Ask an Official: Know the USTA Rest Rules

In the world of competitive tennis, one of the most important rules governing player welfare isn't about what happens on the court, but what happens between matches. The USTA recovery guidelines are a set of rules designed to protect players from overexertion and injury, but also allow for efficient tournament scheduling. What are your rights as a player when the clock is ticking?

The Friend at Court 2025 on page 95, Table 11 states the following:

The minimum rest is specified for the following formats:

60 Minutes Rest

Best for 3 and 5 tiebreak sets, including when a Match Tiebreak is played in lieu of the final set.

30 Minutes Rest

3 Short Sets when a Match Tiebreak is played in lieu of the 3rd set, Pro set formats, and Doubles-only tournaments.

Using No-Ad Scoring does not affect the minimum rest period.  For any other format, the rest is at least 30 minutes.

But what happens if there is a rain delay and it is determined that the next round will go to Short Sets with a tiebreak for the third, and you have not started or completed your match in the current round? The rest period is governed by the match format of the preceding match.   

Are these guidelines flexible? Yes. For example: Your next opponent completed his or her match 1 ½ hours before you completed your match. Your opponent has had their 60 minutes of rest. You just won your match 6-0, 6-0 in 47 minutes. Can you opt to play in 30 or 40 minutes if there is a court available? Yes, if you (and your parents) feel you will have adequate time to recover.  

Latest start Times for Juniors
In the 12 and 14 Divisions, no match should start, nor should a suspended match resume after 8:00 pm.
In the 16 and 18 Divisions, no match should start, nor should a suspended match resume after 10:00 pm.

What happens if your match finishes late in the evening? The guidelines for adequate rest can be found in the Friend at Court 2025 on page 89.

Junior Divisions. All players should be given at least 12 hours of rest between the completion of their last match of any day and the start of play of their first match of the following day.

This means if your final match for the day ends at 9 p.m., your previously-scheduled 8 a.m. match the next morning should start no earlier than 9 a.m.