About NTRP: National Championships
The NTRP National Championships for 2024 will have singles and doubles events for three age divisions: 18+, 40+ and 55+ and a mixed doubles event for the 18+ division. See below for selection criteria. Please contact your section at the contact listed below for more information.
Divisions & Locations
18+ Men’s/Women’s Singles (2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0)
Dates: April 5-7
Location: Barnes Tennis Center, San Diego
Surface: Hard
40+ Men’s/Women’s Singles (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5)
Dates: April 5-7
Location: Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex, Surprise, Ariz.
Surface: Hard
55+ Men’s/Women’s Singles (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5)
Dates: April 5-7
Location: USTA National Campus, Orlando, Fla.
Surface: Clay
18+ Men’s/Women’s Doubles (2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0)
Dates: April 19-21
Location: Barnes Tennis Center, San Diego
Surface: Hard
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40+ Men/Women’s Doubles (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5)
Dates: April 19-21
Location: Pelham Racquet Club, Pelham, Ala.
Surface: Clay
55+ Men’s/Women’s Doubles (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5)
Dates: April 19-21
Location: Cooper Creek Tennis Center, Columbus, Ga.
Surface: Clay
18+ Mixed Doubles (2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0)
Dates: April 26-28
Location: Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex, Surprise, Ariz.
Surface: Hard
Format of Play
Draw format: Round-robin with playoffs per division.
- Each division will consist of round-robin draws that will play into single-elimination draws. Where the player finishes in the initial round-robin will determine which subsequent single-elimination draw the player feeds into. All players regardless of their Round Robin finishing position will feed into a Single Elimination playoff draw.
- All 1st place Round Robin group finishers will play each other in a Single Elimination draw (the winner of this Single Elimination draw will be the National Champion)
- All 2nd place Round Robin group finishers will play each other in a Single Elimination draw
- All 3rd place Round Robin group finishers will play each other in a Single Elimination draw
- All 4th place Round Robin group finishers will play each other in a Single Elimination draw
- If there are not enough players/teams available to make more than one Round Robin, then a single Round Robin will be used and the winner of this single Round Robin will be the National Champion.
Match format: Best of three (3) short sets. First to four (4) games wins the set. (Tie-break Game at 3-3). The Tie-Game at 3-3 shall be as follows:
- First to 7 points, must win by 2
- The serving rotation will follow what is in Friend at Court - The player whose turn it is to serve shall serve the first point of the tie-break game. The following two points shall be served by the opponent(s) (in doubles, the player of the opposing team due to serve next). After this, each player/team shall serve alternatively for two consecutive points until the end of the tie-break game (in doubles, the rotation of service within each team shall continue in the same order as during the set).
- Coman Tiebreak Procedure to be used for changing ends - During a tie-break game, players shall change ends after the first point and thereafter every four points.
Scoring format: No-ad scoring will be used. If each player/team has won three points each, the score is “deuce” and a deciding point shall be played.
- The receiver(s) shall choose whether to receive the service from the right half or the left half of the court for Men’s or Women’s Singles and Doubles.
- In Men’s or Women’s doubles, the players of the receiving team cannot change positions to receive the deciding point.
- In Mixed Doubles, the player of the same gender as the server shall receive the deciding point. The players of the receiving team cannot change positions to receive the deciding point.
- The player/team who wins the deciding point wins the “game.”
Selection
Each section is given a specific number of quota spots based on NTRP tournament participation.
Sections may use an automatic qualifier (AQ) or the National Standings List (NSL).
Automatic Qualifier (AQ)
Sections may establish specific criteria for qualifying for a Section Automatic Qualifier. Section specific criteria will be available soon.
Players may only play at their level as of the entry close date (players MAY NOT play at their qualified level if their NTRP is moved up at the end of 2023).
All AQ players must register for the NTRP National Championships. AQ players who do not register before the entry deadline will be placed on the alternate list per Friend at Court regulations. Deadline dates coming soon.
If a division is not offered or does not fill at an AQ, the Section may reschedule the AQ. If the AQ does not happen for a specific division, the quota spot will be selected using the NSL. Single players/doubles teams from divisions that do not play any matches in the AQ will not be allowed to be selected using the AQ option.
National Standings List (NSL)
The last-published NSL prior to the entry deadline will be used for selection of all players who are not selected by AQ.
Sections may establish specific criteria for being selected off the NSL. Section specific criteria will be available soon.
The top registered player from each Section will be selected based on the quota.
For doubles, if no additional section criteria is required, the top individual registered player will be selected and that player can choose their partner as long as the partner is also on the NSL.
Sections must notify USTA National staff if they are using AQ or NSL by July 31 2023. For Sections with multiple quota spots, they may choose to use both options (i.e., if 2 spots, a section may do 1 AQ and 1 NSL).
Sections may list additional requirements in order to be selected for an AQ or NSL. These additional requirements must be submitted to USTA National by July 31, 2023. Sections will be required to review all entries to ensure they are qualified.
NTRP Rating Qualification
Players must have a valid NTRP (C, A, T, or D) at the time of entries closing. Players with a valid Mixed Exclusive (M) rating may use this rating for Mixed Doubles only. Players with a Self (S) rating will not be accepted. If a player with a T or M rating is required to Self Rate to play in USTA League, these players may still register if their T or M rating was valid when they self-rated.
Players may only participate at their current level as of the entry close date.
AQ - If a player wins an AQ and is moved up, they may participate at the higher level and this player will not count against a Section’s quota. This player must register at their current level otherwise they will be considered an alternate.
NSL - If a player is moved up and would have been selected at the lower level based on the last NSL prior to entries closing, then the player may participate at the higher level and this player will not count against a Section’s quota. This player must register at their current level otherwise they will be considered an alternate.
Tournament Ranking Qualification
18+ - Players must be on the National Standings List for the division they are registering for in order to be selected.
40+/55+ - Players must be on the National Standings List for the division they are registering for in order to be selected. If no tournament is offered at the respective 40+/55+ division and no registered players are listed on the respective ranking list, a section may apply for a waiver. The player, at a minimum, must be on the 18+ list for the 40+/55+ division they are applying for.
Players who do not meet the previously listed criteria will not be selected.
Section Contacts - NTRP National Championships
Carribean - Angela Vargas (adults@cta.usta.com)
Florida - Christine Ducey (adultteam@ustaflorida.com)
Hawaii - Sara Yoshinaga
Intermountain - Monica Haller-Bradley
Mid-Atlantic - Justin Cerny
Northern California - Joanna Broda-Schunck
Pacific Northwest - Maggie Fiocchi
Southern - Milagros Sequera Huss
