Discover the answers to the most frequently asked questions about each of the ITF Tours below
Where can I find the ITF Rules and Regulations?
All players are encouraged to read the ITF Rules and Regulations, including the Code of Conduct. These are available on the ITF website (please click the link above) and within IPIN
How do I register/renew membership for an IPIN?
In order to register for a tournament, you need an IPIN membership. Visit the IPIN section of the ITF World Tennis Tour website for details relating to the IPIN online services or go to IPIN.itftennis.com
If you are registering for the first time, please click “Sign up now”.
If you are an existing member and cannot remember your password, click “Reset Password”. You must only use the email address registered to your IPIN account and you must have access to this email address.
If you no longer have access you will need to
email the ITF if the registered email address has changed. Provide proof of your ID and state the new email address you wish to use with your IPIN account and we can update this for you
Can you explain the ITF World Tennis Tour tournament deadlines?
One of the most important concepts to understand with entering and withdrawing from ITF professional tournaments is that each tournament has three deadlines. These deadlines are standardised but can change over periods when the ITF office in London is closed during National Holidays in England. Details of any changes to the deadlines will always be communicated via a Tour Announcement within a player's IPIN online service account.
Unless otherwise stated, deadlines are as follows:
Advanced Doubles Entry FAQs
When is the Entry Deadline for Advance Entry in Doubles?
The Doubles Entry Deadline is at 14:00 hours (GMT) on Tuesday, 6 days prior to the Tournament
What is the process for confirming the Doubles entry for my partner and me?
One member of the team enters Doubles and will be asked for the IPIN number or IPIN registered email of the partner he or she wishes to play with. The proposed partner will be asked to approve or reject the proposed entry. The partner must approve the entry before the Doubles Entry Deadline. Any teams where the partner has not confirmed the entry will be withdrawn at the Doubles Entry Deadline. Players can change Doubles entries up until the Doubles Entry Deadline, but the player’s partner must confirm the entry prior to the deadline.
Is there a Doubles Withdrawal/Freeze Deadline?
The Withdrawal and Freeze Deadlines for Doubles take place at the same time, 14:00 hours (GMT) on the Thursday four (4) days before the Monday of the Tournament Week
Notes
a) At the Doubles Withdrawal/Freeze Deadline, Doubles Teams in Main Draw positions are Committed to the Tournament.
b) At the Freeze Deadline, the Advance Entry Doubles Alternate List will no longer be used and will be removed.
c) Teams listed as Alternates at the Doubles Freeze Deadline are not Committed to the Tournament. Any such teams will need to Sign In as an On-Site Entry if they wish to play. Advance Entry Doubles Alternate teams have no priority over other teams which Sign-In OnSite. Members of an Alternate Doubles team may Sign-In On-Site with the same or a different partner.
d) All vacancies and remaining positions in the Draw will be filled by the applicable On-Site Entry procedure.
e) A Doubles withdrawal made after the Freeze Deadline must be submitted online through a player’s IPIN account or will be subject to sanction pursuant to the Code of Conduct.
Summary
Players may submit entries in advance using their IPIN account to play Doubles at ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments where the category is M25.
Tournaments will accept up to seven (7) teams in advance, with the remaining teams coming from on-site entries and wild cards.
In order to enter Doubles as an Advance Entry, both players of the proposed team must have either an ATP or WTA Doubles Ranking (including Protected/Special Ranking). Players without a Doubles ranking will be removed at the Advance Doubles Entry Deadline. Onsite entries will continue to use the “Best of” Singles or Doubles ranking procedure.
Players may make only one advance entry in a Doubles tournament each week and this must be submitted online through a player’s IPIN account. During the IPIN entry process, one member of the Doubles team must propose the partnership to the second member. The second member must confirm their acceptance of the Doubles entry in IPIN prior to the Advance Entry Doubles Entry Deadline (“Doubles Entry Deadline”). Any partnership not confirmed by this time will be removed from the Entry list.
