The USTA has announced that the teams listed above will represent the USA in International competition in Umag, Croatia June 6-11 2021. The individual Seniors World Championships will follow June 12-19.
NEW DATES: September 20-26, 2021 for the Women’s 35-90 Clay Courts at the Houston Racquet Club
Sue Bramlette TD off the Houston Women’s Clay Court Championships reported today that the USTA has confirmed the dates of September 20-26 for the National Women’s Clay Courts in Houston.
The dates changed due to the delay in the vaccine distribution, making the original mid-April too risky for the players and club.
As of March 1, 2021 the following tournaments have been cancelled for 2021:
Women’s 35-85 Grass at Germantown: Cancelled
Women’s 30-80 Grass at Forest Hills: Cancelled
Men’s 40/45/50 Grass at Germantown: Cancelled
Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Indoors in So Barrington IL: Cancelled
West Coast Seniors (Level 2, Men) and Joanne Russell Cup (Level 2 Women) in Naples: Cancelled
The Lamita Jabour Grandes Dames tournament in Fort Lauderdale
Grandes Dames, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Both were to be ITF S700.
Men’s Level 3 tournament in Naples January 10-16
St Petersburg men’s Level 2 tournament which was to take place in February has been cancelled. From TD Jerry Ratledge (via Joe Rasgado): “I can now confirm that our tournament has been officially cancelled. We reluctantly concluded that the risks of holding a large, Level 2, National & International tournament during an escalating pandemic are simply too great. We look forward to a fun, safe, and normalized tournament in 2022.”
Are you eligible to participate? Read the guidelines here. Of particular importance are the following changes which supersede the eligibility requirement and timelines as follows:
Approved 24-month USTA Category I USTA National Championship eligibility requirement, the option to participate in one USTA Super Category II National Tournament or one USTA Category II National Tournament within the last 24 months or participation in one Designated Open Sectional Championship within the last 12 months to fulfill the eligibility requirement; and
Approved to lengthen the selection time period for results that will be considered for selection from 24 months to 36 months.
2021 Super Senior International Teams Timeline
Location: Mallorca, Spain
Team Event: Sunday, Oct. 10 – Friday, Oct. 15, 2021
Players who have applied for consideration will be listed on the Preliminary Applicant List posted on USTA.com: May 5
Deadline to notify the USTA of any omissions to the posted Preliminary Applicant List (cutoff date for 24 month period for which to consider results): May 10
Team selection posted to USTA.com and players will be notified of their status: June 1
All paperwork (excluding travel itinerary) due to USTA staff (including player agreement, media packet, copy of passport, & IPIN): July 1
Players may make their travel arrangements: August 1
Are you eligible to participate? Read the guidelines here. Of particular importance are the following changes which supersede the eligibility requirement and timelines as follows:
Approved 24-month USTA Category I USTA National Championship eligibility requirement, the option to participate in one USTA Super Category II National Tournament or one USTA Category II National Tournament within the last 24 months or participation in one Designated Open Sectional Championship within the last 12 months to fulfill the eligibility requirement; and
Approved to lengthen the selection time period for results that will be considered for selection from 24 months to 36 months.
2021 Young-Seniors World Championships (35/40/45)
Location: Umag, Croatia
Team Event: Sunday, Sept. 12 – Friday, Sept. 17, 2021
Players who have applied for consideration will be listed on the Preliminary Applicant List posted on USTA.com: April 13
Deadline to notify the USTA of any omissions to the posted Preliminary Applicant List (cutoff date for 24 month period for which to consider results): April 18
Team selection posted to USTA.com and players will be notified of their status: May 10
All paperwork (excluding travel itinerary) due to USTA staff (including player agreement, media packet, copy of passport, & IPIN): June 10
Players may make their travel arrangements: July 10
Click here to apply for a USA senior team. Applications closed January 10, 2021.
Location: Umag, Croatia
Team Event: Sunday, June 6 – Friday, June 11, 2021
Individual Event: Saturday, June 12 – Saturday, June 19, 2021
Are you eligible to participate? Read the guidelines here. Of particular importance are the following changes which supersede the eligibility requirement and timelines as follows:
Approved 24-month USTA Category I USTA National Championship eligibility requirement, the option to participate in one USTA Super Category II National Tournament or one USTA Category II National Tournament within the last 24 months or participation in one Designated Open Sectional Championship within the last 12 months to fulfill the eligibility requirement; and
Approved to lengthen the selection time period for results that will be considered for selection from 24 months to 36 months.
