• 2021 Adult Tournament Changes: Indoor Level 1 (gold ball) Nationals are Eliminated

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols 2 Comments

    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)
    • 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
    • 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)
    • Maximum (note change from “minimum” to “maximum”) numbers of Level 2 and Level 3 tournaments set
    • 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. 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.]

    • 2021 Adult Tournament Changes: Indoor Level 1 (gold ball) Nationals are Eliminated
      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) 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 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 […]
    • FAQ: 2021 Tournament Changes
      Click here to read the FAQ on USTA.com. The text is below. RANKINGS Q. Are ranking points awarded for voluntary consolations? Yes, ranking points per win will be awarded for voluntary consolation as well as round-robin formats. Q. How will round robin points fit in the points table? Round robins will have points per win table based on the tournament level played. Q. Should we mandate Cat 1 to use the best of three set formats unless unforeseen events, such as weather delays the progression of the event? The other formats would then be optional for TD’s to implement if needed to keep the event on the schedule. The Adult Comp Committee is working on a proposal for a consistent scoring format for all Level 1 tournaments. Once the proposal is approved, we will have another TD webinar to discuss the new changes. Q. Is ranking based on age and NTRP? Yes, the ranking will be based on age group and NTRP levels. For example, if I am a player that plays 18+ 3.0 women’s singles events, I will show up on 18+ 3.0 women’s singles rankings. Q. Will the ranking points for any level will be awarded “the same” for […]
    • Designated Open Sectionals
      For updates and changes click here.
    • Angela Buxton, Althea Gibson’s Doubles Partner, Dies at 85
      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). Read more here. Here’s an article about the friendship between Angela Buxton and Althea Gibson: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2019/06/20/angela-buxton-althea-gibsons-friendship-no-ordinary-bond-outsider/ Buxton, who was Jewish, and Gibson became friends in tennis: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/althea-gibson-former-tennis-pro-angela-buxton-remembers-althea-gibson-decades-after-they-made-history/
    • 2021 USTA Points Per Round Tables: Adults
      From NSMTA.net.

  • Designated Open Sectionals

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment
    DateLocationSurfaceLink
    September 10-13Jekyll Island Tennis Center
    Jekyll Island, Ga    		ClayClick here to enter
    September 13-20Palisades Tennis Club
    Newport Beach, Calif.
    (Men and Women)    		HardClick here to enter
    September 18-20 & 25-27The Tennis King
    Roslyn, N.Y    		ClayClick here to enter
    September 25-27Ultimate Doubles Tennis
    Oak Bluffs, Mass.    		ClayClick here to enter
    October 7-11City of Oakland Parks and Recreation
    Piedmont, Calif.    		HardClick here to enter
    October 14-18
    Cancelled!    		Cancelled!
    Lauderdale Tennis Club
    Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.    		ClayClick here to enter
    October 15-18River Hills Club
    Jackson, Miss.    		ClayClick here to enter
    October 22-25, 2020McFarlin Tennis Center
    San Antonio, Texas    		HardClick here to enter
    November 2-6Darling Tennis Center
    Las Vegas, Nev.    		HardClick here to enter
    November 2-8The Great Park
    Irvine, Calif.    		HardClick here to enter
    November 11-16, 2020Westlake Athletic Club
    Westlake Village, Calif.
    Men's 45    		HardClick here to enter
    November 30 - December 6,La Jolla Beach Tennis Club
    La Jolla, Calif
    M & W 40, F/S, GF/GS    		HardClick here to enter
    December 9-13Phoenix Tennis Center
    Phoenix, Ariz.    		HardClick here to enter
    December 9-15Club Green Meadows
    Vancouver, WA
    (W40/50/70/80/90 & M/D)    		IndoorsClick here to enter

    For updates and changes click here.


  • ITF Seniors Tournaments to Resume August 31st: Grade 2, 3, 4 ONLY to Resume; Rankings Changes through 2021

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    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.

    NOTE: All tournaments must adhere to the new ITF Covid-19 protocols which can be found here: https://www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/itf-outlines-initial-plans-for-resumption-of-play-on-junior-senior-wheelchair-tennis-and-beach-tennis-tours/ (Links found within article).


