FAQ

USTA NEW ENGLAND SECTION

Frequently Asked Questions
Adult/Senior Tournaments (Including rankings/standings)

ONLINE SYSTEM AND TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION

What if I have questions about online registration or a problem with the TennisLink system?

ERROR IN TOURNAMENT RECORD OR RANKING/STANDING LIST

How can I correct a tournament record or point out an error in a ranking list?

Tournament results are entered and posted by the tournament director. Please contact the tournament director if there is an error in a tournament result. The tournament director will need to know the date of the tournament, the division in which you played, and the details of the discrepancy (name of opponent, scores, etc.).

If a tournament result is not showing up, or if tournament or player eligibility information appears to be incorrect, please review the List Notes (in red) at the top left of any USTA New England ranking or standing list for further information.

RANKINGS AND STANDINGS

What’s the difference between a Ranking and a Standing?

Rankings are end-of-year lists that rank a player’s performance in a specific division for a calendar year. Tentative Ranking lists for adult divisions are published at the end of each calendar year, and Final Ranking lists for the previous year are published in January or February.

Standings refer to a player’s current position within his or her division based on tournaments that have been played over the past 52 weeks. Standings can and do fluctuate throughout the year depending on players’ match results. For example, if a "good" tournament is no longer included in a player’s record because it was played more than 52 weeks ago, the player’s placement on the standing list may drop. Standing lists are used to seed tournaments.

When am I eligible for a Standing?

A player must have played two singles matches and have a match win to be listed as an "Eligible Player" on a singles standings list. A doubles team must have played one doubles match and have a match win to be listed as an "Eligible Player" on a doubles standings list.

Note that some players who are eligible on a late-in-the-year Standings list have not played enough tournaments to be eligible on an end-of-year Ranking list, as the eligibility criteria are different.

When am I eligible for an end-of-year Ranking?

Typically a player or doubles team must play two to five tournaments in a specific division and have a match win to be eligible for a ranking. Many divisions also have requirements for play at Sectional and Designated tournaments, and some divisions also have requirements to play in two or more states. See the Chart for details. Players meeting the ranking criteria are listed as "Eligible Players," and other players are listed as "Ineligible Players."

When are new standings and rankings posted on the Web site?

Why does a correct result show on the tournament home page but is not reflected in a standings list?

The Draws and Results posted on the tournament home page reflect up-to-date information that has been posted by the tournament director.

A standing list (or ranking list) includes tournament information that is available at the time the list is calculated. Tournament results that have been posted or corrected since the list was calculated will show correctly in the next standings.

USTA STAR RANKING SYSTEM

USTA New England uses the STAR computer ranking system to calculate adult standings and ranking lists. STAR (System for Tournament Administration and Ranking) has been used by the USTA since the 1970’s to rank players, and is considered an objective tool that eliminates the subjectivity of a ranking committee.

How does the computer rank players?

STAR is a mathematical algorithm that measures a player’s performance based on the performance of their opponents. STAR differs from a "points system" (such as the one used by the ATP and by USTA New England for junior players), which focuses on the tournament and the round in which a match was played. STAR calculations are based only upon WHO you have played in a specific division of play, and not where or in what round you met the opponent.

Ranking lists are simply orderings of rank values, so remember that differences between ranking spots are not uniform. The rank values of the players ranked #4 and #5 could be 399 and 398, respectively, or they could be 399 and 200, respectively. The rank values of #1 and #10 can differ by as little as 10 points, or 100 points. In certain situations, "big wins" or "big losses" may have little impact due to the small difference in the players’ rank values.

Are close wins or losses considered?

"Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing." In this case Vince Lombardi is correct - STAR considers only wins and losses, and makes no adjustment for the score. So losing (or winning) 7-6, 7-6 is the same as losing (or winning) 6-0, 6-0.

How important is winning the tournament?

To be highly ranked it is important to meet and beat other highly ranked players. The further you get in a tournament, the better your chances are of meeting a highly ranked opponent.