The 2021 USTA Seniors International Team Timeline is below:
2021 Seniors World Championships (50/55/60)
Location: Umag, Croatia
Team Event: Sunday, June 6 – Friday, June 11, 2021
Individual Event: Saturday, June 12 – Saturday, June 19, 2021
Applications Open: December 1, 2020:
Application Deadline: January 10, 2021
Players who have applied for consideration will be listed on the Preliminary Applicant List posted on USTA.com: January 13. Click here to view the list
Deadline to notify the USTA of any omissions to the posted Preliminary Applicant List (cutoff date for 24 month period for which to consider results): January 18
Team selection posted to USTA.com and players will be notified of their status: February 10. View the list here.
All paperwork (excluding travel itinerary) due to USTA staff (including player agreement, media packet, copy of passport, & IPIN): March 10
Players may make their travel arrangements: April 10
The International Tennis Federation is pleased to announce that the ITF Seniors (50-55-60) World Team & Individual Championships are now scheduled to be held in Umag, Croatia in June 2021.
The ITF Seniors Committee approved the alternative venue to hold the 50-55-60 World Team Championships from Sunday 6 – Friday 11 June and the 50-55-60 World Individual Championships from Saturday 12 – Saturday 19 June 2021. This follows the decision announced last month that the Championships would not be held as originally scheduled in Boca Raton & Palm Beach Gardens, USA due to the ongoing impact and uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ITF will continue to monitor the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and work closely with tournament hosts and the relevant authorities to prepare for this event. The priority in all decision making will remain the health and safety of participants. Nations and players are also advised to wait until the tournament fact sheet is published, expected in January 2021, before making travel and/or accommodation arrangements.
The full schedule of ITF Seniors World Championships in 2021 is now complete with the Young Seniors World Team & Individual Championships also in Umag from 12-25 September and the ITF Super-Seniors World Team & Individual Championships in Mallorca, Spain from 10-23 October 2021.
Matt Byford, ITF Juniors & Seniors manager said “The ITF is delighted that an alternative host for our Seniors World Championships has been secured so quickly and would like to thank the Croatian Seniors Tennis Association, Croatian Tennis Association, Plava Laguna and the City of Umag for their cooperation. The World Team & Individual Championships are a great highlight of the ITF Seniors calendar and it is fantastic for our playing community that they can now look ahead to June 2021 after the unfortunate cancellation of the event this year.”
Sadly, the Men’s and Women’s 40 Hard Courts, Father/Son Hard Courts and Grandfather/Grandson Hard Courts have been cancelled, another victim of Covid-19.
From the email I received yesterday (from Pierrette Featherby of the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club):
“Greetings,
I was hoping this day would never come, but it has, so sadly I must inform you we have been forced to cancel the USTA 40 & over Men’s, Women’s, Mixed & Father/Son, Grandfather/Grandson Designated Open Sectional Hard Court Championships. Because of the rising number of COVID-19 cases San Diego County has shifted into Tier 1 otherwise known as the Purple Tier. Tennis tournaments will not be permitted.
This being said, we would still love to have you come; play some tennis, relax and have a good time. If you choose to do so we will offer you the tournament rate and help you arrange some tennis matches.
Below is a message from Bill Kellogg (which you may also read on the tournament website)
Unfortunately, we have learned that the State of California is currently not allowing tennis tournaments to take place. In addition, the County of San Diego has returned to the most restrictive purple COVID rating, Given the way the rating system works, it will not be possible, even under the best circumstances, for San Diego County to return to the Red Level anytime soon (earliest would be four weeks from 11/20/20 – i.e. after Thanksgiving). We had expected We had expected that the rules relating to sporting events would be relaxed by the first week in December, but that is not a possibility now. For those reasons, we will not be able to hold this tournament.
A number of people made room reservations at our special tournament rates. We will, of course, refund your room deposit upon request. However, if you would like to stay at the club during the originally scheduled tournament dates and take advantage of the tournament rates we offered participants, you are welcome to do so. You will be able to play tennis while staying on property and we would be happy to arrange tennis matches while you are here if that is of interest to you. Just contact our reservations department and let them know what you want to do.