It is the players’ responsibility to make all entries and withdrawals and to check position on the Doubles Acceptance Lists. Players can add or change Doubles entries up until the Doubles Entry Deadline, but in all cases the entry must be confirmed prior to the deadline.
For further details concerning Doubles Entry, please refer to the online World Tennis Tour Regulations
What is the acceptance procedure for Doubles?
All ITF World Tennis Tour tournament Doubles draws are for 16 teams (13 by Direct Acceptance, 3 by Wild Card).
M25
M25 tournaments will accept up to seven (7) teams in advance, with the remaining teams coming from on-site entries and wild cards.
In order to enter Doubles as an Advance Entry, both players of the proposed team must have an ATP Doubles Ranking (including Protected Ranking).
Players without an ATP Doubles ranking or where the partnership has not been confirmed will be removed at the Doubles Entry Deadline.
The remaining onsite entries will be accepted using the best of Combined Singles/Doubles ranking with ATP Ranking taking priority over ITF World Tennis Ranking. The sign-in deadline is provided on the fact sheet.
M15
M15 tournaments, all Doubles teams must sign-in onsite with the ITF Supervisor. The sign-in deadline is provided on the fact sheet. Teams will be selected according to the best of Combined Singles/Doubles ranking with ATP Ranking taking priority over ITF World Tennis Ranking. The sign-in deadline is provided on the fact sheet.
How can I enter or withdraw from ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments?
Players should log into their IPIN account to enter and withdraw from tournaments. To enter click the tournament calendar and then click the enter button. Players can enter a maximum of 6 professional Tournaments in any one week. To withdraw, click the player dashboard and then click on the withdraw tab.
Players must enter a Tournament before the Entry Deadline (18 days before the Tournament).
Players can withdraw prior to the Withdrawal Deadline (13 days before the Tournament) without penalty. After the Withdrawal Deadline has passed a player who withdraws will be penalised according to the Code of Conduct (which also contains specific exceptions).
Each player is allowed to make three Late Withdrawals in a calendar year without penalty, as long as the player submits a Withdrawal prior to the relevant Qualifying Sign-In Deadline.
Any subsequent Late Withdrawals in a calendar year will be penalised in accordance with the Code of Conduct, regardless of the reason for the withdrawal.
Players with any historic Code of Conduct fines (from any previous years) or fines amounting to $500 or over in the current year will not be able to enter any Tournaments until all fines have been paid in full.
After the Withdrawal Deadline, how are the Acceptance Lists compiled?
Players who have entered one or more ITF World Tennis Tour Men’s or Juniors tournaments (in any combination) will appear on Acceptance Lists after the Entry Deadline.
At the Withdrawal Deadline, players accepted into the Main Draw or Qualifying will be removed from all but one tournament and at that point the player will be Committed to play that tournament. Main Draw or Qualifying accepted players that withdrawal after the Withdrawal Deadline will be penalised or required to use a player’s withdrawal amnesty (each player has three late withdrawal amnesties per year). There are some exceptions detailed in the Code of Conduct, which allow a player to leave a tournament, and these can be found below in a FAQ below.
At the Withdrawal Deadline, if a Player is accepted into the Main Draw or Qualifying of more than one (1) ITF World Tennis Tour Tournament (Men’s and Junior) in the same week, a player will remain on one Acceptance List only and will be withdrawn from all other Acceptance lists. At that point the player will be Committed to play that tournament and withdrawals from the Tournament after this point will be penalised according to the Code of Conduct (or require the use of a Late Withdrawal amnesty). There are some exceptions which do allow a player to leave a tournament, please see question 10 below (“I have been accepted into an ITF Wold Tennis Tour Tournament…”).
