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Tournaments

Singles Ladder

TENNIS SINGLES LADDER

What is a Tennis Singles Ladder?

A Tennis singles ladders are an excellent way to organize and maintain a competitive singles tennis league of any size. A singles ladder is a method of ranking players according to their performance within the league. It is a great way to keep track of players’ progress within the league, and provides a way for players to challenge each other for higher rankings on the ladder.

 

How Does a Singles Ladder Work?

A singles ladder works by allowing players to challenge other players who are above them on the ladder. When someone challenges someone on a higher rung of the ladder, the loser of the match may move down the ladder.  The winner of the match, meanwhile, may move up the ladder. This ensures that players are constantly competing against each other, and the rankings of the ladder are always up-to-date.

 

Challenging Rules

The rules for challenging other players on a singles ladder vary depending on the league or organization that is organizing the ladder. One of the most common rules is that players must always challenge someone who is ranked up to three rungs above them on the ladder. This rule ensures that players do not challenge opponents who are too easy to beat, and instead challenge opponents who will provide a more challenging match.

 

Mixed Singles Tennis Ladder

We have set up a mixed singles tennis ladder - only members of the club may apply to join.  All members will be added to a Whatsapp group and the current ladder will be published on a weekly basis.  If you have any queries on the ladder or wish to join in please contact James Poole. 

The ladder will run until 31st March 2025.  We will then review and reconsider the set up and rules for a new ladder for the Summer season.

Please find below the rules for the tennis ladder and the match format.  The ladder is intended to give players the basic structure on which to contact other members and have some fun games.  The rules are intended as a guide - use your own judgement and enjoy your matches.

 

Rules

  1. It is up to the challenger to make contact with their opponent. You may challenge anyone else on the ladder, up to and including 3 places above you.
  2. The initial ranking of the players on the ladder was set up by the administrator.
  3. New players can join the ladder at any point and will be added at the bottom of the ladder.  When you join the ladder, you may challenge any player within the bottom half of the ladder as your first challenge. However, choose carefully whomever you challenge as this is a unique opportunity. If you lose the first match you will then unfortunately remain at the bottom of the ladder. (This only includes players who signed up after the sign up date.)
  4. Each player is expected to play at least one match in every 4 week interval, otherwise HE or SHE will be dropped TWO positions. The leading player however is exempt from this requirement.
  5. A player who is challenged must agree to a match with the challenger no later than two weeks after the challenge has been made unless:
    • The challenged player already has 2 other matches to play
    • The challenged player is unable to play due to injury, holiday etc.
    • The two players cannot mutually agree on a date and time for a match.
    • In the case where a challenger loses a match they must challenge two other players before challenging the same player for a rematch
    • If you would like to challenge a player and do not know them or have their contact details please contact the administrator. 
  6. The challenger is responsible for providing reasonable tennis balls for the match.
  7. It is the responsibility of the winner of the match to report the score to the league administrator via the WTC Ladder WhatsApp group. The administrator is James Poole.
  8. The time of the match should be mutually agreed to both players. Therefore if either party is more than 15 minutes late in attending an agreed match, then the late or non-attender loses the match (unless sufficient reason) Please decide before playing the game what will happen if it rains or the game has to be abandoned for any reason.

 

Positions on the ladder following completion of a match change as follows:

  • If the winner has the higher position , there is no change.
  • If the winner has the lower position, he or she takes over the higher position. The loser and all others below the winner move down one position. The calculation is based on the position of the two players when the match is recorded, not those at the time the challenge is made. It’s not unusual to find the positions of the players have changed during that interval. Please observe good sportsmanship and play your match even if you find your respective positions have changed
  • Ladder positions will be updated and published weekly via the WTC Ladder WhatsApp group.


Matches:

  • Matches will be played as the best of three sets.
  • Prior to the commencement of the game you should agree whether you play a third set (to be won by two clear games) or a championship tie-break (first to 10 points, or two clear points).
  • As previously stated, at the end of a match the score has to be registered by the winner. Failure to do so may result in a mix up of the ladder.