Entry

All entries into this year's Winter Doubles league are on a first come first serve basis. In order for a team to play together, both players must be registered for play and cannot be on the wait list. If one of the players is registered and the partner is on the wait list, the WDL coordinator will contact you for options. 

Schedule

Matches are played on Sunday nights, beginning 11/10/24 and ending 3/23/25, with holiday weekends blacked out. Match times are 6:30pm and 8:30pm and will be randomly assigned. Each pair will play 7 matches, spread across that calendar. You may specify up to 3 dates on which you are not available during registration. We will do our best to honor the requested blackout dates but cannot make guarantees.

Reschedules

• Each pair will be granted one free reschedule of a match after the season's schedule has been posted.
• Reschedule requests must be sent to the WDL coordinators at wdl@metrotennisgroup.com and received by 6pm of the Wednesday prior to your scheduled match.
• If a team is unable to play a rescheduled match during one of the regular WDL Sundays, one match can be played outside of the regular WDL schedule before 3/23/2025. Players are responsible for securing their own courts and covering the court fees. Consensus from both teams is required prior to informing the WDL coordinator of this reschedule request.
• To submit a reschedule request, please follow the process outlined below:
• 1. The team that needs to reschedule a match contacts their opponents to advise that they would like to reschedule their match.
  2. Both teams agree on alternative dates for the reschedule. Up to three dates can be selected. For available dates, go to this page on the GLTA tournament site (Open Courts). Column 1 will indicate dates and times where courts are currently available for rescheduling.
  3. After both teams reach consensus on alternative dates, the team that is requesting the reschedule sends a reschedule request to the WDL coordinator by email, with their opponents on CC. 
  4. The WDL coordinator will reschedule the match and confirm the new date and time via email reply with both teams. The GLTA tournament website will be updated with the new match date and time.
  5. Reschedule requests are handled on a first come first serve basis.
  6. After a match is rescheduled, the same scheduling and default rules will apply for the new date of the match.

Match Format

Each match is 2-of-3 sets, regular ad scoring, with a Super Tiebreak played in lieu of third set. Tiebreaks in the first and second sets are first-to-7 (by 2) and Super Tiebreaks are first-to-10 (by 2). We play traditional format tiebreaks, switching sides after every 6 points, never the Coman format that USTA uses.

Defaults

We are following standard USTA rules, which stipulate that a team is awarded a default if the opposing team is not on court 15 minutes after the designated start time. Please make sure both teams are aware of the default, especially if teams still agree to play an exhibition match in the remaining time. The defaulted team will record a 3-0, 3-0 loss. If an exhibition match is played, the default score will still be recorded as the official result. Remember, it is your responsibility to arrive by the match time, and transportation-related issues are not an acceptable excuse. We urge you to arrive 15 minutes early to avoid any issues. If there are any questions or disputes regarding a default based on a late arrival, please contact one of the coordinators.

Time Limit Rules

We use local USTA rules. Matches (including warm-ups) are timed at two hours. If 5 minutes or more remain before your 2 hours expire and the match is not complete, players must start play and attempt to complete the next game/tiebreak. If less than 5 minutes remain, do not start a new game/tiebreak.

Determining the Winner of an Unfinished Match

(A) In a Super Tiebreak: Every attempt should be made to finish a Super Tiebreak. If it is impossible to complete the Super Tiebreak, the match is a tie with split sets. An incomplete Super Tiebreak does not count at all.

(B) Split sets with no time for 10-point tiebreak: Match counts as tie.

(C) If the 2nd set is unfinished:

(i) If one pair is ahead by one or more breaks of serve in the uncompleted set, that pair gets credit for winning the set. If that pair also won the first set, that pair wins the match; if the pairs have split sets, the match is a tie.

(ii) If the second set is on-serve, no one wins the second set; the pair that won the first set wins the match.

(iii) If either case, pairs get credit for all games won or lost for purposes of breaking ties in the final standings.

Standings Points

Because ties are possible in our time-limited matches, we will use Standings Points instead of simple match win-loss records. The winner of a match receives 2 Standings Points; for a tie, each pair receives 1 Standings Point.

Determining Order of Finish

Our procedures are copied from Friend at Court, Part 3 – USTA Regulations, Section II B.6c (modified for the Standings Points procedure described above).

(A) The pair that wins the most Standings Points in each division is the winner.

(B) If two or more pairs are tied, the League shall use the following steps in the order listed to break ties. The League shall break as many ties as possible using each step before using the next step.

(i) Standings Points won in matches involving just the tied pairs;

(ii) Highest percentage of sets won (including defaults/retirements). Each match-tie-break counts as a set.

(iii) The head-to-head Standings Points in matches involving the pairs who remain tied;

(iv) Highest percentage of games won (including defaults/retirements). Each match-tie-break counts as one game;

(v) The head-to-head Standings Points in matches involving the pairs who remain tied.

Substitutes

One-time substitutes are not allowed in matches that count toward league standings. If a player is forced out of the season due to injury, illness, relocation, etc., his or her partner may seek a seasonal sub for remaining matches. Matches played with a seasonal sub count towards standings. A seasonal sub must be of comparable level to the original partner. There will be no refunds for a player who is unable to complete the season.

Refunds

Refunds requests will be accepted until November 1, 2024. After that date, refunds will only be granted if a full season substitute can be found. After the season starts, refunds will only be considered on a case by case basis.