At the Withdrawal Deadline, players accepted into the Main Draw or Qualifying of more than one ITF World Tennis Tour Tournament (Men’s and Junior) are withdrawn from all but one Tournament according to the following criteria:
Exception: If a player is accepted into the Main Draw of a Junior Grand Slam tournament, that tournament will be prioritised over all other tournament entries that week (i.e. Men’s M25 or any other Junior tournament). A Junior who has entered a Junior Grand Slam tournament and another Junior tournament in the same week and would be accepted into the Main Draw of both tournaments will be selected for the Junior Grand Slam at the Withdrawal Deadline even if he/she has designated the other Junior tournament with a higher priority.
Remember: The computer removes a player from all but one tournament, according to the criteria mentioned above, based on the position of ONLY that player on the acceptance list at the time of the Withdrawal Deadline. The computer does not take into account where a player could have moved or the choice or movement of any other player.
Note:
A player will be withdrawn at the Withdrawal Deadline as stated above. Players should withdraw him/herself from any unwanted tournament Acceptance lists prior to the Withdrawal Deadline. The withdrawal process detailed above will be applied only to those players who have entered multiple tournaments and remain in more than one Men’s or Junior tournament for the same week at the Withdrawal Deadline. Players are able to see tournament Acceptance Lists between the Entry Deadline and the Withdrawal Deadline and are advised to control their own tournament withdrawals within their IPIN Account.
How many professional ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments can I enter in a given week?
• Players can enter up to six (6) tournaments within their IPIN account in any given week.
• Players will select their priority for each tournament in a given week and the player can make changes to their priority order up until the Freeze Deadline.
How are acceptance lists ordered?
Players are accepted into tournaments as follows:
My current National Ranking is not showing, why?
The National Ranking that is used may not be your most recent ranking. The reason for this is as follows:
Although players’ National Rankings may change frequently, National Associations are only permitted to submit their lists up to four (4) times per calendar year for use by players entering into ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments.
Please note that it is the sole decision of each National Association to:
1. decide if they wish to submit their National Rankings lists to the ITF
2. decide how many times per calendar year (up to a maximum of four (4) times) they wish to submit their National Ranking lists to the ITF
3. decide how many players they wish to include (up to a maximum of five hundred (500) players ranked between 1-500 only) on each list submitted to the ITF
4. decide which players they wish to include on each National Ranking list submitted to the ITF
Players are only permitted to appear on the ranking list of one nation within the ITF database and it is this ranking that will be used for entry purposes into ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments. Any player already assigned a national ranking within the ITF database and who wishes to change to the ranking of another nation can only do so once they have confirmed this decision by email to the national associations and ITF. The ranking will then come into effect once the ITF have received and uploaded a new list from the national association whose ranking the player wishes to use.
Any players who have an issue with their National Ranking should contact the National Association directly with which they hold a National Ranking
I have been accepted into an ITF World Tennis Tour tournament, can I withdraw to play another tournament?
If the Acceptance List is posted but the Withdrawal Deadline for that week’s tournament has not passed then any player can withdraw from any tournament without penalty.
After the Withdrawal Deadline has passed, a player accepted into the Main Draw (including Junior Reserved), or Qualifying is committed to the tournament.
As detailed in the Code of Conduct, a committed player may withdraw from a tournament prior to the Qualifying Sign-In Deadline and compete in another ATP or ITF tournament and not be penalised in the following circumstances:
A player may enter the doubles event of any tournament, although they may be subject to Late Withdrawal penalties.
Any player who has been authorised to accept a Wild Card must withdraw immediately from the tournament before its qualifying sign-in deadline.
Players who meet any of the criteria above must contact the ITF by email, so they can remove a fine from the player’s record. Contact the ITF at Mens@itftennis.com.
Late Withdrawals
Any withdrawal from a player accepted into the Main Draw or Qualifying that occurs after the Withdrawal Deadline shall be considered a Late Withdrawal and will be penalised, except in the below circumstances:
The provisions of Article II, Rule B.4, Playing Another Event / One Tournament per Week apply.
Players who meet one of the exceptions for Late Withdrawal offences written above should email Mens@itftennis.com and provide them the appropriate documentation so the Late Withdrawal penalty can be removed from the player’s Code of Conduct record. Players who have been subject to Automatic Withdrawals will not be fined
Players can also use an on-site medical certificate to cancel the late withdrawal for the following week.
