FRIEND AT COURT 2010 - USTA.com

3. Short Sets. A tournament electing to use “short” sets must announce the
election on the entry form. See Appendix IV of the ITF Rules of Tennis.
4. Pro Sets. A match may consist of a pro set. Unless otherwise specified,
a pro set is one set in which a player or team must win eight games by a
margin of two games to win the match. If the score reaches 8-all, a
7-Point Tiebreak (first to 7 by a margin of 2) is played, with the winner
of the tiebreak winning the match by a score of 9-8(x) where x is the
number of points won by the player or team who lost. The Tournament
Committee may instead use a 10-Point Tiebreak (first to 10 by a margin
of 2) to decide the winner of a pro set if the Committee includes this
information on the entry form and website. Any tournament electing to
use the pro set shall announce its use on the entry form and website. If
a pro set other than the 8-game pro set is used, the Tournament
Committee shall specify the format on the entry form and website.
5. QuickStart Tennis formats. See USTA Regulation VI.
FAC Comment I.E-1: Service order. The player or team whose turn it was to
serve first if a full set were played starts serving a 10-Point Match Tiebreak
that is played in lieu of a deciding final set. Each doubles team decides who
serves first for its team.
FAC Comment I.E-2: Receiving positions. A doubles team may change receiving
positions at the start of a 10-Point Match Tiebreak.
FAC Comment I.E-3: Change of ends. Players change ends at the start of a 10-Point
Match Tiebreak only if an odd-game changeover is due. During the 10-Point Match
Tiebreak, players change ends after every six points.
FAC Comment I.E-4: Mistakes. See USTA Comments 27.2-8. for how to handle
mistakes during tiebreaks.
F. Balls and Ball Change Pattern
1. The type of ball. At the Sectional Championship level and above, the type of ball
shall be consistent throughout a tournament event unless the playing surface
or conditions are changed. For example, both heavy duty felt balls and regular
felt balls normally shall not be used in the same tournament event. Compliance
is recommended for tournaments below the Sectional Championship level.
2. Approved balls. In all USTA tournaments and leagues, the ball used must be
on the list of balls approved by the USTA or must be otherwise authorized
by the USTA. The USTA shall rule on whether any ball or prototype complies
with the specifications adopted by the ITF pursuant to the ITF Rules of
Tennis or is otherwise authorized for play. Rulings may be taken on the
USTA’s own initiative or upon application by any party with a bona-fide
interest, including any player, equipment manufacturer, ITF, Sectional
Association, District Association, or Organization Member. Rulings shall be
made in accordance with the then current testing procedures adopted by the
USTA. A list of balls approved by the USTA shall be published.
FAC Comment I.F-1: A current list of the USTA approved balls is available at
www.usta.com.
USTA REGULATIONS I.F. (Balls and Ball Change Pattern) 59