  • ITF PLANS FOR RETURN OF SENIOR TENNIS: No Senior Events Will Take Place Before September 1, 2020

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    July 22, 2020

    Read the entire article here.

    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 before the week commencing 31 August 2020. ”

    “In order to support a safe return to international tennis tournaments, the ITF has devised protocols for all 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:  

    Return to Tennis – Participants 

    Return to Tennis – Tournament Organisers  

    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.


  • ITF Seniors Introduces New Tournament Grades for 2021

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    New ITF Seniors Tournament Grades to Launch in 2021

    Tournament Structure, Grading Criteria and Rankings Descriptions

    ITF Seniors Development Plan 2019-2021

    The ITF Press Release regarding the new tournament grades reads in part:

    “2021 will see changes to the tournament structure, tournament grading system and a new tournament recognition scheme….”

    “Among the most important changes to be introduced in 2021 is a new, refined and simplified tournament structure. The previous Grade A to Grade 4 naming will be replaced by numeric figures representing the points available to the winning player or players in each event.”

    [These will be the World Championships, ITF Seniors 1000 (maximum of 12 world wide, minimum of one but no more than four in any one region) 700, 400, 200 and 100 tournaments.]

    “The ITF Seniors World Championships – Young Seniors, Seniors and Super-Seniors categories – will remain the highlight of the season and the highest grade on the circuit.

    The 2021 structure will also introduce a new grade – ITF Seniors 1000, a small number of global tournaments aimed at elite players within each age group. These events will offer a greater value of ranking points, relative to the points available at the World Championships.

    In addition, four further grades will exist to provide a more appropriate tournament experience to players of different standards. Clearly defined entry-level tournaments – ITF Seniors 100 – are designed to provide more competitive opportunities and appropriate tournament formats for the huge number of players who already compete, while also attracting new tournaments and players to the circuit.”

    “Matt Byford, Manager, ITF Seniors said: “We are very pleased to announce several developments to further enhance the tournament experience for players, officials, tournament organisers and our member nations from 2021 onwards….”

    Tournament Structure, Grading Criteria and Rankings

    The above linked article contains the information about the 2021 ranking points.

    2021 ITF Seniors Circuit Ranking Points


  • 2020 Tournament Recategorizations due to Covid-19

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    Press Release from the USTA:

    Designated Open Sectional Championship 

    In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the USTA family would like to encourage local play as opposed to traveling to play national tournaments.  With this in mind, we’ve reclassified the remaining Super Category 2, Category 2, and Category 3 National
    Tournaments as Designated Open Sectional Championships. 

    These Designated Open Sectional Championships will have NationalCategory 2 point allocation for the players.  The participants will have the opportunity to earn national points while playing at the sectional level. 

    At this time, the remaining Category 1 Tournaments will continue to be rescheduled for later in the year. 

    If you have any questions or for more information, please
    contact: adulttournaments@usta.com 

    Click here to see the Adult National Schedule at USTA.com. Note that the remaining Super Category II, Category II and Category III tournaments listed will now be “Designated Open Sectionals” which will receive Category II National Ranking points for 2020.

    In 2021 there will be new tournament levels replacing the designation “Category” with 1 being the lowest and 7 being the highest and new points per round tables. Read more here: USTA Adult Tournament Changes For 2021

    2020 Ranking Tables: 2020 Points Per Round Tables


  • USTA Adult Tournament Changes For 2021

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    Read more here.

    FAQ

    Top Things to Know

    According to the USTA:

    • The new structure will utilize seven levels of events, ranging from Level 7 (Local) to Level 1 (National Championships) and a universal ranking system that will distribute points consistently across the country.
    • This nationwide system will provide consistent tournament levels and standardized tournament operations for all events—regardless of location—replacing a current system that is greatly dependent upon the region.
    • The new system will allow players to more easily compete across sections, as the levels will be standardized with an increased number of local events, providing even more playing opportunities for players.

    Further Information (click here to see unedited version):

    1. ONE nationwide structure of tournaments.* The 17 sectional structures and one national structure will be replaced with ONE nationwide structure of Adult Tournaments. The structure will consist of seven levels of ranking tournaments, with the lowest level of tournament ranking points classified as a Level 7 and USTA National Championships classified as Level 1.