If you have questions, please feel free to call Bill Kellogg at 858-735-6500 or Conan Lorenzo at 619-846-3094.
May I wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving and that 2021 will see the end to Covid-19!
This is the 2021 calendar to date from the USTA. Please check for updates here and at usta.com (https://www.usta.com/en/home/play/adult-tennis/programs/national/adult-tournaments-category-i-schedule.html)
Note that the Indoor Nationals now appear on the Level 2 Calendar and the winners do not receive gold balls.
Once links appear for the Men's and Women's Level 2 and 3 tournaments please check to see if some have mixed...the USTA doesn't have mixed listed for Westwood but it normally offers mixed and there could be others.
This is the 2021 calendar to date from the USTA. Please check for updates here and at usta.com (https://www.usta.com/en/home/play/adult-tennis/programs/national/adult-tournaments-category-i-schedule.html)
Note that the Indoor Nationals now appear on the Level 2 Calendar and the winners do not receive gold balls.
Level 2 tournaments were formerly Super Category 2 Tournaments. Up to 8 will receive ITF Seniors points.
As of Dec 6, 2020, all Level 1-3 women’s tournaments have been cancelled for January and February.
Dates: June 12-14
Location: Longwood Cricket Club
Chestnut Hill, MA
The USTA will be adding tournaments to this calendar during 2021 and making changes. This is the calendar only as of Nov. 16, 2020, and the information is from publicly posted information at usta.com.
The USTA schedule (as of 11/4/21) for Men’s Level 1 (Gold Ball) tournaments. For 2021 and going forward the Indoors will no longer receive Level 1 (formerly Category 1) points nor will gold balls be awarded to the winners. Click here to see the official USTA schedule and to check for updates and cancellations: https://www.usta.com/en/home/play/adult-tennis/programs/national/adult-tournaments-category-i-schedule.html ITF Points: The Clay and Hard will be ITF Level 1000 events; the Grass will be Level 700 events.
2021 ITF Seniors (50-55-60) World Team & Individual Championships (updated 26 October)
Due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ITF Seniors (50-55-60) World Team & Individual Championships will not be held as scheduled in Boca Raton & Palm Beach Gardens, USA in April-May 2021. Further information will be provided as soon as possible.
The dates of the Young Seniors and Super Seniors World Championships are as follows:
2021 World Team and Individual Championships
2021 ITF Young Seniors (35-40-45) World Team & Individual Championships
The 2021 ITF Young Seniors (35-40-45 years) World Team & Individual Championships will take place in Umag, Croatia from Sunday 12 September – Saturday 25 September 2021.
2021 ITF Super-Seniors (65-70-75-80-85) World Team & Individual Championships
The 2021 ITF Super-Seniors (65-70-75-80-85 years) World Team & Individual Championships will take place in Mallorca, Spain from Sunday 10 October – Saturday 23 October 2021.
Factsheets for these events will be made available approximately 6 months before the event takes place.
The ITF will add two new age divisions to the seniors tour in 2021: 30+ and 90+
Read about the 90+ category here. This age category will be offered at the ITF Super Seniors World Championships for the first time in 2021. The tournament will take place in October 2021 in Mallorca, Spain.
Read about the 30+ Category here. This age category will be offered at the ITF Young Seniors World Championships in Umag, Croatia in 2021.
The USTA has amended its guidelines for 2021 team selection to take into consideration the Covid-19 pandemic.
The USTA has amended the minimum play requirement and the timeframe for which results will be considered as follows:
“By Board approval, the USTA Senior International Selection Committee has extended and revised the eligibility requirement and timelines as follows:
Approved 24-month USTA Category I USTA National Championship eligibility requirement, the option to participate in one USTA Super Category II National Tournament or one USTA Category II National Tournament within the last 24 months or participation in one Designated Open Sectional Championship within the last 12 months to fulfill the eligibility requirement; and
Approved to lengthen the selection time period for results that will be considered for selection from 24 months to 36 months.”
