement of all alternates/lucky losers, if there are still matches left with two missing players: skip to Case #3
c) Step #3: list every player placed against a missing opponent in ranking order (rankings from two weeks before the tournament).
d) Step #4: place the remaining alternates/lucky losers against the lowest ranked players in the list above.
-> The first of the remaining alternates/lucky losers should be placed against the lowest ranked player in the list, the second of the remaining alternates should be placed against the second lowest ranked player in the list, etc.
e) Step #5: if there are still alternates or lucky losers placed against a missing oppponent, skip to Case #3.

Case #3: After the placements, there are still alternates or lucky losers placed against a missing opponent:
a) Step #1: list the players (excluding alternates and lucky losers) placed against an opponent who has sent picks in ranking order (rankings from two weeks before the tournament).
b) Step #2: count the number of alternates or lucky losers placed against a missing opponent.
c) Step #3: select the same number of players in the list described on Step #1, starting from the best ranked player. Give byes to the selected players.
d) Step #4: switch the spot of the opponents of the selected players, placing them against the alternates or lucky losers whose opponents haven't sent picks.
-> Place the opponent of the best selected player against the lowest alternate/lucky loser, then place the opponent of the second best selected player against the second lowest alternate/lucky loser, etc.
e) Step #5: after the steps above:
-> The alternates or lucky losers who are still placed against a missing player remain with their opponents.
-> If there are still matches where neither player has sent picks, skip to Rule 3.1.6.1.

3.1.5.7 Examples
- Examples of Alternates/Lucky Loser placements can be found here

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3.1.6.1 First round & Matches where neither player sends picks

• After the alternates/lucky losers placement, if there's still a match where both players or teams have failed to send picks, the loser with the best score in this round will take their spot in the following round as a lucky loser.
• This exception applies to both the qualifying event and the Main Draw.
• Multiple replacements: place the best loser against the lowest ranked player without an opponent, then the second best loser against the second lowest ranked player without an opponent and so on.

3.1.6.2 Two-round day (First & Second Rounds) and missing players with byes

• If the first and the second rounds are played on the same day, the loser with the best score in the first round will take the spot of a player or team that receives a bye from the first to the second round but fails to send picks on that day.
• This exception applies to both the qualifying event and the Main Draw.
• Multiple replacements: place the best loser against the lowest ranked player without an opponent, then the second best loser against the second lowest ranked player without an opponent and so on.

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3.1.7.1 Alternates & Missing players with byes - Qualifying

• A qualifying alternate who isn't placed in the first round but sends picks for the second round will take the spot of a player or team that receives a bye in the first round but fails to send picks on the first day of play of the second round.
• Multiple replacements: place the top alternate against the lowest ranked player without an opponent, then the second alternate against the second lowest ranked player without an opponent and so on.

3.1.7.2 Alternates & Missing players with byes - Main Draw (if no qualifying is played)

• A Main Draw alternate who isn't placed in the first round but sends picks for the second round will take the spot of a player or team that receives a bye in the first round but fails to send picks on the first day of play of the second round.
• Multiple replacements: place the top alternate against the lowest ranked player without an opponent, then the second alternate against the second lowest ranked player without an opponent and so on.

3.1.7.3 Lucky losers & Missing players with byes - Main Draw (if qualifying is played)

• A lucky loser from the qualifying event who isn't placed in the first round but sends picks for the second round will take the spot of a player or team that receives a bye in the first round but fails to send picks on the first day of play of the second round.
• Multiple replacements: place the best loser against the lowest ranked player without an opponent, then the second best loser against the second lowest ranked player without an opponent and so on.

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3.2.1.1 Day 1 (Main Draw)
- Tennis Tipping tournaments start on Monday (even if there are Main Draw matches played on Sunday), except for the following events:
a) Roland Garros: Sunday start (1st day of MD play).
b) The 64-player events which precede Wimbledon & US Open (currently played in Notthingham & Winston-Salem): Sunday start (1st day of MD play – both rounds of qualifying should be played on Saturday).
c) Indian Wells: Thursday start (1st day of MD play).
d) Miami: Wednesday start (1st day of MD play).
e) Challengers which start on Tuesday: manager’s choice, depending on the number of qualifying rounds played.

3.2.1.2 Standard schedules
- The standard schedules of the Tennis Tipping tournaments can be found here.

3.2.1.3 Two-day first rounds

• Depending on the number of matches played on Monday, the manager can decide to add some of the Tuesday’s matches to the singles first round.
• A minimum of 5 matches must be used in the singles first round: if there are less than 5 matches being played on Monday, the manager must use some matches from Tuesday to complete the first round. Total number of first round matches is at the discretion of the manager.

3.2.1.4 Qualifying matches played on MD days

• The use of qualifying matches played on Monday (first day of MD play) is a manager’s decision.
• Qualifying matches played on Monday will count for the Main Draw play, unless the manager says otherwise.

3.2.1.5 Postponed matches
- If play is suspended due to rain or darkness, the postponed matches will still count for the previous day’s round. These matches will not be used for the following day’s round.

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3.2.2.1 Definition
- The order of play is the list of matches scheduled to be played on the following day.

3.2.2.2 OOP post
- The order of play will be posted in the tournament thread, together with the following instructions:
a) The deadline after which no picks will be accepted.
b) The username of the person to whom the picks should be sent.
c) Instructions on how to send picks (up to the manager).
d) Any other information managers may want to provide.

3.2.2.3 Deadline

• The deadline is usually taken from the official order of play and set at the time when the first match is scheduled to begin.
• Early deadline: Managers may occasionally set an earlier deadline if their personal circumstances require it and plenty of warning is given, attempting to give a window of at least 12 hours for the players to send picks.
  • If all picks are received before the specified deadline and the manager must (under unforeseen circumstances) post differences early without prior warning, then adjustments made to picks between the time the differences were posted and the deadline specified in the OOP will not be accepted.

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3.3.1.1 Private messages (Conversations)

• Picks must be sent via Conversations (formerly known as a PM), according to the manager’s instructions.
• The use of the manager’s e-mail address (published on the first page of the tournament thread) should be restricted to situations of MTF’s malfunction. Picks sent via e-mail will still be accepted, but it’s highly recommended to send picks by PM.

