British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

the addict · Tennis legend

Week 35 – ITF W15 KaltenKirchen, Germany - Clay

the addict · Tennis legend

Lonja gave a walkover. Seems very common this month ........

DF · Tennis legend

It is disappointing and also rude when they do not show up as they surely know for a while that
they are in the qualifying list and can withdraw if they so wish.

the addict · Tennis legend

But they signed in, so must have been intending to play at least untill the draw was made.

There were four out of six in qualifying last week and two this week out of six (plus possibly another as Alexandra James' match in Monastir is showing as "not played" )

PaulM · Tennis legend

If you've been accepted you don't sign-in, you are put in the draw automatically. Believe that changed a few years ago.

Spireman · Club Coach

It's a poor system. Some GB tournaments have a long list of players nominally in alternates up to the sign in and draw. But they have no idea who above them will sign in, who won't turn up and who are the chosen ones, above or below them, who get wildcards. So unless you are one of those getting a nod that you will get a wildcard it must be very hard to plan. On the other hand 15k events overseas seem to have fewer entries, then so many withdraw, perhaps quite late, that GB players get put in the draw without signing in. When they have no intention of playing...I agree they should withdraw but on the other hand with so much doubt often until the last few days where someone is on the list I can understand it. Surely you should have to sign in to be in the draw....with telephone sign in an option.

-- Edited by Spireman on Sunday 24th of August 2025 03:48:25 PM

the addict · Tennis legend

I'd forgotten that they changed the rule, and now the "Singles Qualifying sign-in date/time:" actually only applies to alternates that hope to get into the draw. Does anyone know if they actually impost the penalties stated in the rule-book for no-shows ?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

All I know is that it's not a GBR thing

This week, in QR1, the number of w/o-s is:

Ankara - 2

Germany - 3

China - 2

Greece - 2

Monastir - 2

Telavi - 1

Brasov - 1

Italy - 1

the addict · Tennis legend

Yes, pretty widespread. Monastir was actually 4 if you include the match where neither of them turned up. So three Brits out of 14 (I haven't checked the total, but looks right to me). I might have a chat with one of our other players and get their view on the system and rules.

paulisi · Tennis legend

I suspect you still get fined if you don't turn up or withdraw late...

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

This is the rule for the men

2. No Show
A player will have Committed a No Show Offence if:
a) He is accepted into the Qualifying and fails to arrive on-site for his first match in the
Tournament without validly withdrawing from the Tournament in advance of the
Qualifying Sign-In Deadline (as set out in Article II.B.1 above); or
b) He is accepted into the Main Draw or has been granted a Wild Card (Main Draw or
Qualifying) and fails to arrive on-site for his first match in the Tournament without
withdrawing from the Tournament in advance of his first-round match (as set out in
Article II.B.1 above).
c) A player or Doubles team accepted into the Doubles Draw (Advance Entry or On-Site
Entry) fails to arrive On-Site for the teams first match in the Tournament without
withdrawing from the Tournament in advance of his/their first-round match (as set out
in Article II.B.1 above).
The ITF Supervisor may waive the No Show Offence for a player/team who arrives on-site
after the scheduled commencement time for his/their first match and penalise him/them
for the On-Site Offence of Punctuality instead.
A player that commits a No-Show violation may not use an on-site medical certificate to
appeal a penalty.

166 Code of Conduct
Violation of this Section shall subject a player to a fine up to $500 as further set out in the
Fines Guidelines.
In circumstances that are flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of the Mens ITF
World Tennis Tour Tournament, or are singularly egregious, a single violation of this Section
shall also constitute the Major Offence of Aggravated Behaviour.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Is it the same fine for a very late withdrawal?

the addict · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Is it the same fine for a very late withdrawal?

Withdrawals after the withdrawal deadline - three allowed as an amnesty - the fine would be $50 - $250 depending on the timing and whether MD or QD. Withdrawals after the draw is made (no-show) the fine should be $100 for QD and $400 for MD (according to the ITF WTT rulebook).

Lambda · ATP level

Spireman wrote:
It's a poor system. Some GB tournaments have a long list of players nominally in alternates up to the sign in and draw. But they have no idea who above them will sign in, who won't turn up and who are the chosen ones, above or below them, who get wildcards. So unless you are one of those getting a nod that you will get a wildcard it must be very hard to plan. On the other hand 15k events overseas seem to have fewer entries, then so many withdraw, perhaps quite late, that GB players get put in the draw without signing in. When they have no intention of playing...I agree they should withdraw but on the other hand with so much doubt often until the last few days where someone is on the list I can understand it. Surely you should have to sign in to be in the draw....with telephone sign in an option.

-- Edited by Spireman on Sunday 24th of August 2025 03:48:25 PM

The purpose for automatic placement in the draw was to address the problem of players remaining in the qualifying list when they had no intention of signing in. By placing them in the draw it incentivises them to withdraw before the sign in deadline instead of facing the higher no show fine. It is part of a package of changes introduced to give alternates a better idea of how many vacancies there were to decide whether to sign in. I wouldn't be in favour of returning to make everyone sign in but there clearly needs to be tweaks to the current system.

The ITF need to understand why players are not withdrawing. Most of them seem to be those that don't play pro events much or at all. Is it that they don't expect to move in to the qualifying list and don't check? Is it that they don't know if they are an acceptance they are placed in the draw if they don't withdraw in which case more education is needed? Does the fine not matter to them because they are unlikely to need to pay it (assuming it is on account and deducted from future prize money they're unlikely to earn enough to cover the fine at 15k level). Is it for some other reason?

DF · Tennis legend

Good questions