U.S. Tennis Leagues

• Junior League
• Adult and Senior League
• Wheelchair League

Year-round, the USTA runs all levels of tournaments, from amateur (USTA Junior National Championships and USTA Adult & Senior National Championships) through professional, including: U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships – one of the oldest continuing events the USTA owns, dating back to 1910; currently held at Westside Tennis Club in Houston, Texas. U.S. Women’s Hard Court Championships – more commonly known as Pilot Pen Tennis; one of the oldest women’s-only events in the country, dating back to 1948; currently held in New Haven, Conn. USTA Professional Circuits – the world’s premier developmental circuit for aspiring professional tennis players. It allows players to gain the experience and ranking points needed to participate on the major pro tours and in Grand Slam tournaments. There are three levels of tournaments: Satellites -- the introductory level of professional tennis, offering $10,000 to $12,500 in prize money per event. Futures – one rung above Satellites as introductory professional tennis events, offering $15,000 in prize money per event. Challengers – intermediate to advanced-intermediate events that often feature players from the major pro tours and offer $25,000 to $75,000 in prize money.

Tournament Entry Information

USTA Regulations require that all tournaments provide information to players about the event no later than the date entries open.  This list may be on a paper entry form, posted on the TennisLink Tournament Home Page, and/or posted on a separate website managed by the tournament.  It is important that all players read this information prior to entering.

To assist players in preparing for tournaments, two additions to the list of information that is required to be provided have been added, effective January 1, 2005:  information on a dress code, if any, and information on the time and place of a player meeting, if any.

The following is a full list of the information that is required to be provided.  Be sure to contact the tournament if you have any questions prior to entering.

• the specific events and the eligibility requirements;
• any limit on the size of the draws;
• the locations and dates of play (including rain dates, if any);
• the sanctioning bodies;
• the entry fee;
• the draw format and whether any consolation is mandatory;
• the time and place of the draw;
• the match format;
• a statement that the tournament will use the Match Tiebreak, if this is the case, and whether the form used will be the 7-point or 10-point version;
• the entry deadline (the date by which entries must be received by the Tournament Committee);
• the mailing or electronic address where the entry form should be sent;
• the specific dress code, if any;
• the time and place of any player meeting and how to notify the tournament if a player is unable to attend;
• the ball type (brand name not required) that will be used;
• the number of balls for play and the ball change policy; and
• the type of court surface.

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USA Tennis Wheelchair

Wheelchair tennis is one of the fastest growing and most challenging of all wheelchair sports. To meet this demand, USA Tennis offers programs geared towards the wheelchair player.

Rules are the same as stand-up tennis, except the wheelchair player is allowed two bounces of the ball. Wheelchair tennis provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to share in activities with their peers and family, whether able-bodied or disabled. Playing wheelchair tennis adds to socialization and the normalization of life after sustaining a disabling injury. Proficient wheelchair users can play and actively compete against stand-up players.

A wheelchair tennis player must have a medically diagnosed, mobility-related disability, with a substantial or total loss of function in one or more extremeties. In wheelchair tennis, the player must master the game and the wheelchair. Learning mobility on the court is exciting and challenging, and helps build strength and cardiovascular ability.

USTA Junior Competition - USTA Regulations

The USTA has published all of its Rules and Regulations on its website. By clicking Go to USTA Regulations, you will be taken to the area of the USTA website that will allow you to view these regulations.

Note that the USTA Regulations may have been amended and you will need to review the entire section of the website to ensure that you are reading the most current regulation.

While the regulations in their entirety govern the game of tennis in the United States, there are several areas of the USTA Regulations that deal with topics consistently of concern to junior players. Juniors, their coaches and their families should become especially familiar with these regulations:

USTA Regulation I - Tournament Regulations
N. Standards of Conduct
O. Player Responsibilities under The Code
P. Point Penalty System

USTA Regulation III. - National Championships and National Tournament Regulations
A. Junior National Tournament Regulations

USTA Regulation X – National Ranking Regulations
A. Junior National Rankings
D. Citizens and Certain Foreign Nationals Are Eligible for Ranking
F. Ranking Committees
G. Publishing of Rankings, Protests, and Appeals

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Friend at Court
The USTA Regulations are published in book form in "Friend at Court", and it is highly recommended that each junior tennis family have a copy of this publication as a reference. The book is published once yearly, although the regulations may be amended at the USTA’s Annual Meeting in March of each year and at its Semi-Annual Meeting in September of each year. You can purchase the easy-to-carry USTA's "Friend of Court" by calling toll free, 1-888-832-8291, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST. The cost is $5.00 plus shipping. USTA members receive a 10% discount.

USTA National Junior Tournament Schedule
The USTA National Junior Tournament Schedule lists all junior tournaments on the national schedule including all USTA National Championships and other national-caliber events. The publication also provides an abbreviated summary of some of the regulations that affect junior players. Click here to request by e-mail that a copy of the USTA National Junior Tournament Schedule be sent to you. Please provide your name, address, and telephone number in your e-mail request. Alternatively, you can click here to download a copy of the National Junior Tournament Schedule.

USTA Yearbook
The USTA’s Yearbook is published annually and contains every important USTA statistic for the year, including sectional and national rankings, title holders and special award winners. It also includes a directory of all USTA Staff, and National Committee Volunteers as well as a copy of the USTA Bylaws. You can purchase the USTA Yearbook by calling toll free, 1-888-832-8291, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST.

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Adults and Seniors

The USTA Adult/Senior Competition Committee is a volunteer committee which sets policy and performs various aspects of the Committee's day-to-day operations in collaboration with professional USTA staff.

National Adult/Senior Rankings
The USTA ranks players in five year age increments from 30 through 90 for men and women, singles and doubles. Any player who meets the ranking requirement described below shall be listed on the Adult/Senior web site and shall receive a USTA ranking certificate for the divisions(s) in which the player is ranked.

2007 National Schedule

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