The dates for the 2021 world championships have not been announced but for Super Seniors (65-85) they appear to be October 10-15 for the team event followed by the individuals October 16-23 in Mallorca, Spain (the dates were mentioned in an article about the naming of the Women’s 85 Cup).
The ITF has named the Men’s 85 Cup, first played in 2017 the Lorne Main Cup after the most prolific Seniors Male player. Main
The ITF has named the Women’s 85 Cup, for Britain’s Angela Mortimer who, despite partial deafness won the Australian, French and Wimbledon Championships in the 1950s, is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and was a ranked in the top 10 in the world 10 times.
Main was an excellent junior and competed in the grand slams in the amateur era, reaching the third round and won Monte Carlo. But in those days there wasn’t prize money. Main though dominated the seniors scene for 40 years, from 1986-2016, winning over 40 world championship titles during those years.
Main was not a large man but he had a huge personality, and he loved tennis and senior tennis. I had the pleasure of playing against him once with my dad in a practice match…he was fast, clever and a great player.
The following information is courtesy of and reprinted with permission of the NWTO (National Women’s Tennis Organization (click here to go its website).
Summary:
The USTA Adult Competition Committee (ACC) has decided to eliminate the Indoor Nationals as Gold ball events since they were the nationals which overall had the fewest participants of any Level I Nationals (formerly Cat I)
The ACC has also decided to eliminate required consolation at Level I & II tournaments and to instead require daily voluntary consolation sign ups (for draws of 6 or more players) Edit: Or allow feed-in consolation or feed-in to the quarters with a quarterfinal playoff, i.e. consolation for Level 1 & 2 will be mandatory but flexible as to format.
The ACC will require round robin doubles draws (with a knockout round or rounds) using a match tiebreak (10 point) instead of a full third set for Level I & II tournaments EDIT: Feed-in consolation (full or to QF) will also be allowed.
For ITF Ranking purposes the Hard and Clay Level 1 tournaments will receive more points (as “Masters” events) than the Grass Nationals
Certain Level 2 and Level 3 tournaments will receive ITF points
Family events will require round robin play up till the elimination round
Draws of 5 or fewer must be played as round robins
Tournament draws for 45 and under must start by Thursday (though there’s a qualifier “unless the draw size requires an earlier start) EDIT: qualifying may be allowed for draws too large to play in four days; which players must qualify to be determined (based on ranking, and where the players reside)
Maximum (note change from “minimum” to “maximum”) numbers of Level 2 and Level 3 tournaments set); EDIT: for Level 2 events there will be a maximum of 8 tournaments PER AGE DIVISION AND GENDER (so more than 8 tournaments overall…if one Level 2 tournament has only men and another only women, they would count as 1 ITF tournaments and 1 Level 2 tournament)
Also study the PPR tables: the winner of a Level 2 tournament receives the same points as the losing finalist of a Level 1; the winner of a Level 3 tournament receives the same points as the losing finalists of a Level 2 tournament or the losing semifinalist of a Level 1 tournament. Basically the winner of a Level 2 receives 70% of Level 1 points. The PPR tables can be found here.
Change 1: Eliminate one Category 1 (Level 1) surface in each Division (where there are four Category 1 (Level 1) events in a Division and play is on the four different surfaces – clay, grass, hard and indoor)
Change 1 Background: Over 50% of tournament participation comes from the top 25% of tournaments. 80% of tournament participation comes from the top 50% of events. Eliminating one Category 1 (Level 1) event in each Division streamlines the tournament calendar without materially effecting overall tournament participation.
Change 2: The Category 1 (Level 1) surface to be eliminated is the indoor surface for all Level 1 indoor events in all Divisions.
Change 2 Background: For events played on all 4 surfaces, participation in indoor events is in the bottom half in over 83% of the Divisions, and in the bottom quartile in 60% of the Divisions.
Bottom Bottom
Half Quartile
Clay 31% 11%
Grass 55% 22%
Hard 31% 7%
Indoor 83% 60%
Change 3: Award ITF Seniors 1000 points for USTA Level 1 events for Gender Divisions played on clay and hard courts only. Award ITF Seniors 700 points for USTA Level 1 events for Gender Divisions played on grass courts.