STAR calculates rank values based on the performances of your opponents. Every player has a rank value, which correlates directly with where they are ranked. Someone’s rank value is also a reflection of his or her "worth." So if you defeat someone, his or her rank value is used to calculate the "win value," which is then factored into your own rank value. Beating one highly ranked player will likely boost your ranking more than beating several lower ranked players.

Why is someone with fewer wins, or has played in far fewer events, ranked ahead of me?

"How is it possible that a player with a 7-3 record is ranked ahead of me with a 19-2 record?"

How did my standing change if I haven’t played?

Standings can change even though you and opponents just above or below you in the standings haven’t participated in an event. For example, your standing in October may change in November even if you don’t play because your (and everyone else’s) results from the previous October stop getting calculated. For adults, players may fulfill a tournament requirement and thus become eligible for rankings. For example if a Mens 4.5 player who’s played in three (3) tournaments wins another one over the weekend, it stands to reason that he will appear in the rankings for the first time, and possibly bump other players down at least one spot. Remember that everything is relative. Players above you may suffer significant losses or players below you could achieve significant wins. Or, if a low-ranked player you defeated earlier has played very well since, his/her performance is to your benefit. Your win may become "significant" and boost your own ranking. Or your "good win" may have been more than 52 weeks ago and is no longer included in the calculation.

If I beat someone who is ranked higher than me, will I move ahead of that person?

It depends on who else the two of you have played and how far apart your rank values are. If you’re ranked #30 and you beat someone ranked #2, your rank values are probably too far apart for the win to leapfrog you over that player. A more possible scenario is that you would move up significantly (though probably not ahead of him or her) and the player you defeated would move down slightly. Remember that every situation is unique and individually calculated.

If you’re ranked #3 and you defeat a player ranked #2, ALL other things being equal (neither of you will have results dropped when the new month comes around, you’ve both played in more or less the same number of events, your other opponents aren’t playing events that would change their rankings, you haven’t lost to a much lower ranked opponent, etc.…) – STAR will objectively evaluate your relative strengths and may move you ahead of him or her in the standings.

Are some tournaments more important in a STAR ranking calculation?

For adults, the Sectional Championships and Designated non-Sectional Championship events are weighted higher than other tournaments. Highly ranked players play Sectional and Designated tournaments, and you should also! See a related question below.

How do I move up in the standings?

The best way to improve your ranking is to consistently beat players ranked ahead of you and not lose to players ranked below you.

GENERAL TOURNAMENT QUESTIONS

What are Sectional and Designated tournaments?

The Sectional Championship (one per Division) counts as two tournaments for eligibility, and is weighted 1.7 in the STAR ranking calculations. There is one Sectional per Division of play.

A Designated event counts as one tournament for eligibility, and is weighted 1.3 for ranking. The number of Designated events per Division of play varies (many Divisions do not have Designated events). Beginning in 2008, for players who play National tournaments and are Nationally ranked, some Designated events are also coded as "national sectionals" for National points.

"Regular" events count as one tournament for eligibility, and are weighted 1.0 for ranking.

Tournament directors seed players using guidance from USTA New England. Tournaments are seeded primarily on a player’s placement on the most recent Standings list in the division of play. In addition, Seeding Chairs are consulted for many divisions of play. Seeding Chair may consider additional information such as results from other divisions, a player’s recent activity, injuries, and other relevant information.

Who makes the draws for the tournaments?

Tournament directors make random draws using USTA’s tournament software, TDM. Tournament results are also posted to TennisLink by the tournament director with this software.

Can I request to be separated from an opponent before the draw is made?

Please contact the tournament director with your request as soon as you learn of the potential conflict. Please note that a tournament director may make the draw at any time after the close of registration, and once the draw is made your request cannot be honored.

When can I begin to play in an age division?

Adults must be at or older than the age level of the event, or turn that age within the calendar year. See Section I.A.2.b of the regulations.