Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to join the ladder?
Nothing! The ladder is free of charge and open to the public.
How do I sign up for the ladder?
Sign up on this website and select your preferences for how to be contacted and which ladders you would like to join, it's that simple.
How does the ladder work?
The ladder works by allowing you to challenge other players ranked above you. If the challenge is successful, the challenging player takes the defending player's spot on the ladder and the defending player moves down by one. For more details about how this works, please read the rules.
What types of tennis are included?
We currently offer ladders for Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles. At the end of the spring/summer season, there will be tournaments for each ladder format if enough players are eligible and interested in participating.
Can I let people know I'm seeking a doubles partner?
Yes, when signing up, you can signify that you are looking for a partner. You can also access a toggle for this option in your Player Profile. You can look for a gendered and/or mixed doubles partner.
How do I make a challenge?
Go to the Ladders page and select the Ladder on which you'd like to challenge someone. Find a player ranked above you that you'd like to challenge. Next, under Players, find the player's contact information and contact the player using their preferred contact method. Players' names and contact information are only visible once you've signed up and created an account.
What if I'm busy or injured and can't play when someone wants me to?
Everybody's lives are very busy with work, USTA Tennis, vacations, family events, school, etc. The expectation is that challengers will be flexible, and the defending team/player must, in good faith, offer reasonable dates and times for a match. A challenger can always move on to another player if they choose. All concerns should be reported to questions@wtftennis.com. If you are injured and cannot play, please read how injuries are handled below.
What happens if a person never responds to challenges?
Try using both the preferred and alternative methods of contact as listed under their contact information. Please allow for at least 1-2 weeks for a response, as people travel or have busy schedules. If you are unsuccessful in getting a response from a player, please use all available contact methods the player has listed prior to escalating to our site admins. We believe that most issues should be resolved independently, but we can help drive for resolution if needed.
What if I encounter an issue or have an idea for improvement while using the WTF Tennis website?
We launched this website to make it as easy as possible to sign up, find and challenge others. However, if you find something that is not working as expected, or is broken, please let us know! It is critical that you bring issues to our attention so that we can ensure we maintain the integrity of the ladder. Additionally, we are always open to feedback or ideas for enhancements. Please describe your issue or improvement idea and send us an email at questions@wtftennis.com.
Where do I have to play?
You are welcome to play wherever you and your challengee agree to play. We have provided a list of local Courts so you can find the most convenient locations with the appropriate attributes (e.g. hitting wall, lights, specific surface). For indoor matches at paid venues, please confirm availability prior to match and ensure both parties understand and agree to court fees.
How do I report results of a match?
Click on the Submit Score link at the top of the home page or on any of the Ladder pages. Fill out the necessary fields including which Ladder you would like to report your score for, who won and who lost, what the scores of the match were, when you played, and (optionally) where you played. Results will be publically displayed under the Matches page.
When do matches need to be reported?
Matches should be reported as soon as possible, as rearrangement of the ladder is dynamic and occurs instantly once a score is submitted. Each match will receive a date and timestamp and will appear under the Matches page. The rankings will reflect match results in the order they are received. To maintain the integrity of the ladder, please submit your scores without undue delay. When your match is finished, please agree on who will be entering the score. Regardless of who enters the score, both challenger(s) and challengee(s) will receive an automated email once the scores are submitted with the relevant match details. If any errors are made during submission, please email us at questions@wtftennis.com.
Who supplies the balls for a match?
Both players (or teams if playing doubles) are expected to bring a new can of balls to the match. One can is opened for play. After the match, the winner keeps the unopened can and the loser keeps the used balls.
What if I'm injured and can't play?
Send an email to questions@wtftennis.com stating that you are injured. You will be marked as injured on the Players page so people do not try to challenge you until you choose to re-activate your status. Once you are ready to re-activate your account, please email us to update your status. You will not be expected to respond to challenges while injured. During this time, you cannot freeze/protect your ranking.
What happens if I never play?
You can play as much or as little as you'd like; however, at the end of the season, we will implement a "freefall" where all players who have not played a match will be dropped below all players that have played matches. That date will be announced in advance to give you a chance to avoid losing your ranking. To be eligible for the end-of-season tournament(s), you must have played at least two ladder matches during the current season.
What happens if there is a dispute?
We aim to keep this ladder as fair and fun as possible and good sportsmanship is paramount in achieving this goal. If any dispute arises, please check the rules first, and if that does not resolve the problem, email the concern to questions@wtftennis.com and we will do our best to resolve the issue(s).
How are rankings maintained across different seasons?
Our goal is to retain rankings from one Spring/Summer season to the next, but we will likely not roll rankings over between Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter ladders as participation will vary significantly.
For any comments, questions, concerns, or paranoid delusions, please contact questions@wtftennis.com.