3.3.1.2 Desired format
- The desired format of the picks usually is as follows:
a) The picks should be sent in the same order the matches are disposed in the Order of Play.
b) Only the last name of the winner should be sent (nationalities, first names, seeding should be erased).
c) The names of the players should be spelled correctly.
d) Picks of matches marked as SR (Set-Ratio matches) should be followed by a prediction of the score of the match in sets.
e) Picks of matches marked as PTS (Predict-the-Score) should be followed by a prediction of the score of the match in games.
f) Examples can be found here.

3.3.1.3 Pick changes
- Players are allowed to change picks at any time until the deadline.(please limit changes and have in within 30 minutes to deadline to respect the managers work)

3.3.1.4 Restrictions

• Same picks for singles and doubles: the same set of picks count for singles and doubles.
• Picks must be sent by the player themselves: Players are not allowed to send picks for another username.
• No changes after the deadline: Players are not allowed to send a particular pick they’ve missed after the deadline has passed.

3.3.1.5 Picks & byes
- Players should send picks even if they have a bye in the first round (for Count-Back purposes)

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3.3.2.1 Picks sent after the deadline

• Picks sent after the deadline will not be accepted, even if a point hasn’t been played.
• PIcks sent at the exact time of the deadline will not be accepted. (ex. Manager sets a 11:00 AM deadline and picks were received at 11:00 AM. That is considered late and the picks will not be accepted.)

3.3.2.2 Picks sent to the wrong person
- If the user who posts the OOP is different the the manager of the tournament, picks accidentally sent to them, can be forwarded to the actual manager of the tournament prior to the deadline. If that user is not around to forward the picks by the deadline, they will not be accepted.

3.3.2.3 Missing players or teams:
a) First round: the missing player (or team) will be replaced by an alternate or lucky loser.
b) Second round onwards or if there are no alternates/lucky losers available (one-day round): the opposing player (or team) will be given a walkover*.
c) Second round onwards or if there are no alternates/lucky losers available (two-day round): walkovers* will not be awarded if the missing player (or team) sends picks on one of the two days.
*One-player team: If one of the players of a doubles team forgets to send picks and there are no alternates or lucky losers to replace them, a walkover isn’t awarded to the opposing team. The missing player gets 0 points, but the score of the other player still counts.

3.3.2.4 Matches where neither player sends picks
a) First round & alternates/lucky losers available: check Rule 3.1.5.
b) First round & no alternates/lucky losers available: check Rule 3.1.6.
c) Remaining cases: the winner will be decided by the TB rules.
d) Exception in the Final Round of Qualifying: The best loser from FQR advances to the main draw.

3.3.2.5 Sending picks incorrectly

• Tournament threads must have instructions on how to send picks correctly.
• Picks sent incorrectly can be punished* as follows:

a) First infraction: a warning (manager should send a PM to the player)
b) Second infraction: a point penalty.
c) Third infraction: disqualification.
*No punishment is applied if the picks are sent before the OOP is posted, but the player should keep in mind the desired format specified in rule 3.3.1.2.
*The imposition of the punishments is up to the TT Board.

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1) I’m high ranked, but missed the first deadline. I managed to get into the qualifying draw. If I had entered the tournament directly, I’d have been a seeded player. Can I still be seeded if I qualify? Must the manager wait to post the main draw?
You can still be seeded if the manager decides to post the Main Draw after the qualifying spots are decided. But (s)he doesn’t have to wait to post the draw.

2) I lost my first round match. Should I send picks for the second round to take a potential lucky loser spot in case someone forgets to send picks?
No. Missing players in the second round do not get replaced by losers from the first round, so unless you’re playing doubles there’s no need for you to send picks.
There’s one exception to this rule (if there are two missing players in a R1 match but no alternates/lucky losers to replace them), but the player who gets the lucky loser spot is known as soon as the R1 matches are finished.

3) I was an alternate/lucky loser for the first round but didn't get in. Should I send picks for the second round to take a potential lucky loser spot in case someone forgets to send picks?
Yes if there have been byes in the first round. Missing players who have been given byes to the second round can be replaced by lucky losers from qualifying or alternates.

4) Two players (who were not assigned to play each other) didn’t sent picks, but there was only one alternate available to replace them. After the replacement, the player who received the bye wasn’t even seeded. Should the draw be adjusted so that the #1 seed gets the bye instead?
No. The draw should only be rearranged to prevent alternates/lucky losers from receiving byes.

5) I can’t wait for the manager to post the OOP. What should I do?
Players don’t necessarily have to wait for the manager to send their picks. But if you can actually wait for the OOP to be posted, you should do so and send pick in the correct order (which helps the manager a lot).

6) I forgot to send my picks, but the whole round was postponed to the next day due to rain. No lucky losers replaced me in the draw. Am I still able to play?
No. No picks can be accepted after the deadline, which doesn't change because of rain, darkness or any other events which may change the time the first match starts.

7) I didn't read the instructions and sent the picks to the wrong person. Will my picks be accepted?
If the user who posted the OOP was different than the manager of the tournament, picks sent to them can be forwarded to the manager and be counted as long as it is before the deadline. In any other scenario, picks cannot be accepted.

8) I forgot to send my picks. It wasn't a first round, so I wasn't replaced in the draw. My opponent didn't predict any correct winner, didn't score any SR, didn't give any sets to the winners and scored 0 points in the PTS match. I have the CB advantage. Shouldn't I be the winner of the match?
No, in this case your opponent is given a walkover.

9) I sent the picks in the wrong order and made some spelling mistakes. Am I automatically punished?
No, it's up to the managers whether to impose these penalties (and they probably won’t). What you must understand is that managing tournaments consumes time, and picks sent incorrectly make the manager's job even harder.

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4.1.1.1 The winner of a TT match

• The winner of a Tennis Tipping match is the player who picks the highest number of winners.
• Counted matches: Matches are counted as long as one point has been played.
• Tie-break system: The tie-break system is used when the amount of correct picks doesn’t decide the winner of a match.

