Winter Doubles 2026-2027: Rules and Regulations
Entry
Entries are processed on a first come, first served basis. All players must have active one-year MTG membership as of December 31, 2026. Failure to meet this requirement will result in removal from the league, with a full refund issued. 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 11/8/26 and ending 3/28/27, 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.
- MTG no longer offers a free reschedule. Instead, each pair may move one match per season to a self-arranged date, time, and court outside the regular WDL schedule — or use an MTG Post-Season Make-Up court instead (see below).
- It is the responsibility of the pair requesting the move to contact their opponents and arrange a mutually available time with all four players.
- The original court, date, and time remain assigned to the two originally scheduled teams and will not be reassigned. If the assigned court time cannot be used for league match play, the originally scheduled players are welcome to use the court for non-league play. If a player that is not originally scheduled for WDL play is invited, the WDL coordinator must be notified no later than 12pm on the day of the match with the invited player's name and email address, as MTG is required to submit the player roster for each match day. Failure to do so may result in the player not permitted entry to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
- If the two pairs cannot agree on a self-arranged date to hold a rescheduled match, the match will be recorded as a default loss for the requesting team. Provided all four players made a good-faith effort to resolve the match, this will not count against future league eligibility under the no-show policy. The final decision will be made by the WDL Coordinator.
Process
- Contact Opponents: The pair requesting the move contacts their opponents via the Member Directory to find a mutually available date, time, and court.
- Agree on an Alternative: Once all four players agree on a new date, time, and court, standard reschedule rules apply to that match going forward (scoring, defaults, standings, etc.). The rescheduled match must be completed by 4/25/27.
- Notify the Coordinator: By 6pm on the Thursday before your originally scheduled match, notify the WDL Coordinator via the WDL Reschedule Request Form.
- Missed Notification Deadline: If the coordinator is not notified by 6pm Thursday before your original match, the match will be recorded as a 3-0, 3-0 loss for the team that needed the reschedule.
Post-Season Make-Up Courts (New for 2026–2027)
-
- As an alternative to arranging your own court, MTG will offer a limited number of courts on Sunday evenings from 4/4/27 to 4/25/27 for teams needing to play a make-up match.
- These courts are first come, first served and will be published on the GLTA website.
- To use one, your pair must purchase the court directly from MTG.
- Courts will be offered at face value.
- To claim a court, submit your request at least 5 days before your desired match date. Once the WDL Coordinator confirms availability, you must complete payment within 48 hours of that confirmation — courts not paid for within this window will be released to the next team in the queue.
- No refunds will be issued once a court purchase is confirmed.
- All make-up matches, whether self-arranged or played on an MTG Post-Season Make-Up court, must be completed by 4/25/27.
- Court Availability: Reschedule requests and confirmation of Post-Season Make-Up courts are handled on a first come first serve basis, based on your submission of the completed reschedule request via the WDL Reschedule Request Form.
- Post-Reschedule: All standard scheduling and default rules will apply to the new match date.
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.
Submitting Scores
The winner of each match submits the score via the WDL Score Submission Form.
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.
No Shows
If you know in advance that you or your partner will not be able to play a scheduled match, and you aren't using the reschedule process to move it, please notify your partner, your opponents, and the WDL coordinator as soon become aware. The match will still be recorded as the standard 3-0, 3-0 default loss for your team, but advance notice lets your opponents plan their evening and lets the court be used or offered to another player instead of going unused.
No-shows with no communication to the WDL coordinator are treated differently, and may affect a player's eligibility for future WDL seasons. Additionally, MTG's no-show policy will apply.
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.
The recommended warm-up time is 10-15 minutes to avoid running out of time.
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.
Withdrawals and Refunds
Refunds requests will be accepted until October 15, 2026. After that date, refunds will only be granted if a full season substitute can be found without a change to the published schedule. After the season starts, refunds will only be considered on a case by case basis.