    *Note that Level 1 will be the gold ball events; Level 2 will replace Super Category II; Level 3 will replace Category 2; Category 3 will go away. New Points per Round (PPR) tables will be published.

    2. ONE nationwide points-per-round ranking system. The 17 sectional ranking systems and one national ranking system will be replaced with ONE nationwide ranking system for the Level 1-7 ranking tournaments. One set of nationwide ranking tables will determine the points earned in all ranked tournaments.

    3. ONE standings list. At least monthly, the USTA will continue to publish National Standings Lists (NSLs), using the same best of 6 singles and best-of-six doubles* results system. These lists will be filtered by section or district when they are used for selection into closed tournaments and team competitions.

     *Emphasis added: Note that rankings and standings will now be best of 6, not best of 4 results.

    4. EVERYTHING [USTA Sanctioned] counts. While sections will hold two Closed Level 4s and two Closed Level 5s, all other tournaments sanctioned by the sections will be open to all players and all results will count in the ranking system. This also permits sections to hold Open Level 4s. This means that, for example, if you are vacationing out of section and play a tournament, it will count. It also allows players who live near section borders to play across section lines and have their results count.

    5. NEW [NTRP] ranking events. For the first time, the ranking system will be able to count results for NTRP tournaments. This will allow players that are currently playing NTRP tournaments to have a ranking based on their points earned at NTRP tournaments with ranked divisions.

    6. UNIFIED residency requirements. Sections will all have the same residency requirements, and residency will determine eligibility to play in closed tournaments and represent a section or district in team competition. A player may be a resident of only one section (and if applicable, one district). Residency will be based on where a player resides, except that a player may change their residency one time per calendar year so long as it is based on:

    • The address of the player’s legal guardian
  • (Emphasis added)

    • 7. EVERY section is slightly different—in size, geography, population, climate—and the new regulations allow for sections to make decisions that best meet the needs of their adult players. Examples of what sections will be deciding include:

    • Draw sizes of their tournaments;
    • Numbers of tournaments at each level;
    • When the tournaments take place on the calendar; and
    • The draw and match formats.

    8. IT all starts in 2021. All of the changes will take effect in January 2021. In the coming months, be on the lookout for webinars and other educational materials that will take a deeper dive into the details of the new structure.

    FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)


  • FAQ: 2021 Tournament Changes

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    Click here to read the FAQ on USTA.com. The text is below.

    RANKINGS

    Q. Are ranking points awarded for voluntary consolations?

    Yes, ranking points per win will be awarded for voluntary consolation as well as round-robin formats.

    Q. How will round robin points fit in the points table?

    Round robins will have points per win table based on the tournament level played.

    Q. Should we mandate Cat 1 to use the best of three set formats unless unforeseen events, such as weather delays the progression of the event? The other formats would then be optional for TD’s to implement if needed to keep the event on the schedule.

    The Adult Comp Committee is working on a proposal for a consistent scoring format for all Level 1 tournaments. Once the proposal is approved, we will have another TD webinar to discuss the new changes.

    Q. Is ranking based on age and NTRP?

    Yes, the ranking will be based on age group and NTRP levels. For example, if I am a player that plays 18+ 3.0 women’s singles events, I will show up on 18+ 3.0 women’s singles rankings.

    Q. Will the ranking points for any level will be awarded “the same” for any of the scoring options a director uses?

    Yes, as long as the scoring format falls in the list of scoring formats available, that will not impact the points awarded.

    PLAY FORMATS

    Q. Will consolation allow only one match; not a complete draw? And if consolation requires a draw, won’t this discourage clubs from holding tournaments due to court time needs, especially indoors?

    Although we strongly encourage tournament directors to finish the consolation draws, we understand that some unforeseen circumstances may arise. For this reason, it is ok if consolation draws are not fully completed.

    Q. Are fast four formats still available?

    Yes, a short set format will be available across all levels.

    Q. Will there be 2 out of 3 sets in any tournaments?

    There will be 2 of 3 sets in various levels of tournaments. However, for the L6 & L&7 tournaments that option will not be available.