If a player is forced to retire or withdraw during a tournament for medical reasons, the ITF Medical Certification form must be completed by the on-site Tournament Doctor / Sports Physiotherapist verifying that the player is unfit to continue playing in the current tournament. Violation of this section shall subject a player to a fine of up to $500.
A player that has endured a medical condition during the Tournament Week, but who completes their Tournament matches, may obtain a Medical Certificate from the Tournament Doctor/Sports Physiotherapist that can be used to withdraw from the following week’s tournament without penalty. The player must obtain the Medical Certificate within 24 hours of completing their final match. If the player wishes to use the Medical Certificate to withdraw from the following week’s tournament then the player must inform the ITF and the ITF Supervisor (if after the Freeze deadline) no more than 48 hours after obtaining the Medical Certificate or before the Qualifying Sign-in, whichever is sooner. Players who complete their final match of the tournament after the Qualifying Sign-in of the following week’s Tournament must obtain a Medical Certificate and inform the ITF Supervisor before leaving the site if they wish to withdraw. Violation of this section shall subject a player to a fine of up to $500.
A valid ITF Medical Certificate will excuse a Late Withdrawal penalty for any subsequent Tournament until the player next competes in any tennis event, provided that a withdrawal form for each tournament is submitted prior to the relevant Qualifying Sign-in Deadline. A player must email the ITF Medical Certificate to the ITF for each subsequent tournament that the player wishes to use the medical certificate.
A player who withdraws from a tournament after the Qualifying Sign-in Deadline will be excused a Late Withdrawal penalty provided:
The player is still competing in the previous week’s tournament at or after the time of the Qualifying Sign-In Deadline, is thereafter forced to withdraw/retire, is examined by that tournament’s doctor and is determined to be unfit to compete at the following week’s tournament; or
The player is on-site at the tournament from which the player will withdraw when the withdrawal occurs and is determined to be unfit to compete by the tournament’s doctor. For the purpose of this rule, the player must withdraw before the start of his first match and the ITF Medical Certification form must be completed and submitted to the ITF no later than the last day of the tournament.
Players penalised, usually by a fine, may appeal the fine by submitting the ITF official appeal form within 14 days of notification of the fine. The appeal form is available from the ITF (Mens@itftennis.com).
A player may include any additional documentation they feel will assist with their appeal.
Can I enter an ATP/Challenger and ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments taking place the same week?
Yes.
Players accepted into ATP Tour Main Draw or ATP Tour Qualifying or ATP Challenger Main Draw at the ITF Entry Deadline and/or Withdrawal Deadline will be removed from all entered ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments (M25 or M15).
Up until Friday 10am Eastern Standard Time (Florida, US), three days before the tournament week, players who are Alternates in ATP / Challenger tournaments but then move into the Main Draw of a Challenger or Main Draw or Qualifying of an ATP Tour event, are permitted to play the ATP event without penalty.
However, the player must withdraw from the ITF tournament within IPIN.
Any player accepted into an ATP Tour or Challenger Tournament at the Friday 10am Florida deadline will be removed from an ITF Event; please log into IPIN to withdraw and email mens@itftennis.com with details of the withdrawal and ATP tournament.
Also, at the Friday 10am Florida time deadline, any player accepted into an ITF World Tennis Tour Tournament will be withdrawn from any ATP/Challenger alternate lists and will not be able to compete in any other tournament (ATP, Challenger, ITF) during that week. Players not wishing to play the ATP event should withdraw from the ATP event.
Players are reminded that if they are notified by the ATP of being accepted into an ATP Tour or Challenger tournament after Thursday 2pm GMT they MUST immediately log into their IPIN account and withdraw themselves from any ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments where they had already been accepted into the qualifying or main draw to avoid potentially receiving a no-show fine.
Once you have withdrawn yourself, please send an email to mens@itftennis.com with the ATP confirmation that you have been accepted into an ATP tournament to appeal any potential ITF late withdrawal fines imposed.
