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VIII. GENERAL RANKING REGULATIONS
A. Definition of Ranking Period
Ranking data for all divisions shall be obtained from all designated tournaments
(see USTA Regulation VIII.D.1.), and the ranking period for all players shall be
January 1 through December 31 unless the applicable National, Sectional, or
District regulations provide for a different ranking period.
B. USTA Membership Required
Only persons enrolled with the USTA as an Adult, Junior, Family, Life, or Honorary
member and in good standing on the last day of the ranking period shall be
considered for a ranking.
C. Ranking Systems
1. Head-to-Head Ranking System. The Head-to-Head Ranking System is a
method of ranking players or teams that is based on wins, losses, and
exposure. In this ranking system a strong win record is essential for a high
ranking, and significant wins are required for any ranking. A strong record
is generally preferred over a long record. Exposure is important and should
be measured by the number of good quality opponents that a player plays,
rather than solely by the number of tournaments played. Comparative
scores may be considered only when records are otherwise equal. Under
this system, defaults, withdrawals, walkovers, and retirements are treated
as follows:
a. Defaults before first service, walkovers, and withdrawals. The
following are not considered for ranking purposes:
• A default that occurs before the first service of a match;
• Withdrawals; and
• Walkovers.
b. Defaults during a match. All completed matches and all matches in
which a player is defaulted during the course of the match are
considered for ranking purposes. Any default is a loss for the player
defaulted and a win for the player who advances.
c. Retirements. A retirement is a loss for the player retiring and a win
for the player advancing.
2. Points Per Round Ranking System. The Points Per Round Ranking System
is a method of ranking players or teams that is based on earning ranking
points for the round that a player or team reached and, in some cases, wins
over highly ranked players or teams.
3. Sectional Association Ranking Systems. Sectional Associations shall
determine which of the two ranking systems, the Head-to-Head Ranking
System or the Points Per Round Ranking System, is used to rank players
or teams at the Sectional level and shall publish its ranking system. A
Sectional Association may also allow its District Associations or
subdivisions to make this decision. In this case, the District Association or
subdivision shall publish its ranking system.
D. Results Considered for Rankings
1. Sectional and District tournaments. All matches from any tournament that
has been sanctioned by the applicable Sectional or District Association shall
be considered for ranking in that Sectional or District Association unless
prohibited by the applicable Sectional or District ranking regulations or USTA
164 USTA REGULATIONS VIII.A. (Definition of Ranking Period)