The International Tennis Federation (ITF) oversees a circuit of junior tournaments which take place in over 118 countries each year. These events are a series of 18 & under junior events. Players are not eligible to participate in any ITF Junior Tournament until they have reached their thirteenth (13) birthday. ITF events use Year of birth eligibility as opposed to month of birth eligibility. Therefore a player turning 19 in December would be unable to play any ITF the year he/she is turning 19.

Prior to entering, all players must register for an International Player Identification Number (IPIN) membership. This alpha numeric identification number is a prerequisite to entering an ITF junior event anywhere in the world.

Tournaments on the ITF Junior Circuit are graded according to the strength of entry, with the most ranking points being awarded for the eight major championships (Group A), which include the four Grand Slam events.

Depending on the level of the event, Player are accepted based on the following: 

1. ITF Junior World Ranking,
2. Professional world ranking (ATP/WTA) and/or,
3. USTA Top 200 National Ranking

Players will need an ITF Junior World Ranking to enter Group A, 1, 2, and 3 events, but even entry into Group 4 and 5 events is likely to be based on players' ITF rankings.

Tournaments are divided into the following grades:

• Group A (Super Series, including four Grand Slams)
• Group B (Regional Championships)
• Group C (International Team Competitions)
• (Groups 1-5) Level 1 events are the strongest and level 5 are the weakest events in this group

Players are selected into the Qualifying draw based on the official order of acceptance as written in the current ITF Junior Circuit Regulations. Currently the system of merit is as follows*:

1. ITF Junior Ranking
2. ATP Ranking of 550 or better-Main Draw Acceptance
3. ATP Ranking of 750 to 551-Qualifying Acceptance
4. USTA "Top 200 List Ranking" –as on record with the ITF
5. No rank-Ordered Randomly (Not by USTA National Ranking)

1. ITF Junior Ranking
2. WTA Ranking of 350 or better-Main Draw Acceptance
3. WTA Ranking of 500-351-Qualifying Acceptance
4. USTA "Top 200 List Ranking" –as on record with the ITF
5. No rank-Ordered Randomly (Not by USTA National Ranking)

In 2004 the ITF introduced the Combined Junior Ranking (CJR), replacing the Singles and Doubles Ranking. Currently, the CJR is the sole junior ranking published by the ITF and aims to encourage the doubles game at junior level and subsequently at professional level.

• Qualifiers losing in the first round of the main draw of a Grand Slam will receive 25 ranking points
• Players losing in the final round of qualifying of a Grand Slam will receive 20 ranking points

Still searching for answers? For additional information, feel free to consult the ITF Junior Competition homepage.