    Q. How are Open tournaments affected?

    Open tournaments will not be affected. If anything, open tournament players will have the opportunity to generate a national ranking based on their performance.

    Q. Is there a chart showing the “Maximum # of Rounds per day” that can be played and Rest Periods in the various scoring systems?

    Yes, you will be able to find this at Friend at Court. Please click on the following link: Friend at court

    NTRP TOURNAMENTS LEVELS

    Q. Will there be regulations concerning NTRP tournament players “playing up”, similar to the Leagues to allow for more accurate ratings?

    Yes, we will continue to align as much as possible with the League program for NTRP sanctioned tournaments, and follow their rules as it relates to playing down and up, appeals, self-rate process.

    Q. Will the National NTRP Championships in 2022 reflect the 18s, 40s and 55s categories of NTRP ranked tournaments in 2021?

    Yes, in 2022 the NTRP divisions for NTRP Nationals will reflect 18s, 40s, 55s divisions.

    Q. Will NTRP Tournaments have Open Divisions?

    No, we will not have NTRP Open divisions for now. We are looking at expanding the NTRP tournament product, but we need to do so in phases.

    Q. Will suspension also include league play?

    The league program does not follow the same suspension point system, as other programs do. For now, it does not count towards the leagues program. 


    📂This entry was posted in USTA Tournament and Ranking News 📎and tagged

  • Angela Buxton, Althea Gibson’s Doubles Partner, Dies at 85

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    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).

    Read more here.

    Here’s an article about the friendship between Angela Buxton and Althea Gibson: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2019/06/20/angela-buxton-althea-gibsons-friendship-no-ordinary-bond-outsider/

    Buxton, who was Jewish, and Gibson became friends in tennis: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/althea-gibson-former-tennis-pro-angela-buxton-remembers-althea-gibson-decades-after-they-made-history/

    Angela Buxton, left, won two Grand Slams doubles titles with Althea Gibson, including Wimbledon in 1956. AP Photo/File, from ESPN.com

    📂This entry was posted in Angela Buxton Tennis 📎and tagged

  • 2021 USTA Points Per Round Tables: Adults

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols 1 Comment

    From NSMTA.net.


    📂This entry was posted in Category I Nationals Category II Nationals Category II Tournaments Category II USTA Tournaments Tennis USTA USTA Tournament and Ranking News 📎and tagged

  • USTA Women’s 40-80 Clay & 35-85 Hard Court Nationals Cancelled for 2020

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    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.


    📂This entry was posted in Category I Nationals Covid-19 (coronavirus) ITF Tournaments Tennis Tournament Cancellation USTA 📎and tagged

  • ITF Cancels 2020 Young Seniors & 2020 Super Seniors World Championships

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols 2 Comments

    Click here for more information.

    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 (65-70-75-80-85 years) 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!


    📂This entry was posted in Covid-19 (coronavirus) Seniors World Championships Super Seniors World Championships Tennis Young Seniors World Championships 📎and tagged

  • USTA Cancels National Tournaments Through August 31st: July 14th Statement

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    Read the full USTA statement here: https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/national/usta-statement-on-suspension-of-events.html

    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 found HERE for players and HERE for facilities.

     

    The following events have been canceled:

    (Juniors and ITF Tour events which are now cancelled can be found in the full statement here and include the National Girls and Boys 18 Nationals: https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/national/usta-statement-on-suspension-of-events.html

    Adults

    • Men’s 65 USTA National Indoor Championships

    o Aug. 10-15 – LifeTime Eden Prairie Athletic (Eden Prairie, Minn.)

    • Men’s and Women’s Open USTA National Grass Court Championships

    o Aug. 10-16 – International Tennis Hall of Fame (Newport, R.I.)

    • Men’s 75 & 80 and Mother/Son USTA National Grass Court Championships

    o Aug. 13-16 – Agawam Hunt Country Club (Rumford, R.I.)


    📂This entry was posted in Covid-19 (coronavirus) Tennis Tournament Cancellation USTA USTA 2020 Tournament Schedule USTA Tournament and Ranking News 📎and tagged

  • Super Senior USTA Teams Selected

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols 2 Comments

    June 30, 2020

    The USTA has announced the teams it has selected to represent the USTA in the ITF Super Senior World Team Championships in October. (Fingers crossed that this event happens as scheduled, October 11-16 in Mallorca, Spain with individuals to follow October 17-24).