Change 3 Background: In 2021, the ITF is awarding ITF Seniors 1000 points for USTA Level 1 gender Divisions played on two different. This is an enhancement for USTA Level 1 events which currently receive ITF Seniors 700 points. Because the highest participation events are on clay and hard court surfaces, Divisions played on those surfaces will be awarded ITF Seniors 1000 points. Level 1 gender Divisions played on grass will be awarded ITF Seniors 700 points.
Change 4: Level 1 gender events – For singles main draws of 6 or more players, Level 1 events will require a traditional single elimination draw with a daily voluntary consolation sign-up. Main draw singles matches will use a match format of best of 3 tie break sets. Singles consolation matches will use a match format of two sets and a match tiebreak in lieu of a third set. In doubles, Level 1 events will require Round Robin draws or Round Robin flights with elimination playoffs and a match format of two sets and a match tiebreak in lieu of a third set. The Coman tiebreak will be used for all tiebreaks.
Change 4 Background: A key goal for the ACC is to enhance the tournament experience for singles and doubles players in all events. In singles the physical demands of playing in the consolation rounds plus frequent player withdrawals have hurt player experience and participation. In doubles, player evaluation and feedback supports high player satisfaction and success in Divisions played with Round Robin formats. Match formats other than the traditional three full sets are becoming more common, and it is believed that in all events except main draw singles that it is the appropriate time to implement two sets and a match tiebreak in lieu of a third set across all national events. These changes align with ITF requirements so that the events receive ITF status and points.
Change 5: For gender related Level 1 and Level 2 events with participants age 45 and under, tournaments will be required to start no sooner than Thursday unless required by draw size. Main draw singles matches will use a match format of best of 3 tie break sets for events that are longer than 4 days. For singles events that are 4 days or less and for singles consolation matches will use a match format of two sets and a match tiebreak in lieu of a third set.
Change 5 Background: A key goal for the ACC is to enhance the tournament experience for players in all events. Players in many age groups, and especially in the age 45 and under age groups, have less discretionary time in which to play national tournaments. By shortening the length of the events it is hoped that more players will be attracted to participate. Using an alternative match format for age 45 and under events is consistent with ITF standards.
Change 6: Family Divisions – All Level 1 Family will require Round Robin draws or Round Robin flights with elimination playoffs, and a match format of two sets and a match tiebreak in lieu of a third set. Alternative play and scoring formats for Family events must be submitted to and approved by the Sanctions Committee.
Change 6 Background: In doubles, player evaluation and feedback support high player satisfaction and success in Divisions played with Round Robin formats. Match scoring formats other than the traditional three full sets are becoming more common, and it is believed that it is the appropriate time to implement two sets and a match tiebreak in lieu of a third set across all national Family events. It is understood that there are Family events with large draws played over 3-4 days, thus the Sanctions Committee will consider alternative formats for these types of events.
Change 7: Level 2 gender events – For singles main draws of 6 or more players, Level 2 events will require a traditional single elimination draw with a daily voluntary consolation sign-up. Main draw singles matches will use a match format of best of 3 tie break sets. Singles consolation matches will use a match format of two sets and a match tiebreak in lieu of a third set. In doubles, Level 2 events will require a Round Robin draws or Round Robin flights with elimination playoff and a match format of two sets and a match tiebreak in lieu of a third set. The Coman tiebreak will be used for all tiebreaks. These changes align with ITF requirements so that the events receive ITF status and points.
Change 7 Background: A key goal for the ACC is to enhance the tournament experience for singles and doubles players in all Level 2 events. In singles the “one and done” approach has hurt player experience and participation. In doubles, player evaluation and feedback supports high player satisfaction and success in Divisions played with Round Robin formats. Match formats other than the traditional three full sets are becoming more common, and it is believed that in all events except main draw singles that it is the appropriate time to implement two sets and a match tiebreak in lieu of a third set across all events.
Change 8: Designate up to 10 tournaments as Level 2 events and 12 tournaments as Level 3 events in 2021. Provide ITF Seniors 700 points for the gender and mixed divisions appropriate for Level 2 events and ITF Seniors 400 points for the gender and mixed divisions in Level 3 events. The sanction for Level 2 and Level 3 tournaments will be based on (1) overall tournament participation, (2) players per event (PPE), (3) number of Divisions in the tournament and (4) other criteria such as player feedback, quality of courts and player social events. Standards for comparable ITF events will also be considered when awarding sanctions for these events. There may be Level 2 and Level 3 tournaments that will not receive ITF Seniors points.