4.1.1.2 Definitions
- For the purpose of the tie-break system, the following definitions will be used:
a) SR (Set ratio): a prediction of the score of the match in sets. Examples: 2-1/2-0 (best of 3 sets); 3-0/3-1/3-2 (best of 5 sets).
b) SR match: a match which requires the prediction of its SR.
c) PTS (Predict-the-score): a prediction of the score of the match in games. Examples: 60 76 (best of 3 sets); 36 75 46 61 60 (best of 5 sets).
d) PTS match: a match which requires the prediction of its PTS.
e) CB (Countback): the amount of correct picks from a previous round.
f) Set given to a player: the number of sets given to a player, considering the pick and the SR chosen. Example: the player's pick is A to defeat B with 2-1 as the SR. So 2 sets were given to A and 1 set was given to B.
g) Closest SR: in best of 5 matches, a 3-1 SR is closer to 3-0 than 3-2 and closer to 3-2 than 3-0.
h) PTS system: the standard scoring method of PTS matches.
i) GD (Game difference): an alternative method of comparing PTS matches, used when all the other TB rules (including the PTS's from all the previous rounds) fail to decide the winner of a match.
j) SR CB (SR Countback): the sum of correct SR from all the previous rounds.

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4.1.2.1 SR matches
- All the matches are ‘SR matches’.

4.1.2.2 PTS match

• In first rounds (Main Draw & Qualifying) AND final round (Main draw only), all the matches are 'PTS matches', ordered by numbers (PTS1, PTS2, PTS3 etc.).
• In all other rounds, there will be three (3) PTS matches (PTS1, PTS, and PTS3).

4.1.2.3 Ordering the matches

• The order of the matches is a manager’s decision. It’s recommended to rank the matches according to the difficulty of prediction.
• The final of an event must always be the PTS1 match of a TT final.
• Doubles round played on two days: In case of a two-day round in doubles played concomitantly to two one-day rounds of singles, the matches played on the second day will have priority in the SR order unless the manager says otherwise. This situation usually happens on Mondays & Tuesdays.

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4.2.1.1 Definition:

• A SR is correct if the player correctly picks the winner AND the SR (score in sets) of a match.
• The player who predicts the highest amount of correct SRs wins.

4.2.1.2 SRs & retirements
- The SR of a match is not counted if there’s a retirement.

If still tied, the match will be decided on the Amount of sets given to the winners.

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4.2.2.1 Definition:.

• This step consists of counting the sets given to the winners of all matches where the player picks the loser, considering the SR (score in sets).
• The player with the highest amount of sets given to the winners considering only the incorrect picks wins.

Example:
- Result: Blake def Ljubicic 3-2

• Player A's pick: Blake 3-0 (3 sets given to Blake and 0 sets given to Ljubicic)
• TB: 0 sets (Player A picked the correct winner, so no sets are counted)

• Player B's pick: Ljubicic 3-2 (3 sets given to Ljubicic and 2 sets given to Blake)
• TB: 2 sets (Player B picked the loser, so the 2 sets given to the winner are counted)

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4.2.2.2 Sets given to the winners & retirements
- Sets given to the winners ARE counted if there’s a retirement. (Amended from no to yes during the 2018 offseason)

If still tied, the match will be decided on PTS.

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4.2.3.1 Definition:

• PTS is a tie-break method based on a menstennisforums.com inactive game named "Predict-the-SCORE".
• The player (or team) who scores the highest sum of PTS points in the PTS match wins.
• Doubles: the PTS points of each player should be counted separately.
• First round (Main Draw or Qualifying) - all matches are PTS: if the PTS1 match doesn’t decide, the PTS2’s scores should be compared. If the tie persists, then the PTS3 match should be used and so on. If the match remains undecided, the next step is the GD (rule 4.2.8), as there aren’t previous rounds to be used as CB.

4.2.3.2 Determining the winner
- The PTS of a match is compared as follows:

Step #1. Correct winner -> prediction of the correct winner of the match.
o The player (team) with the highest amount of correct picks wins on PTS.

Example:

• PTS match: Blake def Ljubicic 63 36 63
• Picks:

Player A: Blake 62 64.
Player B: Ljubicic 26 62 61.
- Result: Player A wins (picked the correct winner)

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o If there's a retirement, this step still counts.
o If Step #1 fails to decide the match, proceed to Step #2.

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Step #2. Correct SR -> prediction of the correct SR of the match.
o The player (team) with the highest amount of correct SRs wins on PTS.

Example:

• PTS match: Blake def Ljubicic 63 36 63
• Picks:

Player A: Blake 62 64.
Player B: Blake 26 62 61.
- Result: Player B wins (picked the correct SR)

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o If there's a retirement, this step does not count.
o If Step #2 fails to decide the match, proceed to Step #3.

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Step #3. Sets given to the winner -> number of sets given to the correct winner of the match.
o A player (team) with the highest amount of sets given to the winner wins on PTS.

Example:

• PTS match: Blake def Ljubicic 63 36 63
• Picks:

Player A: Ljubicic 62 64.
Player B: Ljubicic 26 62 61.
- Result: Player B wins (gave more sets to the winner of the match)

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o If there's a retirement, this step still counts IF a set has been fully played.
o If Step #3 fails to decide the match, proceed to Step #4.

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Step #4. Closest SR -> number of correct picks with the SR 3-1 (closest SR).
o A player (team) with the highest amount of closest SRs wins on PTS.
o This step is applied only in best of 5 matches.

Example:

• PTS match: Blake def Ljubicic 76 26 63 36 63
• Picks:

Player A: Blake 62 62 62.
Player B: Blake 26 62 62 62.
- Result: Player B wins (3-1 is closer to 3-2 than 3-0, so Player B has one closest SR)

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o If there's a retirement, this step does not count.
o If Step #4 fails to decide the match, proceed to Step #5.

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Step #5. PTS Points
- The PTS points are counted as follows:

a) Correct order of sets (CO) -> prediction of the correct winner of one or more sets.
o 1 set – 1 point
o 2 sets – 4 points
o 3 sets – 7 points
o 4 sets – 10 points
o 5 sets – 13 points

Example:

• Result: Blake def Ljubicic 63 36 63
• Correct winner of each set:

o 1st set: Blake
o 2nd set: Ljubicic
o 3rd set: Blake
- Examples:
Player A: Blake 62 64 - 1 CO point - correctly predicted the winner of the first set (Blake).
Player B: Ljubicic 26 62 61 - 4 CO points - correctly predicted the winner of the first set (Blake) and second set (Ljubicic).
Player C: Ljubicic 61 26 60 - 0 CO points - failed to predict te winner of any set.

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b) Correct scorelines (CS) -> prediction of the exact score of a set won by a player:
o 1 set – 3 points
o 2 sets – 6 points
o 3 sets – 9 points
o 4 sets – 12 points
o 5 sets – 15 points
o Bonus of 2 points for each scoreline predicted in the correct set.