    The players selected are listed below; players whose names are in bold font are the playing captains. The players are listed alphabetically by first name.


    📂This entry was posted in 2020 Super Seniors World Championships, Mallorca 2020 Super Seniors, Mallorca ITF ITF Individual World Championships ITF World Team Championships Mallorca Tennis Travel USIC USTA Super Senior International Teams 📎and tagged

  • Designated Open Sectional Championship Schedule 2020

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols 3 Comments

    From USTA.com (read here).

    2020 Tournament Recategorizations due to Covid-19

     In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the USTA family would like to encourage local play as opposed to traveling to play national tournaments.  With this in mind, we’ve reclassified the remaining Super Category II, Category II, and Category III national tournaments as Designated Open Sectional Championships. 

    These Designated Open Sectional Championships will have National Category II point allocation for the players. The participants will have the opportunity to earn national points while playing at the sectional level. 

    At this time, the remaining Category I tournaments will continue to be rescheduled for later in the year. 

    Please click here for an FAQ document related to the new tournament classification.

    If you have any questions or for more information, please contact adulttournaments@usta.com.

    August

    Dates: August 14-16, 2020

    Location: Beavercreek Clay Courts Tennis Club, Beavercreek, Ohio

    Divisions: M55 – M70 (singles)

    Surface: Hard, Clay

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II

    Register Here

     

    Dates: August 27-30

    Location: Guilford Racquet & Swim Club in Guilford, Conn.

    Age Divisions: 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II 

    Surface: Hard

    Register Here

     

    September

    Dates: September 13-20, 2020

    Location: Palisades Tennis Club, Newport Beach, Calif.

    Age Divisions: M30, M35, M40, M45, M50, M55, M60, M65, W65, M70, M75, M80, M85, M90

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II

    Surface: Hard

    Register Here

     

    Dates: September 15-20, 2020

    Location: Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria, Va.

    Age Divisions: M45, M55, M65

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II

    Surface: Clay

    Register Here

     

    Dates: September 16-20, 2020

    Location: Louisville Boat Club, Louisville, Ky.

    Age Divisions: M40, M50, M55, M60, M65, M70

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II

    Surface: Clay

    Register Here

     

    Dates: September 18-20, 2020

    Location: Ultimate Doubles Tennis, Oak Bluffs, Mass.

    Age Divisions: Mixed (Open), M50-80 (doubles)

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II

    Surface: Clay

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II  

    Register Here

     

    October

    Dates: October 14-18, 2020

    Location: Lauderdale Tennis Club, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

    Age Divisions: W35, W45, W55, W65, W75, W85

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II

    Surface: Hard

    Register Here

     

    Dates: October 22-25, 2020

    Location: McFarlin Tennis Center, San Antonio, Texas

    Age Divisions: M55, W55, M60, M65, W65, M70, W70, M75, W75, M80, W80, M85

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II

    Surface: Hard

    Register Here

     

    November

    Dates: November 2-6, 2020

    Location: Darling Tennis Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

    Age Divisions: M50, W50, M55, W55, M60, W60, M65, W65, M70, W70, M75, W75, M80, W80, M85, W85, M90

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II

    Surface: Hard

    Register Here

     

    Dates: November 2-8, 2020

    Location: The Great Park, Irvine, Calif.

    Age Divisions: MOpen, WOpen, M40, W40, M45, W45, M50, W50, M55, W55, M60, W60, M65, W65, M70

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II

    Surface: Hard

    Register Here

     

    Dates: November 18-22, 2020

    Location: Bocage Racquet Club, Baton Rouge, La.

    Age Divisions: M30, M35, M40, M45, M50, M55, M60, M65, M70, M75, M80, M85

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II

    Surface: Clay

    Register Here

     

    Dates: November 30 – December 6, 2020

    Location: Longboat Key Tennis Center, Longboat Key, Fla.

    Age Divisions: M55, M60, M65, M70, M75, M80

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II

    Surface: Clay

    Register Here

     

    December

    Dates: December 9-13, 2020

    Location: USTA Central Arizona Tennis Association, Scottsdale, Ariz.

