Competition rules 2026

Age groups

The age is counted at the start of the first match of the tournament week, and the birth year must also be within the limit.

• U10: not yet 10 years old, born 2016 or later (singles only).
• U12: born 2014 or later.
• U14: born 2012 or later.
• U16: born 2010 or later.
• U18: born 2008 or later.
• Men and women (Open): from 14 years old.
• Boys and girls play separately. Cheating on age cancels all results in that tournament.

Entering and withdrawing

• Every player needs a Tournament Planner account with the ETF membership number, renewed each year.
• Register and withdraw only on the federation website, before the published deadlines.
• A player cannot play two tournaments in the same week. Doing so means removal from that week and suspension points.
• Singles: up to two age groups in the same tournament week, one junior and one Open. Doubles: only one per week.
• Late withdrawal is allowed until the Sunday evening before the Tuesday draw (the freeze deadline). After 3 late withdrawals in a year, suspension points apply.

Draws

• Minimum 8 players for singles and 6 teams for doubles; below that the event is cancelled.
• Doubles are always 16-team knockouts.
• U14, U16, U18 and Open: main draw of 32 with a qualifying draw of 32. The main draw is 24 direct entries, 4 qualifiers and 4 wild cards.
• U12 is played in round-robin groups of up to 4 players. The 8 group winners go to an 8-player knockout.
• Direct acceptance follows the latest ETF ranking before the registration deadline. Ties are broken by an automatic draw.
• Wild cards: none for U12 and below. Alternates fill places from the waiting list; a lucky loser fills a vacancy in the main draw.

Match formats

All matches are best of 2 sets plus a decider. In Tennis Star, advantage scoring is off (no-ad) unless you choose otherwise.

• U16, U18 and Open, main draw: 2 sets of 6 games with a 7-point tiebreak at 6-6; at 1-1 a full deciding set.
• U16, U18 and Open, qualifying: 2 no-ad sets of 6 games; at 1-1 a 10-point super tiebreak.
• U14: 2 sets of 6 games (no-ad in qualifying); at 1-1 a 10-point super tiebreak.
• U12: 2 short sets of 4 games (no-ad in qualifying); at 1-1 a 10-point super tiebreak.
• Doubles: U16 and above, 2 no-ad sets of 6 and a 10-point super tiebreak; U14, 2 short no-ad sets of 4 and a 10-point super tiebreak; U12 uses tiebreaks to 10 points with a deciding point.
• U12, U14 and, in some events, U16 and U18 play with the no-let rule. It does not change the score.

Ranking and points

• Your ranking is the sum of your best 9 singles results and your best 9 doubles results over the last 52 weeks.
• A player earns points only after winning a played match. A walkover or a bye earns nothing for that round.
• Points expire 52 weeks after the tournament date.
• A player's ranking also counts points from higher age groups.
• Combined points = singles points + 25% of doubles points. For example 100 singles and 100 doubles make 125.
• U12 groups: a player who misses a group match has all results in that group erased.

Tournament grades

Grades from highest to lowest are A+ (national championships), A, G1, G2 and G3. The grade decides the points table, the prize money and the fees.

Conduct

Breaking the rules can bring warnings, penalties and suspension points. Unpaid fees mean suspension points. Players are bound by the regulations they accept when they register.

Singles points

Points are only earned by winning a played match. A bye or walkover win earns no points for that round. Points expire after 52 weeks.

Doubles points per player are shown in the calculator and results. Doubles count 25% toward combined points. (25%, 5 age groups)