APPENDIX III

by | Dec 18, 2012 | Tennis Tips | 0 comments

APPENDIX III

Tie-Breaks and No-Ad Scoring

1. Tie-Break Use Mandatory. Use of the 12-point tie-break is mandatory in all sanctioned tournaments in all sets.

2. Twelve-Point Tie-Break

Singles. Player A, having served the first game of the set, serves the first point from the right court; Player B serves points 2 and 3 (left and right); A serves points 4 and 5 (left and right); B serves point 6 (left) and after they change ends, point 7 (right); A serves points 8 and 9 (left and right); B serves points 10 and 11 (left and right); A serves point 12 (left). A player who reaches seven points during these first 12 points wins the game and set. If the score has reached six points all, the players change ends and continue in the same pattern until one player establishes a margin of two points which gives him the game and set. Note that the players change ends every six points and that the player who serves the last point of one of these 6-point segments also serves the first point of the next one (from right court). For a following set the players change ends and B serves the first game.

Doubles. The same pattern as in singles applies, with partners preserving their serving sequence. In a game of A-B versus C-D, with A having served the first game of the set, A serves the first point (right); C serves points 2 and 3 (left and right); B serves points 4 and 5 (left and right); D serves point 6 (left) and after the teams change ends, D serves point 7 (right); A serves points 8 and 9 (left and right); C serves points 10 and 11 (left and right); B serves point 12 (left). A team that wins seven points during these first 12 points wins the game and set. If the score has reached six points all, the teams change ends. B then serves point 13 (right), and they continue until one team establishes a two-point margin and thus wins the game and set. As in singles, they change ends for one game to start a following set, with team C-D to serve first.

3. Experimental 12-point tie-break. The experimental 12-point tie-break is the same as the present 12-point tie-break except that ends are changed after the first point, then after every four points, and at the conclusion of the tie-break game.

4. When experimental 12-point tie-break is authorized. For experimental purposes, a section may authorize any tournament below the National Championship level to use the experimental 12-point tie-break. For experimental purposes, the USTA Sanctions and Schedules Committee may authorize the use of the experimental 12-point tie-break for any other tournament. Any tournament electing to use the experimental 12-point tie-break must announce the election before the start of tournament play.

5. Recording the tie-break score. The score of the tie-break set will be written 7-6(x) or 6-7(x), with (x) being the number of points won by the loser of the tie break. For example, 7-6(4) means the tie-break score was 7-4, and 6-7(14) means the tie-break score was 14-16.

6. Changing ends during the tie-break. Changes of ends during a tie-break game are to be made within the normal time allowed between points.

7. Ball changes. If a ball change is due on a tie-break game, it will be deferred until the start of the second game of the next set. A tie-break game counts as one game in determining ball changes.

8. No-Ad scoring. The No-Ad procedure is simply what the name implies; the first player to win four points wins the game, with the seventh point of a game becoming a game point for each player. The receiver has the choice of advantage court or deuce court to which the service is to be delivered on the seventh point. No-ad scoring is authorized for tournaments at the sectional championship level and below. A tournament electing to use no-ad scoring must announce the election before the start of the tournament play except as set forth in paragraph 9below.

Note: The score-calling may be either in the conventional terms or in simple number, i.e., “zero, one, two, three, game.”

Cautionary Note: Any ITF-authorized tournament should get special authorization from ITF before using No-Ad.

9. Change to No-Ad scoring. The referee can switch to no-ad scoring from regular scoring in any round without prior notice on the entry blank when in the referee’s discretion the change is necessary to complete the tournament after inclement weather or other factors cause the tournament to fall behind its published schedule.