Example:

• Result: Blake def Ljubicic 63 36 62
• Correct scorelines:

o Blake 63
o Ljubicic 63
o Blake 62
- Examples:
Player A: Blake 62 62 - 3 CS points - one correct scoreline (Blake 62).
Player B: Ljubicic 26 62 61 - 3 CS points - one correct scoreline (Blake 62).
Player C: Ljubicic 63 36 63 - 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 10 CS points - Two correct scorelines (Blake 63 & Ljubicic 63), both in the correct set (Blake 63 second set & Ljubicic 63 first set).

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c) Bonus for sets given to the winner of the match (B)*:
o Applies if both players pick the incorrect winner in the PTS match: 2 points for each set predicted for the correct winner.
*Currently, the use of this rule is not required when counting the scores.

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d) Total of PTS points (PTS):
o PTS = CO + CS.

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o If there's a retirement, this step still counts IF a set has been fully played.
o If still tied, the match will be decided on the tournament CB

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4.2.4.1 Definition:

• The tournament CB is the sum of correct picks from all the previous rounds of the Main Draw (qualifying does not count).
• The player who has the highest Tournament CB score wins.

If still tied, the match will be decided on the SR CB.

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4.2.5.1 Definition:

• The SR CB is the sum of correct SRs from all the previous rounds of the Main Draw (qualifying does not count).
• The player who has the highest SR CB score wins.

If still tied, the match will be decided on the previous round(s) CB.

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4.2.6.1 CB
- If the Tournament CB doesn’t decide the winner of a match, the next step is to compare the scores from the previous rounds one by one. The player who has the highest score wins.

4.2.6.2 Comparing the previous rounds scores one by one
- The first step is to compare the scores from the previous round (CB1). If the match is still undecided (same number of correct picks), the next step is to compare the picks from two rounds back (CB2). If the tie persists, then the CB3 is used and so on, until the winner is decided or the scores from the first round are compared (qualifying does not count).

If still tied, the match will be decided on the previous round(s) Tie-Break.

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4.2.7.1 Definition:

• The rule consists of the use of the first three steps of the TB rules (Amount of correct SRs, Amount of sets given to the winners & PTS) from the previous round to decide the match.
• If the match is still undecided, the next step is to compare the TB steps from two rounds back. If the tie persists, then the TB steps from three rounds back are used, until the winner is decided or the TB steps from the first round are used (qualifying does not count).

4.2.7.2 How to compare the previous round's TB
- The previous round’s tie-break should be compared as follows (according to Rules 4.2.1, 4.2.2 & 4.2.3):
a) Amount of correct SRs from the previous round. If tied,
b) Amount of sets given to the winners from the previous round. If tied,
c) PTS1 from the previous round. If tied,
d) Proceed to the same steps from the round before and so on. If the match is still tied after the comparison of the PTS1 from the first round,
e Compare the remaining PTS's from the first round one by one.

If still tied, the match will be decided on GD.

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4.2.8.1 Determining the winner

• The player who scores the lowest sum of GD points in the PTS match wins.
• If the sum of GD points is tied, the player who scores the lowest amount of G points (only the game difference step: number of games played not considered) in the same match wins.
• Doubles: the GD points of each player should be counted separately.
• First round (Main Draw or Qualifying) - all matches are GD: if the GD1 match doesn’t decide, the GD2’s scores should be compared. If the tie persists, then the GD3 match should be used and so on.
• Second round onwards: The first step is to compare the scores from the previous round (GD1 match). If the match is still undecided, the next step is to compare the GD1 score from two rounds back. If the tie persists, then the GD1 match from three rounds back is used and so on, until the winner is decided or the scores from the first round matches (GD1, GD2, GD3, until the last match of the OOP) are used (qualifying does not count).

4.2.8.2 Restrictions

• Retirement: The GD is not counted if there’s a retirement in the match.
• Incorrect pick: The GD is not counted if the picked player loses the match.

4.2.8.3 Counting the GD points
- The GD points are counted as follows:

a) Game difference (G): Difference between the number of games won and the number of games lost by the winner of the match(compare the actual result and the player's predicted score)

G = |(PGW – PGL) - (RGW – RGL)|

o PGW: prediction of games won by the winner of the match.
o PGL: prediction of games won by the loser of the match.
o RGW: number of games won by the winner of the match (actual result).
o RGL: number of games won by the loser of the match (actual result).

Example:
- Result: Blake def Ljubicic 63 36 63
o RGW (games won by Blake) = 6 + 3 + 6 = 15
o RGL (games won by Ljubicic) = 3 + 6 + 3 = 12
- Player's pick: Blake def Ljubicic 62 64
o PGW (predicted number of games won by Blake) = 6 + 6 = 12
o PGL (predicted number of games won by Ljubicic) = 2 + 4 = 6
- Game difference (G):
o G = |(12 - 6) - (15 -12)| = |6 - 3| = 3 G points

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b) Number of games played (N): Sum of games of the match (compare the actual result and the player's pick)

N = |PTG – RTG|

o PTG: prediction of the total of games played in the match.
o RTG: total of games played in the match (actual result).

Example:
- Result: Blake def Ljubicic 63 36 63
o RTG (number of games played) = 9 + 9 + 9 = 27
- Player's pick: Blake def Ljubicic 62 64
o PTG (predicted number of played) = 8 + 10 = 18
- Number of games played (N):
o N = |18-27| = 9 N points

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c) Total of GD points: sum of the Game Difference points and Number of games points.

GD = G + N

Example:

• Result: Blake def Ljubicic 63 36 63
• Player's pick: Blake def Ljubicic 62 64
• GD:

o GD = 3 + 9 = 12 G points

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If still tied, the match will be decided on ranking.

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- If all the previous steps fail to decide the winner of the match, the highest ranked player (or team) wins (rankings from two weeks before the start of the tournament).