I no longer wish to play in a tournament, but I am only on the Alternates List, do I still need to withdraw from the tournament?
I am having problems entering or withdrawing through my IPIN account and the deadline is approaching. What should I do?
If you are having problems entering or withdrawing from a tournament before the relevant deadline, you must contact the ITF immediately before the relevant deadline so that we can assist you further.
The player should contact, by email, the ITF office outlining the issue and to request the appropriate entry/withdrawal form.
I have completed my last match of the tournament and I'm injured. Can I obtain an On-Site Medical Certificate?
Yes, but this must be within 24 hours of completing your final match.
If the player wishes to use the Medical Certificate to withdraw from the following week’s tournament then the player must withdraw online via IPIN and send the medical certificate to mens@itftennis.com no more than 48 hours after obtaining the Medical Certificate or before the Qualifying Sign-in, whichever is sooner.
If after the Freeze Deadline, please also send the medical certificate to the ITF Supervisor.
If I require a Visa, what are the procedures?
Players with a current ATP Ranking or ITF World Tennis Tour Ranking can login to their IPIN account and download a Visa support letter by clicking on visa and a letter will generate for the player. Letters will be available to download by entered players no earlier than 8 weeks prior to the tournament start date.
Players without an ATP Ranking or ITF World Tennis Tour Ranking and any player family members, coaches or accompanying guests must contact the National Association of the nation hosting the tournament for a Visa support letter and for visa assistance.
Players should look at their local government's website regarding foreign travel.
The tournament's visa contact for players is also available on the Fact Sheet within IPIN.
It is the sole responsibility of all players to be fully aware of any Visa requirements and travel restrictions including application processing times BEFORE submitting any entries for ITF World Tennis Tour Tournaments.
I am traveling to a tournament what arrangements should I make in advance?
Prior to departing for a tournament, a player should do the following:
1. Check relevant travel and security information about the country you are traveling to.
Examples: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html
2. Players should obtain travel and health insurance.
3. Print all relevant tournament information, such as tournament site address, phone number, the ITF Supervisor’s contact number, hotel address and contact number, etc.
4. Confirm the appropriate Visa has been obtained and all necessary Travel Documents.
5. If the tournament is paying by wire/bank transfer make sure you have all your bank details including bank address, bank account numbers, SWIFT, IBAN, etc.
How can I check my historic prize money awarded?
The ITF does not keep records and advises each player to keep good records of all prize money receipts from each tournament. The receipts will be needed when the player files their taxes each year.
The ITF recommends getting independent tax advice based on your individual situation.
What are Wild Cards?
• Wild Cards are opportunities which provide a player a chance to compete into the Main Draw or Qualifying at the discretion of the sanctioning National Association/Tournament Director/Organiser.
• Players wishing to apply for a Wild Card should contact the host National Association and/or Tournament Director.
• Players must not buy wild cards. If anyone offers to sell a wild card to a player, then the player is obligated under the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) to contact the ITIA (report@itia.tennis).
• The ITF does not award Wild Cards
• Some ITF tournament offer pre-qualifying competitions where the winner receives a wild card into the ITF tournament. Players should check the fact sheet for those opportunities.
What is the ITF's match scoring format?
Singles Main Draw: the best of three (3) tie-break sets. Ad scoring will be used.
Singles Qualifying: the best of three sets, with two (2) tie-break sets, and if one set all, one match tie-break game (10 points) shall be played. Ad scoring must be used.
Doubles Draw: the best of three sets with two (2) tie-break sets, and if one set all, one match tie-break game (10 points) shall be played. No-ad scoring must be used.
How will I get paid when I am at a tournament?
Each ITF World Tennis Tour Tournament is responsible for paying player prize money. Tournament organisers may pay cash on-site, by bank/wire transfers or by providing cheques. This information is specified on the fact sheet within a player’s IPIN account. Some tournament organisers will require a passport, completing tax forms, or other information to provide to local tax authorities.