    Age Divisions: M30, W30, M40, W40, M45, W45, M50, W50, M55, W55, M60, W60, M65, W65, M70, W70, M75, W75, M80, W80, M85, W85, M90, W90

    USTA Ranking Points: Category II

    Surface: Hard

    Register Here


    📂This entry was posted in 2020 Ranking Changes Covid-19 (coronavirus) Tennis USTA USTA Tournament and Ranking News USTA/ITF Tournament Changes, Updates 📎and tagged

  • USTA Announces Young Seniors International Teams

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    The USTA has announced the rosters for the ITF Young Seniors World Team Championships to be played in Umag, Croatia in September.

    2020 Young-Seniors World Championships (35/40/45)

    Team Tournament: Sept. 13 – 19, 2020

    Individual Tournament: Sept. 19 – 26, 2020

    Location: Umag, Croatia

    The list of players can be found here and are also listed below.


    📂This entry was posted in 2020 Young Seniors, Umag ITF NEWS ITF Tournaments ITF World Team Championships Tennis Umag, Croatia USTA USTA Young Seniors International Teams 📎and tagged

  • USTA posts List of Super Senior International Team Applicants

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    Here is the link to the list of players who applied for the USTA Super Senior teams. The event is scheduled for Oct 11-16 in Mallorca, Spain. So far this event is still on the ITF schedule. Team announcements will be made on July 30th.

    For more information go to the USTA Senior International page.


    📂This entry was posted in 2020 Super Seniors, Mallorca ITF NEWS ITF World Team Championships Mallorca Tennis Travel USTA USTA Super Senior International Teams 📎and tagged

  • USTA National Senior Women’s Clay Courts (35/45/55/65/75/85/90) Cancelled for 2020; Will Resume in 2021

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    Sue Bramlette, the tournament director for the National Senior Women’s Clay Court Championships (NSWCCC) in Houston, Texas, after consulting with the COO of the Houston Racquet Club (HRC) and the membership director of the HRC has concluded that the HRC will not be able to host the NSWCCC in 2020.

    There were a number of issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic that would or could impact the hosting of the tournament this year.

    The HRC plans to host the tournament in 2021.


    📂This entry was posted in Category I Nationals Covid-19 (coronavirus) Tennis Tournament Cancellation 📎and tagged

  • USTA Update May 26: No National Play before August 1; Sections Can Resume Play if Local Conditions Allow

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment
    To read more and for future updates click here.
    Note that several sections, including NorCal, SoCal and Florida have suspended USTA play till July 1st.

    USTA Statement on Suspension of Events

    May 26, 2020
    20200406_Tennis-Suspension-2_A

    Update on Suspension of Play and Event Changes – May 26, 2020

     

    The USTA recognizes that the coronavirus has been affecting different parts of the country in different ways and with different timing. Because of that, it will be possible for people to return to playing tennis safely in some cities and states sooner than in others.

    At present, stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders have been lifted or modified in some communities, and some are phasing tennis back in as a safe, or in certain cases, an “essential,” activity.

    Beginning June 1, the suspension of USTA Sanctioned products and events noted below will now be at the discretion of the USTA Sections and local health authorities. These USTA Sanctioned products and events include:

     

    • Adult and Junior Tournaments

    • USTA League

    • USTA Junior Team Tennis

    • USTA Social Leagues

    • Team Challenge

    • Team Tournaments

    • USTA School Programs

    • Tennis on Campus

    • Wheelchair Tennis

     (Emphasis added)

    The safety and well-being of all players and event personnel remains the first and foremost consideration of the USTA. All players should check their USTA Section homepage to determine when these USTA Sanctioned products and events will resume and under what conditions. In all cases, the USTA highly recommends that all players and facilities adhere to the “Playing Tennis Safely” guidelines, as well as all local health and safety regulations when returning to play.