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1) I’ve read the TB rules, but I’m still not sure I understand which step comes first, which step doesn’t, what happens after CB, how the TB CB works etc. Could you order each step so I can fully understand when to use each rule?
a. Amount of correct SR’s.
b. Amount of sets given to the winners.
c. PTS.
d. Tournament CB.
e. SR CB.
f. CB1 (CB of the previous round).
g. CB2 (CB of two rounds back).
h. CB3, CB4, …, CBX (CB of three rounds back, CB of four rounds back, …, CB of the first round).
i. Amount of correct SR’s (previous round).
j. Amount of sets given to the winners (previous round).
k. PTS (previous round).
l. Amount of correct SR’s (two rounds back).
m. Amount of sets given to the winners (two rounds back).
n. PTS (two rounds back).
o. …
p. Amount of correct SR’s (first round).
q. Amount of sets given to the winners (first round).
r. PTS1 (first round).
s. PTS2 (first round).
t. PTS3, PTS4, …, PTSX (first round; X = last match of the OOP).
u. GD (PTS match of the current round).
v. GD previous round (PTS match of the previous round).
w. GD two rounds back (PTS match of two rounds back).
x. …
y. GD1 first round (PTS1 match of the first round).
z. GD2 first round (PTS2 match of the first round).
aa. GD3, GD4, …, GDX first round (X = last match of the OOP).
ab. Ranking.

2) I picked Player A 2-1, my opponent picked Player A 2-0. Player B won by retirement. Do I win on PTS as I gave more sets to the winner?
It depends on if a set has been fully played. If Player B won a complete set before Player A retired, you win on sets to the winner. Otherwise, PTS only decides the result if each player picked a different winner.

3) I picked Player A 63 62, my opponent picked player A 62 63. Player A won 63 62. Do I win on PTS?
Yes. This rule was changed in 2015. Correct scorelines predicted in the correct set are rewarded by a bonus of 2 points.

4) I know there should only be one PTS after the first round. But the manager wrote ‘PTS’ after all the matches. PTS1 didn’t decide my match. Should it be decided on CB? Or should the other PTSs be used?
From the second round onwards, there should only be one PTS match. Even if the manager marks the other SR matches as PTS, only the PTS1 match will be considered for TB purposes.

5) What happens if Tournament CB doesn’t decide my match? Is there a SR CB?
Yes. This rule was changed in 2015. The tournament CB is followed by the SR CB, and then followed by the CB of the previous rounds one by one. If the CB of the first round doesn’t decide the winner of the match, the following step is to compare the TB of the previous round (amount of correct SRs, Shootout, PTS). If the match is still tied, then the TB of the round before is used, and so on.

6) My match went to the tournament CB. I lost because I didn’t send picks in the first round, as I had a bye. Shouldn’t the CB count from the second round onwards?
No. Players should always send picks in the first round, even if they have a bye to the second round.

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- The Tennis Tipping Rankings are the method used to determine entries and seeding in TT tournaments.

• The TT rankings are based on each player’s results in the past 52 weeks, except for the World Tour Finals, which is dropped on the Monday following the last ATP Tour event of the following year. Once entered, all tournaments, except for the World Tour Finals, remain in the system for 52 consecutive weeks.
• The same system is used for both singles and doubles.

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5.1.2.1 Tournaments counted

• Each player counts their total points from the 4 mandatory events (the 4 Grand Slams) and their best 14 results from all the other tournaments.
• World Tour Finals: Points from the World Tour Finals are counted as an extra 19th tournament.

5.1.2.2 Missing a Grand Slam
- In case of a missed Grand Slam:
a) Players whose ranking was high enough to compete in the Grand Slam get zero points for missing a mandatory event.
b) Players whose ranking was not high enough to compete in the Grand Slam increase their number of countable results from all the other tournaments by one.

5.1.2.3 Breaking ties
- When two or more players have the same total number of points, ties shall be broken as follows:
a) The most total points from the Grand Slams, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments and World Tour Finals main draws.
b) The fewest events played, counting all missed Grand Slams they could have played.
c) The highest number of points from one single tournament, then, if needed, the second highest, and so on.

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Code:

                W    F    SF    QF    R16    R32    R64    R128    Q3****    Q2    Q1
Grand Slam            1000    700    450    250    150    75    35    5    20    13    6
ATP Masters 1000 (7 rounds)    750    525    350    190    110    55    25    5    20    13
ATP Masters 1000 (6 rounds)    500    350    225    125    75    35    0        20    13
ATP 500 (6 rounds)        300    210    135    75    40    15    0        15    7
ATP 500 (5 rounds)        300    210    135    75    25    0            15    7
ATP 250 (6 rounds)        200    140    90    50    25    10    0        10    5
ATP 250 (5 rounds)        200    140    90    50    20    0            10    5
Challenger #1*            125    90    55    30    15    7(0)   0
Challenger #2**            100    75    45    22    10    5(0)     0
Futures off-season***        24    16    8    4    1    0            0    0
[b]                W    F    Round Robin win        Max*****
World Tour Finals[/b]        250    200    100            750
[b]Challenger Tour Finals[/b]        50    35    25            160

*ATP's US $125,000 prize money or higher
**ATP's 75,000 prize money or lower
*** Futures may be played after the end of the challenger season (WITH BOARD APPROVAL).
**** Final qualifying round win
*****  Undefeated champion

Byes & ranking points: Any player who reaches the second round by drawing a bye and then loses is considered to have lost in the first round.

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- Introduced in 2014, according to ATP - points are awarded for each live rubber* win in World Group I or Play-offs as follows:

Code:

[b]Singles            Doubles[/b]
R16 win        24    R16 win        30
QF win        39    QF win        48
SF win        42    SF win        54
F win        45    F win        57
Play-off win    3    Play-off win    3

[b]Bonus[/b]
Singles player who wins 7 live matches and their team wins the competition: 45
Singles player who wins 8 live matches: 75
Doubles player who wins 4 matches and their team wins the competition: 21

*Live rubbers:

• Both singles matches played on Friday
• Doubles match played on Saturday.
• Both singles matches played on Sunday if the tie is still undecided.

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1) How do players qualify for the World Tour Finals? And the Challenger Tour Finals?
World Tour Finals: check Rule 6.1.
Challenger Tour Finals: check Rule 6.2.

2) Is there a Team ranking?
No. Doubles rankings consider the individual results of each player.

3) I won an ATP title in June last year. The same event will be played in October this year. Do I keep the title’s points until October?
No. Points drop after 52 weeks, even if the tournament is played later in the following year.

4) I received 200 points for winning a title last year. I lost in the first round of a tournament played in the same week this year. What will happen to my ranking points?
The TT rankings count the 4 Grand Slam results plus the best 14 results from all the other tournaments. When the 200 points you gained drop, your best result from the tournaments which were not being counted (if you have any) will then be added to the countable results.