Change 8 Background: Limiting the number of Level 2 and Level 3 tournaments including those receiving ITF Seniors points is expected to grow the number of Level 2 and Level 3 events. [comment: this paragraph seems to have an error in it…stay tuned for an update.]
The USTA has announced that the teams listed above will represent the USA in International competition in Umag, Croatia June 6-11 2021. The individual Seniors World Championships will follow June 12-19. Click here to see the announcement on usta.com.
NEW DATES: September 20-26, 2021 for the Women’s 35-90 Clay Courts at the Houston Racquet Club Sue Bramlette TD off the Houston Women’s Clay Court Championships reported today that the USTA has confirmed the dates of September 20-26 for the National Women’s Clay Courts in Houston. The dates changed due to the delay in the vaccine distribution, making the original mid-April too risky for the players and club.
Here is the link to the official USTA Level 1-3 Schedule to date: https://www.usta.com/en/home/play/adult-tennis/programs/national/adult-tournaments1.html As of March 1, 2021 the following tournaments have been cancelled for 2021: Women’s 35-85 Grass at Germantown: Cancelled Women’s 30-80 Grass at Forest Hills: Cancelled Men’s 40/45/50 Grass at Germantown: Cancelled Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Indoors in So Barrington IL: Cancelled West Coast Seniors (Level 2, Men) and Joanne Russell Cup (Level 2 Women) in Naples: Cancelled The Lamita Jabour Grandes Dames tournament in Fort Lauderdale Grandes Dames, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Both were to be ITF S700. Men’s Level 3 tournament in Naples January 10-16 St Petersburg men’s Level 2 tournament which was to take place in February has been cancelled. From TD Jerry Ratledge (via Joe Rasgado): “I can now confirm that our tournament has been officially cancelled. We reluctantly concluded that the risks of holding a large, Level 2, National & International tournament during an escalating pandemic are simply too great. We look forward to a fun, safe, and normalized tournament in 2022.” El Paso Senior Open Level 3 (Aug 25-30) Marin Seniors Men’s Bocage Kevel 2, Baton Rouge, LA Good News!: Jan 19 Update: Mission Hills has approved the Women’s 35-85 Hard […]
The application for a spot on one of the Senior Cup teams (Men/Women 50/55/60+) are now closed. View the list of applicants here: Applicants USTA.com 2021 ITF Seniors Team Championships.xlsx List of 2021 Senior Team Players Applications will closed Jan 10, 2021 The Cups will take place in June in Umag, Croatia. (Coronavirus permitting). Read more about the Cups and view the timeline here.
Location: Mallorca, Spain Team Event: Sunday, Oct. 10 – Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 Individual Event: Saturday, Oct. 16 – Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021 Are you eligible to participate? Read the guidelines here. Of particular importance are the following changes which supersede the eligibility requirement and timelines as follows: Approved 24-month USTA Category I USTA National Championship eligibility requirement, the option to participate in one USTA Super Category II National Tournament or one USTA Category II National Tournament within the last 24 months or participation in one Designated Open Sectional Championship within the last 12 months to fulfill the eligibility requirement; and Approved to lengthen the selection time period for results that will be considered for selection from 24 months to 36 months. 2021 Super Senior International Teams Timeline Location: Mallorca, Spain Team Event: Sunday, Oct. 10 – Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 Individual Event: Saturday, Oct. 16 – Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021 Applications Open: April 1, 2021 Application Deadline: May 1, 2021 Players who have applied for consideration will be listed on the Preliminary Applicant List posted on USTA.com: May 5 Deadline to notify the USTA of any omissions to the posted Preliminary Applicant List (cutoff date for 24 month period […]
Angela Buxton and Althea Gibson won Wimbledon doubles in 1956. Both faced discrimination, Gibson because she was Black and Buxton because of Anti-Semitism.
“The International Tennis Federation announced the death of Buxton on Monday, describing her as ‘an early pioneer of equal rights.'” (From ESPN).
Andi Polisky, the tournament director of the 35-85 Women’s Hard Courts scheduled for October in Rancho Mirage, CA has cancelled this event.