     

    Please note the additional national suspensions below that are still in effect across the country: 

     

    All Category 1 and Super Category 2 National Adult Tournaments with an ITF status, all ITF Junior events, all Adults Category 2 and Category 3 tournaments, all Wheelchair L1 – L3 events, and all USTA Pro Circuit events will align with the same calendar as the ITF and be suspended through July 31. The ATP has also suspended events through July 31, while the WTA has suspended select events in July. In addition, the USTA has made the decision, separately, to cancel the 2020 National Clay Court Championships scheduled for July 11-19, and which would have taken place in seven cities across three states.

     

    “The impact of COVID-19 has been felt across the tennis landscape, and it is our goal to ensure that the sport is able to be played in a safe and healthy fashion at the parks and facilities throughout the country once the pandemic subsides,” said Patrick Galbraith, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “One of the greatest aspects of this game is that it fosters a true community, and we look forward to the time when we can return to our local courts and use tennis to unite us all, once again.”  

     

    The determination has also been made to suspend the calculation and publication of the National Standings List (NSL) for Adult, Junior and Wheelchair play until further notice. The NSL published on March 18 will serve as the most current until tournament competition resumes.

     

    In addition, to ensure that play taking place at local facilities will be the focus once the pandemic subsides, the following events will be canceled for 2020: 
     

    • USTA League National Championships

    • USTA Junior Team Tennis National Championships

    • USTA Junior Intersectional Team Championships
    • USTA Zone Team Championships

    • USTA National Team Championships
     

    For more information on the cancellation of the USTA League National Championships and USTA Junior Team Tennis National Championships, please visit the FAQ.

     

    The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., is currently closed to the public. The facility’s Indoor Tennis Center was converted to a temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients, while Louis Armstrong Stadium was utilized as a commissary to facilitate the creation of meal packages that were distributed to patients, workers and New York City school children. 

     

    The USTA National Campus, in the Lake Nona area of Orlando, Fla., will remain closed for play and instructional opportunities through June 7.

     

    Any patron who wishes to cancel participation in a scheduled activity should contact the specific location for refund information. These policies will be in effect pending additional guidance or directives from each local governmental agency and the CDC. The USTA will continue to monitor and assess conditions to make future determinations about all activities at these facilities.

     

    * The USTA Medical Advisory Committee includes: Dr. Brian Hainline, Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA and USTA Board Member; Dr. Brian Daniels, MD, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Fla., and Medical Director, US Open; Dr. Mark Kovacs, Senior Director of Sports Science and Health, Cleveland Cavaliers; Dr. Bernard Camins, Medical Director for Infection Prevention at Mt. Sinai; Mike Rodriguez, USTA Senior Director and US Open


    📂This entry was posted in Covid-19 (coronavirus) Tennis USTA 📎and tagged

  • ITF extends suspension of international tournaments through July 31 | ITF

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    This includes all senior tournaments.

    The International Tennis Federation has extended the suspension of all ITF tournaments through to July 31 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
    — Read on www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/itf-extends-suspension-of-international-tournaments-through-july-31/


    📂This entry was posted in Covid-19 (coronavirus) ITF ITF Tournaments Tennis 📎and tagged

  • Recent Category I Champions

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    Husband/Wife Grass: 100: Kathy/Paul Settles; 120: Mai Ichikawa Abel/Brent Abel; 140: Dean Corley/Randi Reznik

    50/60/70/75/80 Hard Mixed: 50: Pat Crow/Tracie Currie; 60: Jonathan Fears/Shannon Carney; 70: Kathy Bennett/Jimmy Parker; 75: Suella Steel/Dean Corley; 80: Wilbur Jones/Roz King

    40 Hard Court/Father/Son/GF/GS: M40S: Francisco Clavet; M40D: Ross Duncan/Simon Chen; W40S: Hiromi Sasano; W40D: Debbie Spence Nasim/Tracie Currie; Mxd: Spence Nasim/Duncan; F/S: Bruce & Bruce Man Son Hing; GF/GS: Ethan Smith/James Stelson

    Men’s 60/75 Grass:  60S: Mark Vines; 60D: Mike Fedderly/Mike Tammen; 75S/D: Jimmy Parker (with Ken Robinson)

    Husband Wife Indoors: Open: Kathy/Trung Nguyen; 100: Kathy/Paul Settles; 120: Peggy Kirkeeng/Michael Sperling; 140: Dean Corley/Randi Resnik