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6.1.1 Entries

6.1.1.1 Qualified players - singles
- The Top 8 singles players in the Singles Race Rankings (after Paris – ATP Masters 1000) qualify for the WTF.
- The Singles Race Rankings consider the results of each player in the current year, and are calculated according to the TT ranking rules.

6.1.1.2 Qualified players - doubles
- The Top 16 doubles players in the Doubles Race Rankings (after Paris – ATP Masters 1000) qualify for the WTF.
- The Doubles Race Rankings consider the individual results of each player in the current year, and are calculated according to the TT ranking rules. The doubles race is not a team ranking.
- Forming teams: After confirming their participation in the WTF, the top 16 players in the doubles race will then form 8 teams.

6.1.1.3 Breaking ties
- Ties are broken by the total of points gathered in Grand Slams.

6.1.1.4 Grand Slam winners
- Grand Slam winners do not automatically qualify for the WTF.

6.1.1.5 WTF & Challenger Tour Finals
- Players are not allowed to play both Challenger Tour Finals & World Tour Finals, even if they are played in different weeks.

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6.1.2 Alternates

6.1.2.1 Singles
- Any players can enter the event as alternates, and will be ordered according to the rankings.

6.1.2.2 Doubles
- In doubles, alternates must form a team to be able to replace another team in the draw, just like all the other events.
- Any players can enter the event as alternates, and will be ordered according to the rankings.

6.1.2.3 Alternates & Challengers
- Alternates are not allowed to play challengers in the week the WTF is played.

6.1.2.4 Replacements in WTF
- A player (or team - if one of its players fail to send picks) who fails to send picks for the first round of the tournament will be permanently replaced by alternates.
- No replacements will happen after the first round.

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6.1.3 Draw & Match Schedule

6.1.3.1 Groups
- The players will be divided into two groups of four players each, as follows:
a) Tops seeds: The top seeded player will be placed in Group ‘A’ and the second seeded player in Group ‘B’.
b) Remaining players: Players seeded #3 & #4, #5 & #6 and #7 & #8 will then be drawn in pairs.

6.1.3.2 Group stage
- Each player will play every other player in the same group.
- Second round schedule: For the second round robin match (tie) the winners of the first match (tie) in their group must be placed against each other.

6.1.3.3 Tie-breaker
- The winner and the runner-up of each group will be determined by the following tie-breaker:
a) Greatest number of wins.
b) If only two (2) players are tied: Head-to-head results.
c) If three (3) players are tied, then:
i. Number of correct picks.
ii. If (i) produces one (1) superior player (first place), or one (1) inferior player (third place), and the two (2) remaining players are tied, the tie between those two (2) players shall be broken by head-to-head record.
iii. Number of correct SRs.
iv. If (iii) produces one (1) superior player (first place), or one (1) inferior player (third place), and the two (2) remaining players are tied, the tie between those two (2) players shall be broken by head-to-head record.

6.1.3.4 Final stage
- The winner of each group will then play the runner-up of the other group in the semifinals.

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6.1.4 Tournament Schedule

- RR match 1 (Seeds #1/#2 vs Seeds #7/#8 & Seeds #3/#4 vs Seeds #5/#6): ATP matches 1, 2 & 3.
- RR match 2 (Winners from the RR match 1 play each other & Losers from the RR match 1 play each other): ATP matches 4, 5 & 6.
- RR match 3 (Remaining matches in each group): ATP matches 7, 8 & 9.
- Semifinals: ATP Matches 10, 11 & 12.
- Final: ATP SF & F.

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6.1.5 TT TB rules

- All matches are PTS (Preditct-The-Score) in every round.
- If PTS doesn't decide the match, GD (Game Difference and Number of Games System) is used as the next TB step.

1. Amount of correct SRs
2. Amount of sets given to the winnners
3. PTS 1-3
4. GD 1-3
5. Tournament Countback
6. SR Countback
7. Countback - Previous round(s)
8. Previous round(s) TB
9. Ranking

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6.2.1 Entries

6.2.1.1 Qualified players - singles
- The Top 8 singles players in the Singles Challenger Race Rankings (from two weeks before the start of the tournament) qualify for the Challenger Tour Finals..
- The Singles Challenger Race Rankings include the best 10 challenger results of each player in the current year.

6.2.1.2 Qualified players - doubles
- The Top 16 doubles players in the Doubles Challenger Race Rankings (from two weeks before the start of the tournament) qualify for the Challenger Tour FInals.
- The Doubles Challenger Race Rankings include the best 10 challenger results of each player in the current year. The challenger race is not a team ranking.
- Forming teams: After confirming their participation in the Challenger Tour Finals, the top 16 players in the doubles challenger race will then form 8 teams.

6.2.1.3 WTF & Challenger Tour Finals
- Players are not allowed to play both Challenger Tour Finals & World Tour Finals, even if they are played in different weeks.

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6.2.2 Alternates

6.2.2.1 Singles
- Any players can enter the event as alternates, and will be ordered according to the rankings.

6.2.2.2 Doubles
- In doubles, alternates must form a team to be able to replace another team in the draw, just like all the other events.
- Any players can enter the event as alternates, and will be ordered according to the rankings.

6.2.2.3 Alternates & Challengers
- Alternates are not allowed to play challengers in the week the Challenger Tour Finals are played.

6.2.2.4 Replacements in the Challenger Tour Finals
- A player (or team - if one of its players fail to send picks) who fails to send picks for the first round of the tournament will be permanently replaced by alternates.
- No replacements will happen after the first round.

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6.2.3 Draw & Match Schedule

6.1.3.1 Groups
- The players will be divided into two groups of four players each, as follows:
a) Tops seeds: The top seeded player will be placed in Group ‘A’ and the second seeded player in Group ‘B’.
b) Remaining players: Players seeded #3 & #4, #5 & #6 and #7 & #8 will then be drawn in pairs.

6.2.3.2 Group stage
- Each player will play every other player in the same group.
- Second round schedule: For the second round robin match (tie) the winners of the first match (tie) in their group must be placed against each other.

6.2.3.3 Tie-breaker
- The winner and the runner-up of each group will be determined by the following tie-breaker:
a) Greatest number of wins.
b) If only two (2) players are tied: Head-to-head results.
c) If three (3) players are tied, then:
i. Number of correct picks.
ii. If (i) produces one (1) superior player (first place), or one (1) inferior player (third place), and the two (2) remaining players are tied, the tie between those two (2) players shall be broken by head-to-head record.
iii. Number of correct SRs.
iv. If (iii) produces one (1) superior player (first place), or one (1) inferior player (third place), and the two (2) remaining players are tied, the tie between those two (2) players shall be broken by head-to-head record.