Trish Faulkner, the tournament director for the Women’s 40-80 Clay Courts scheduled for October in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has cancelled this event.
Both tournament directors expect their events to resume in 2021.
Both tournaments were ITF Grade A events, all of which have been cancelled for 2020 (unless granted a downgrade to a Grade 2, 3, or 4).
Update: All USTA Category I Family, Age Division and Open tournaments have been cancelled for 2020. Tournaments have the option to hold these events as Designated Sectional tournaments with Category II points.
The ITF has announced a resumption of play for the ITF Seniors Circuits of August 31, 2020.
Grade 2, 3, and 4 tournaments only shall resume in 2020; Regional, Grade A and Grade 1 tournaments can apply to take place as Grade 2 tournaments if the ITF approves the change.
Rankings:
Best 4 tournaments from the period of March 18, 2019-March 14 2021 will be used.
Starting March 15, 2021, results from 2019 or 2020 will start to drop, replaced by their 2021 points. This is subject to change if the pandemic continues to restrict travel or for other reasons determined by the ITF.
Through at least December 31, 2020, players can only add to their point total, they cannot have their frozen point total reduced.
The ITF plans to return to the 52 week ranking period in December 2021.
Read below for exact details. This is subject to change if ongoing travel restrictions and lack of tournaments warrants it.
The article reads in part: “No firm dates have yet been set for a return to play on the ITF Seniors Tour or the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, but each tour’s committee has decided that there will be no resumption of play on either tour beforethe week commencing 31 August 2020.”
“In order to support a safe return to international tennis tournaments, the ITF has devised protocols forall tournament hosts and participants that aim to mitigate the risk of exposure to, and spread of,Covid-19. The protocols will be updated on a regular basis as the global situation regarding Covid-19 continues to change.The protocols can be viewed here:
Any tournament which goes ahead once the tours resume must also follow government requirements,where those requirements go beyond the ITF protocols.
In order to be eligible for addition to the ITF calendar, the following criteria [plus much more] must be met:
“1. Government legislation must permit a tennis event to be held in the host country.
2. The host nation’s borders must be open to international visitors, giving sufficient and reasonable access to that nation to players, as determined by the ITF.
3. Each host organizer must, on application to host a tournament, confirm that it will implement the minimum standards set out in the ‘risk mitigation’ section….”
In addition there must be a Covid officer for the tournament.
There is much more information about the duties of both tournament participants and organizers in the above referenced links.
As knowledge of Covid-19 evolves so will the documents attached to the above referenced links.
From the ITF Website: “(updated 14 July). Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ITF Seniors (50-55-60 years), the ITF Young Seniors (35-40-45 years) and the ITF Super-Seniors (65-70-75-80-85years) World Team & Individual Championships will not be held in 2020.”
These events will be held at the same locations in 2021 as they were scheduled to be played in 2020.
The dates for the Seniors World Team Championships are confirmed to be April 25-May 8 2021 in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
I hope everyone is staying healthy and playing tennis near home. Hope to see you next year!
I have included below excerpts related to SENIOR tennis only:
USTA Statement on Event Cancellations – July 14, 2020
Due to the situation surrounding COVID-19, the USTA has canceled a number of National level events scheduled to be held in August. The decision to cancel was made with guidance from the USTA Medical Advisory Group, to ensure the health and safety of all those involved with these tournaments. As these events were larger in scale and size, there was an inherent risk associated with hosting large numbers of individuals at one site, at one time, and would make risk mitigation difficult. Without a controlled environment that includes a comprehensive and contained lodging, transportation, food and beverage, and medical testing program in place, proper risk mitigation would not be possible—and in the case of these events, this type of environment would logistically and financially be incredibly difficult to create. In addition, as these are National level events, many of those competing would have to travel interstate, bringing into play different regulations, restrictions and quarantine periods, dependent upon the localities involved, both at the site of the event and in the participants’ home states. The uncertainty surrounding the number of COVID-19 cases in the states of the host sites was also considered.
The safety of the actual tennis being played was not a concern of the USTA Medical Advisory Group, and did not factor into the decision to cancel the events. The USTA has previously issued a set of recommendations as to how tennis can be played in a safe manner, which can be foundHEREfor players and