The Group Stage ends at close of play on 15th September.
The Organiser is Lawrence Hopkins (lawrence.hopkins@talk21.com).
The Referee is Paul Bonnington.
Rules
- During the Group Stage, players are to arrange their own matches against everyone else in their Group at a mutually convenient time and date.
- If a player offers dates for a match and the opponent doesn't accept or offer alternative dates within 7 days, the player who made the original offer will be awarded a walk-over. The player claiming the walk-over must send e-mail evidence of the offer being made to the Organiser, who will check first for mitigating circumstances, such as the opponent being on holiday etc.
- If players are unable to find a date they can both make to play their match, they must inform the Organiser and the match will be recorded as a draw (1 point each). NB, if the Organiser is not notified, both players risk being eliminated at the end of the group stage for not playing all their matches.
- If a player (the Canceller) cancels a previously arranged match, their opponent must within a week offer the Canceller three alternative dates, avoiding dates of other matches already arranged by the Canceller. The Canceller must accept one of the three offered dates within a week of receiving them. If the opponent fails to offer three alternative dates then the Canceller will be given a walkover. If the Canceller fails to accept any of the three alternative dates then the opponent will be given a walkover.
- If a player arrives late, the opponent may claim one set 6–0 for each complete half an hour that the player arrives after the scheduled match time. If a player should arrive more than one hour late then the opponent may claim a walk-over.
- Matches are self-umpired and should be conducted in the spirit of fair play.
- The Club will provide new balls for all Tournament matches. These are available in the Club Shed. Alternatively, players may use their own balls if both players agree.
- Matches are the best of 3 tie-break sets. This means that the first player to win two sets is the winner of the match. If the scores reach 6-6 in any set, a tie-break must be played (see tie-break rules below).
- Players will score 1 point per set won. The overall winner of the Group stage will be the player with the most points. In the event of a tie, the Game % will be used.
- If BOTH players agree, the 3rd set may be replaced with a Championship tie-break (ie a tie-break played to 10 points). If either player does not agree, then a 3rd set must be played.
- If a match needs to be halted partway through due to rain etc, players should agree a new date to finish the match, resuming the match from the score when play had to stop.
- The winner must notify the Organiser of the result, including set scores, within 24 hours of the match being completed.
- If a player does not play all their matches, they will be removed from the competition, and the results of all the matches they played will be voided. This is to make it fair for the players who did not have an opportunity to play against this player. Players with the highest number of unplayed matches will be removed first, then the next highest and the process repeated until all remaining players have played the same number of matches. If there is more than one player with the same number of unplayed matches in a Group, the player lowest in the Group will be eliminated first.
- If a finalist is not available to play on Finals Day they will forfeit their place. Their place will be given to the next highest ranking player in the finalist's Group that is available to play on Finals Day.
- The "highest loser" is defined as the player with the highest Game % that has not qualified outright for the finals.
- In the event of a dispute, the Referee's decision will be final.
Tie-break Rules
In the Club tournaments, when a set reaches six games all, a tie break is played. A tie break would conclude each level six all set, not just a final set. The player whose turn it would be to serve in the next game starts the tiebreak. He or she serves normally to the deuce court (the left hand court as the server perceives it).
The opponent serves the next TWO points, starting with a serve to the ad (right-hand court). It feels a bit odd until you have played a number of tie breaks.
Points are numbered 1, 2, 3 etc, rather than 15, 30, 40 Deuce.
From the second point, each player has two serves. The tiebreak is over when one player reaches seven points, provided he or she is two clear points ahead of his or her opponent. From 6-6 in a tiebreak a player must have a two point advantage to win the tiebreak. A typical tiebreak score would be 7-5, or 8-6, or 9-7.
Where a tie-break is being played instead of a 3rd set, the set is won when a player reaches 10 points and is two points clear of his or her opponent e.g. 10-7, 11-9, 14-12 etc).
After 6 points have been played, players change ends, e.g. at 4-2 or 6-6. The players also change ends at the end of the tiebreak to begin the next set.
The player who served first in the tiebreak, RECEIVES at the beginning of the next set (assuming there is one!).
In doubles, service alternates between the teams - the same player serves for both points. His or her partner serves for both of the team's next service points.
Organisation
Men's Singles
Group Stage:
14 players
1 group of 4 and 2 groups of 5 – players play 3 or 4 matches
Finals Stage:
Semi-finals: Winner of Group A v Highest Loser; Winner of Group B v Winner of Group C.
Final: the winners of the two semi-finals
Men's Doubles
Group Stage:
13 teams
1 group of 6 and 1 group of 7 – players play 5 or 6 matches
Finals Stage:
Semi-finals: Winner of Group A v 2nd in Group B; Winner of Group B v 2nd in Group A.
Final: the winners of the two semi-finals
Ladies' Singles
Group Stage:
4 players
1 group of 4 – everyone plays 3 matches
Finals Stage:
Final: Top 2 in the group play a Final (no semi-finals to be played)
Ladies' Doubles
Group Stage:
9 teams
1 group of 4 and 1 group of 5 - teams play 3 or 4 matches
Finals Stage:
Semi-finals: Winner of Group A v 2nd in Group B; Winner of Group B v 2nd in Group A.
Final: the winners of the two semi-finals
Mixed Doubles
Group Stage:
14 teams
1 group of 4 and 2 groups of 5 – teams play 3 or 4 matches
Semi-finals: Winner of Group A v Highest Loser; Winner of Group B v Winner of Group C.
Final: the winners of the two semi-finals