6.2.3.4 Final stage
- The winner of each group will then play the runner-up of the other group in the semifinals.

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6.2.4 Tournament Schedule

- RR match 1 (Seeds #1/#2 vs Seeds #7/#8 & Seeds #3/#4 vs Seeds #5/#6): ATP matches 1, 2 & 3.
- RR match 2 (Winners from the RR match 1 play each other & Losers from the RR match 1 play each other): ATP matches 4, 5 & 6.
- RR match 3 (Remaining matches in each group): ATP matches 7, 8 & 9.
- Semifinals: ATP Matches 10, 11 & 12.
- Final: ATP SF & F.

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6.2.5 TT TB rules

- All matches are PTS (Preditct-The-Score) in every round.
- If PTS doesn't decide the match, GD (Game Difference and Number of Games System) is used as the next TB step.

1. Amount of correct SRs
2. Amount of sets given to the winnners
3. PTS 1-3
4. GD 1-3
5. Tournament Countback
6. SR Countback
7. Countback - Previous round(s)
8. Previous round(s) TB
9. Ranking

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6.3.1 Nationalities

6.3.1.1 TT Nationality

- Players' nationality are listed in the Singles Entry Rankings and can't be changed during the ongoing season.
- Newcomers: Players in their first year of TT can decide which country to defend until the end of the ongoing season. When the season ends, the country listed in the Singles Entry Rankings will be taken as the player's definitive nationality.

6.3.1.2 Nationality changes
- Nationality changes can only be done during the off-season (until the first tournament of the season begins).

6.3.1.3 Changes restriction
- After a nationality switch, players are not allowed to change nations for 2 years.

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6.3.2 Entries - players

6.3.2.1 Team captain
- Each nation will be led by a team captain.
- The players (minimum of 2 and maximum of 4 players) are selected by the team captains, according to their own criteria.

6.3.2.2 Determining the team captain
- The choice of the captains is based on the previous* year’s singles ranking. The best ranked player of each country will lead their nation in TT DC throughout the whole year.
*Nationality changes & team captains: a player who decides to change their nationality during the off-season will not be eligible to be the team captain unless all the other players from the nation decline the captaincy of the team.

6.3.2.3 Davis Cup & Challengers
- The nominated players are not allowed to play challengers during the Davis Cup weeks.

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6.3.3 Entries – nations

6.3.3.1 Davis Cup Finals
- 18 nations participate in the Davis Cup Finals: The 4 semifinalit nations in previous year's Davis Cup Finals and the 14 winners of the Qualifiers Round.
- Alternates: a team which does not confirm its participation in the Davis Cup Finals will be replaced by the highest ranked losing team (latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking) in the Qualifiers Round.

6.3.3.2 Qualifiers Round
- The remaining nations participate in the Qualifiers Round (up to 28 nations).
- If more than 28 nations confirm participation, the competing nations will be decided as follows:
a. Nations which qualified for Davis Cup Finals in the previous year.
b. Nations which won a Group I Round tie in the previous year.
c. Nations which lost in Qualifiers Round and didn’t play a Group I Round in the previous year.
d. Highest ranked nation in the latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking.
*2019 (transition year): the 4 nations which lost in Davis Cup 2018 quarterfinals & the 8 winning nations from Davis Cup 2018 Play-offs will compete in the Qualifiers Round. The remaining 16 spots will be decided according to the latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking.

6.3.3.3 Group 1 Round
- If more than 28 nations confirm participation, the lowest ranked losing teams (according to the latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking) in the Qualifiers Round will complete in the Group I Round against the teams which did not qualify for the Qualifiers Round.

6.3.3.4 Forming teams
- Nations must confirm their participation in the beginning of each season.
- A nation must have at least two players to be able to participate.

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6.3.4 Competition draw

6.3.4.1 Qualifiers Round
a) Format
- Up to 28 teams participate, drawn into 14 ties.
- Winners of each tie qualify for the Davis Cup Finals.
b) Seeds
- 14 teams are seeded.
o The nations which finished in 5th to 18th position in previous year’s Davis Cup Finals are seeded.
o If necessary, the remaining seeds will be decided by the latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking.
- The 14 seeded nations are drawn against the remaining nations.
o If there are less than 14 nations remaining, byes will be given according to the latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking.
*2019 (transition year): the 4 nations which lost in Davis Cup 2018 quarterfinals and the 8 winning nations from Davis Cup 2018 Play-offs will be seeded. The remaining seeds (ineligible for byes) will be the two best ranked nations which lost in Davis Cup 2018 Play-offs, according to the latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking.

6.3.4.2 Group I Round
a) Format
- Takes place if more than 28 teams confirm participation in the Qualifiers Round.
- Teams which didn’t qualify for the Qualifiers Round participate in a tie against a team which lost in the Qualifiers Round.
- Winners of each tie qualify for the following year’s Qualifying Round.
b) Seeds
- The nations which lost in the Qualifying Round are seeded.
- The seeded nations are drawn against the remaining nations.

6.3.4.3 Davis Cup Finals
a) Format
- 18 nations participate, drawn into six round-robin groups of three teams (Group Stage).
- The six group winners plus the two second-placed teams with the best records qualify for the Knockout Phase.
b) Group Stage
- 6 nations are seeded:
o Seeds 1 & 2 are the finalists of the previous year’s competition.
o Seeds 3, 4, 5 & 6 are ordered in accordance with the most recent Davis Cup Nations Ranking.
- Each seeded team will placed in the first spot in Groups A-F.
- The remaining nations will be ranked from 7-18 according to the Davis Cup Nations Ranking with the teams ranked 7-12 being placed in the second spot in Groups A-F and teams ranked 13-18 being drawn into the third spot in Groups A-F.
- Ties will be broken by the following steps*:
i. Number of ties won.
ii. Number of rubbers won.
iii. Number of correct picks.
iv. Number of correct SRs.
v. Number of sets to the winner.
vi. Sum of PTS scores (PTS1 scores; if tied, PTS2 scores; if tied, PTS3 scores...).
vii. Sum of GD scores (GD1 scores; if tied, GD2 scores; if tied, GD3 scores).
viii. Davis Cup Nations Ranking.
*If three nations are tied within the same group, as soon as one step produces one superior nation (first place) or one inferior nation (third place), and the two remaining nations are tied, the tie between those two nations will be broken by their head-to-head record.

c) Knockout Phase
- The 8 qualified teams will be drawn into 4 ties as follows:
o Group winner with the best record: position #1.
o Group winner with the second best record: position #8.
o Group winner with the third best record: position #5.
o Group winner with the fourth best record: position #4.
o Group winner with the fifth best record: position #3.
o Group winner with the sixth best record: position #6.
o Second-placed team with the best record: position #7.
o Second-placed team with the second best record: position #2.
d) Schedule
o Group Stage tie #1: Monday
o Group Stage tie #2: Tuesday
o Group Stage tie #3: Wednesday
o Quarterfinals: Thursday
o Semifinals: Friday
o Final: Saturday + Sunday
- All 18 teams must select two singles players and two doubles players for Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, even if they are not scheduled to play a tie on a particular day (for TB purposes).

