General rules of participation in National Ranking Tournament Circuits (Starting from January 2010):


Eligibility

• All players have to be TE members (membership application & fee submitted), prior to participation in any TE sanctioned event
• All outstanding fees like TE membership fees, walkover penalties and unpaid entry fees must be paid in full, prior to participation in the next tournament.

Criteria

• Players need to play in their own age group first before moving into a higher age category for the next tournament
• Players can request to play in a second age category if they are top 4 in their own age group. However, a player can play an age group up within the circuit but not across circuits. Example: moving up from Under 12 to Under 14 is permitted, but not Under 14 to Under 16.
• Players can only play up one age category unless special exempt is granted by the Tournament Committee.
• Only players who are most likely to play a majority of its matches in a higher age category due to their level of play are to be considered to play in two age categories, if they request to do so and special exempt granted.
• Draw size and court availability are also to be considered as limited court availability might not allow for the top players to play two age categories as this might cause scheduling conflicts

Draw Size

• Should an age category not have the minimum number of participants (8 players for singles; 4 teams for doubles), the tournament committee might decide to combine age groups

Walkovers

Definition of non-medically supported walkover - any player who does not start a scheduled match through:

• No Show
• Default due to late show

Definition of medically supported walkover - any walkover given by player due to sickness or injury confirmed by doctor’s certificate

• Tournament entry withdrawal, received in writing by TE, prior to the tournament entry dateline, is permitted. Thereafter, any withdrawal will not be considered.
• Non-medically supported walkovers will be charged as follows:
• 1st walkover - AED 100.00 per player
• 2nd walkover - AED 200.00 per player
• 3rd walkover - AED 300.00 and ban on the next tournament that the player wants to participate in
• Medical supported walkovers i.e. doctor’s certificate has to be submitted within 2 days of scheduled match in order to qualify for medically supported walkover
• Players who commits 3 non-medical supported walkovers within a 12 month period will be expelled from participation in any TE sanctioned event for the rest of the season
• Tennis Emirates reserves the right to deduct ranking points for non-medical supported walkovers

Ranking

• Players should play singles and doubles as both are considered for the ranking
• Players will be able to be ranked in two age categories as long as they have played at least one match in each age category
• Players whose ITF Junior ranking is 700 and better will supersede the UAE national ranking
• In an event that UAE national player(s) are on international duties and missed the UAE circuit tournament(s) they will receive “national duty points”. Based on the average ranking points accumulated for the season, they will receive the “national duty points” for each UAE tournament that they missed due to national duties

Disclaimer

• All decisions are final with Tennis Emirates
• Rules and regulations are subject to change

Feedback

• Any feedback should be directed in writing to: Joint Management Committee of TE

Updated: 26 May 2010