Players should prepare all their financial information in advance so that they can supply all the necessary information, especially for tournaments paying prize money by bank/wire transfer.
Players should not assume that the Tournament Organiser will know how to transfer to the player’s bank.
Some of the information typically needed includes: Name of account holder (exactly as written on your bank account); address of the bank, account number, Swift code, Sort code, IBAN number. Some banks use an intermediary bank to accept money from certain countries so you may also need to provide additional information.
My bank/wire transfer hasn’t arrived by Friday after the tournament completed. What should I do?
Tournament Organisers are required to pay prize money by bank/wire transfer by Friday following the tournament’s completion or earlier if local law requires it.
If you haven’t received payment, please email the tournament organiser/director and copy the National Association contact (listed on the fact sheet), copy Mens@itftennis.com and attach your prize money receipt.
I am having trouble contacting the Site / Hotel of a tournament, who should I call?
You should contact the Tournament Director and/or the host National Association. The contact information can be found on the Fact Sheet within IPIN.
What are my responsibilities under the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP)?
Each player competing in ITF World Tennis Tour professional tournaments is subject to the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). Players should familiarise themselves with the TACP rules at this link.
If a player receives a corrupt approach that references match-fixing or the sharing of inside information in exchange for money or any benefit they must contact the ITIA at report@itia.tennis
For further information or if you have any questions please visit the website www.itia.tennis or download the ITIA app from their website.
After my tennis match I am being harassed on social media. What should I do?
If you are being harassed on social media, please provide the details to the ITIA by emailing them at info@itia.tennis
There are also some useful welfare-related resources available within IPIN under Player Resources.
Players can also sign-up for the free Threat Matrix service, which the ITF work with to protect players on social media, by contacting the ITF by email or the Player Resources section of their IPIN account.
How can I request a change to my nationality displayed?
I have earned at least 1 ATP point in my career
Players, who have earned ATP points based on events on the Men’s ITF World Tennis Tour, should send a copy of their passport to the ATP.
Changes of nationality for players who have ever earned an ATP point shall be processed by the ATP, and upon notice to the ITF, it shall update its records accordingly (notwithstanding this Regulation).
I have never earned an ATP point in my career
Players who have never earned an ATP point who wish to make a request to update their nationality on the ITF website should email mens@itftennis.com a copy of their passport for the new nation they want to represent and specify if this is a correction to an error or a change to a new nationality
If you do not have a passport for the new nationality, please can you provide the following information by email to mens@itftennis.com and your request will then be passed onto the ITF Internal Adjudication Panel (IAP):
On receipt of the information detailed above, the request will be considered by the ITF Internal Adjudication Panel (IAP) to determine, in its discretion, whether the change of nationality is genuine and not intended to circumvent the application of the Regulations (i.e. a “flag of convenience”).
The IAP reserves the right to ask the Player to provide and/or supply further information on request.
The IAP’s first-instance decision is capable of being appealed by the Player to the Independent Tribunal.
This Regulation applies to the Men’s ITF World Tennis Tour only and is without prejudice to any other regulations applicable to other tournaments (such as ITF Team Competitions), which may impose different criteria.
I wish to add/update details shown on my Biography page on the ITF website, how can I update this information?
The ITF’s policy on posting player headshots to our website is to post images on player profiles only where there is a legitimate public interest to do so. In determining that legitimate interest, we have set the following parameters:
For the display of a headshot image on an ITF website profile to be approved, a player must have either:
If any of the above is met, the photo submitted by the player must meet the ITF's criteria for consideration for use:
I am having problems logging in to the Tennis Point shop. What do I do?
For queries regarding Tennis Point log-in or queries about your Tennis point order, please contact itf@tennis-point.com
I have a question that's not been covered here. What do I do?
Players that compete on a professional tour are expected to be familiar with all the tournament regulations and the code of conduct.
For any further questions not contained in the World Tennis Tour regulations, please contact mens@itftennis.com.