6.3.4.4 Year Schedule
- February: Qualifiers Round
- November: Davis Cup Finals (and Group I Round if necessary).

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6.3.5 The TT Davis Cup Tie

6.3.5.1 Qualifiers Round
a) Team nominations & lineups
- Team nominations: Prior to each tie, the captain must nominate from 2 to 4 players to form the team.
- Team lineup: the captain must select the players who will play the Friday's singles rubbers, the Saturday's doubles rubber and the Saturday's reverse singles rubbers.
b) The tie
- The TT Davis Cup ties are played on two days:
o Two singles matches on Day 1 (Friday): uses all ITF singles matches played on Friday.
o One doubles match on Day 2: uses all ITF doubles matches played on Saturday.
o Two singles matches on Day 2: uses all ITF singles matches played on Saturday.
c) The draw
- Friday's rubbers: the Number One ranked player of each team shall play against the Number Two ranked player of the opposing team on the first day. After the Draw has been made, no variation may be made in the composition of the singles team for the first and second singles matches.
- Saturday's rubbers: The Number One ranked players nominated to play on Friday shall play the third singles match. The Number Two ranked players shall play the fourth singles match.
- A Captain may change the nomination of the doubles teams and the singles players for the third and fourth singles matches until the scheduled of play on Saturday. Any substitute nominated for the third or fourth singles match must be selected from among the players nominated for the tie and who has not competed in the first or second singles matches.

6.3.5.2 Davis Cup Finals
a) Team nominations & lineups
- Team nominations: Prior to the Davis Cup Finals, the captain must nominate from 2 to 4 players to form the team.
- Team lineup: the captain must select the players who will play the singles rubbers and the doubles rubber on each day.
b) The tie
- The TT Davis Cup ties are played on one or two days:
o Two singles matches: uses all ITF singles matches.
o One doubles match: uses all ITF doubles matches.
c) The draw
- The Number One ranked player of each team shall play against the Number One ranked player of the opposing team.
- The Number Two ranked player of each team shall play against the Number Two ranked player of the opposing team.
- After the Draw has been made, no variation may be made in the composition of the singles and doubles matches.

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6.3.6 Davis Cup Nations Ranking*

*2019 rules to be confirmed by ITF. Nations will start the competition with their 2018 rankings.
- The TT Davis Cup Nations Ranking is used for seeding at all levels of the Davis Cup competition, except for seeds one and two in the World Group, who shall be the finalists of the previous year’s competition.
- The TT Davis Cup Nations Ranking is based on the results of each nation in the last 4 years.
- After each round the ranking period adjusts and any results outside the adjusted four year period drop off. At the same time points from the same round for the three previous years are reduced.
- Nations that defeat a higher-ranked nation receive bonus points according to their opponent's ranking.
- Points table:

Code:

[b]			Year X		Year X-1	Year X-2	Year X-3[/b]
[b][u]World Group I[/u]		100%		75%		50%		25%[/b]
Final			8000		6000		4000		2000
SF			6000		4500		3000		1500
QF			4000		3000		2000		1000
R1			2000		1500		1000		500
Play-off tie		1000		750		500		250
[b][u]World Group II[/b][/u]				
R2			600		450		300		150
R1			400		300		200		100
[b][u]Bonus points[/b][/u]				
Rank 1-2		100		75		50		25
Rank 3-4		90		67.5		45		22.5
Rank 5-8		75		56.25		37.5		18.75
Rank 9-16		50		37.5		25		12.5
Rank 17-32		40		30		20		10
Rank 33-64		25		18.75		12.5		6.25

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6.4.1 Captaincy
- The captaincies are awarded to the top ranked singles TT player from Europe and the top ranked singles TT player from the Rest of the World according to the rankings two weeks before the start of the Laver Cup.
- If the highest ranked players decline the invite to serve as the captain, it will then be offered to the next highest ranked singles player from that region of the world and so on and so forth.
- The captains can play Laver Cup TT for their team if they choose to do so.

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6.4.1.2 Picking Rosters
- The captains are responsible for promoting their teams and putting together a sufficient enough players.
- Rosters cannot consist of more than two players of the same nation.

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6.4.1.3 Setting Lineups
- The captain will be aware that anyone can play, but they control who plays each day.
- The night before the following day's play, the captains will send a lineup consisting of 3 singles players and 1 doubles team to the manager. They will keep in mind the following criteria:
- No player can play singles more than twice during the three days.
- At least four different players must play doubles. No doubles combination is played more than once.
- The captains can share the lineups with the opposing captain if they wish, but they are not obligated to do so.

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6.4.2 Scoring

- Scoring is based on the actual methods of determining a winner based on the current MTF rules.
- Each match win is worth one point on Friday, two points on Saturday, and three points on Sunday.
- The first team to reach 13 points out of a total 24 points available wins the Laver Cup. If the points are tied at 12:12 at the end of all matches, the winner will be determined on tournament CB (adding the total picks from the entire team over every single match over the course of the tournament).

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6.4.3 Commitments

- Anyone can choose to play, but will be aware that there are limited spots because of the nation restriction listed in rule 6.4.1.2.
- As the Laver Cup is an exhibition, players can play this and a regular TT event in the same week.
- No ranking points will be awarded.

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6.4.4 Manager

- The manager will be responsible for posting differences, results, and the total tally of points achieved by each of the teams.
- Matchups are based on the lineups that get sent by the captains the night before the following day's play.
- If lineups are not forwarded at all, the manager can create matchups themselves.

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