    30 Clay: WS: Charlotte Sikora; WD: Katrina Barnes/Marissa Chapin; MS: Christian Guevara; MD: Kriegler Brink/Cameron Nash; Mxd: Guevara/Abika Sperl:

    Father/Son Clay: Sr: Brett/Jerry Morse Karzen; SSr: Scott/P Estes; 80+: Alan/Robert Croll

    Men’s 35 Clay: S: Rodrigo Pacheco; D: Darrin Cohen/Ryan Sablan

    W90Grass: S/D: Rita Price (with Jane Lutz)

    M/S, F/D Clay: FD Open: David/Karly Friedman; SrFD: Steve/Jordan Vaughn; SSr FD: Julia/Richard Cohen; 80+ FD: Sheldon/Chance Fechtor; M/S: Caryn/Jordan Krasner; Sr M/S: Kyle/Anni Collette

    Women’s 35-85 Hard: 35S:Laura Graff; 35D: Jennifer Lyons/Julie Shapiro; 45S/D: Dina McBride (with Debbie Nasim); 55S: Fran Chandler; 55D: Rainy Miller/Shelly Works; 65S: Tina Karwasky; 65D: Andrea Barnes/Kandy Chain; 75S/D: Carolann Castell (with Heather Fiscalini); 85S/D: Margaret Canby (with Rose Austin)

    Men’s 75/80 Clay: 75S/D: Jimmy Parker (with Ken Robinson); 80S: Lester Sack; 80D: Wilbur Jones/William Woflf

    Men’s 60/65 Clay: 60S: Dan Waldman; 60D: Mike Fedderly/Mike Tammen; 65S:Fred Robinson; 65D: Stanley Mescon/Alan Turner

    40-70 Mixed Clay: 40: Ben Cook/Liz Kotz; 50: Garth Thomson/Laurie Yarbrough; 60: Shannon Carney/Jon Fears; 70: Ann Bradley/Bernie McGuire

    M/D Clay: open: Michelle/Caitlyn Williams; Senior: Sheila/Nicole Chiricosta; SSr: Brenda Humpheys/Shelly Stillman Scott

    Men’s 55 Clay: Erik Luxembourg; D: Scott Works/Willie Alumbaugh

    Men’s 50 Clay: S: Oren Motevassel; D: Johan Hoegstedt/Fredrik Skoglund


    📂This entry was posted in Category I Champions Category I Nationals Tennis 📎and tagged

  • ITF Postpones 2020 Seniors World Championships to 2021; (Young Seniors & Super Seniors Remain on Calendar for Now)

    Posted on by Carolyn Nichols Comment

    23 April 2020


    ITF Statement regarding ITF Seniors (50-55-60) World Team & Individual Championships


    In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ITF has suspended all Tours, including the ITF Seniors Tour until 13 July 2020, aligning with the ATP and WTA Tours respectively. This includes the postponement of the ITF Seniors (50-55-60 years) World Team & Individual Championships which had been scheduled to take place In Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens, USA from 26 April to 9 May 2020.


    The ITF has been working with the host organiser, venues, event partners and independent travel advisors in recent weeks to identify a safe and viable date to reschedule the event in 2020. Protecting the health and well-being of players, officials, guests, club members and local communities has remained the priority.


    Due to the ongoing global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has not been possible to achieve the criteria set for the event to be rescheduled in 2020, and as such the ITF Seniors (50-55-60 years) World Team & Individual Championships will not be held in 2020.


    The 2021 ITF Seniors (50-55-60 years) World Team & Individual Championships will therefore take place in Boca Raton & Palm Beach Gardens, with the precise dates to be announced in due course.
    The ITF will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation alongside tournament hosts and partners, with the aim of resuming ITF tournaments as soon as it is safe to do so.


    The ITF Young Seniors (35-40-45 years) World Championships scheduled for 13-26 September 2020 in Umag, Croatia and the ITF Super-Seniors (65-70-75-80-85 years) World Championships scheduled for 11- 24 October 2020 in Mallorca, Spain both remain on the 2020 calendar.


    If you have any queries, please contact the ITF Seniors Department by email – seniors@itftennis.com

    The USTA has posted a link here regarding the postponement to 2021.