MATCH RULES
For detailed information see the Constitution
of the Metropolitan Lawn Tennis Association.
REGISTRATION
Players must be registered members of their Club.
MATCH PROCEDURE
Starting time: 1.00 pm. All players must play in order of merit. No player may move more than one ranking
position up or down in consecutive matches. Six players may play in any ONE programmed match. Doublesonly
matches may have up to 5 players in any ONE programmed match. If a club has more than one team in
a division, a player may play 3 matches before being bound to a team – no changing teams after the end of
January. Pennant players are ineligible if they have played 5 matches. Captains should complete and exchange
score cards before the match begins. Unless previously arranged, matches will commence with no. 1 and no.
2 singles with all singles to be played first.
Div 1 Men – Singles and Doubles – best of 3 tie break sets at 5 all.
Div 1 Women – Singles – best of 3 tie break sets at 6 all; Doubles – two sets, then super tiebreak if one set all.
All other divisions (Men and Women) – Singles and Doubles – 2 sets,tie break at 6 all then super tiebreak if one set all.
Women’s Doubles – 9 game tie break set. (tie break at 8 all) Players to be ranked in order of merit and
to play one set with each member of team against corresponding ranked players in opposition team.
Super tie break. First player to 10 points with a 2 point margin, or 2 point margin after 9 all.
This tie break set will count as a 7-6 set when counting premiership points.
FORFEITS
A team forfeiting shall notify the opposing team as soon as possible. A team so giving a forfeit shall, in the
absence of providing a reasonable written explanation to the Recording Secretary prior to 6:00pm the
following Tuesday, lose two premiership points & pay $25 to The Metro Association within 30 days of
forfeiting.
If the first set of a scheduled singles match has not started by 1.10 pm a forfeit for that set must be claimed
against the offending player. If the match has not commenced by 1.15 pm, then the second set (of the non-
Doubles only matches) must be forfeited. Any team not able to commence two singles or one double in the
case of Doubles only Divisions within half an hour of the scheduled starting time, shall be liable to forfeit the
entire match. This is a Metro requirement, not at the discretion of team captains.
TENNIS BALLS
All balls must be of a type approved by Tennis Australia. The Home team shall provide four new balls for each
match. Finals: each team to provide two new balls.
SCORING
Matches shall be decided by rubbers, then sets, then games. Four points for a win, two for a draw, and one
for each winning rubber. Super tiebreak to count as 7/6 set. A team receiving a match forfeit should complete
and forward a score card to ensure players qualify for finals.
RESULTS
Each team shall forward a completed score card, signed by both captains, to be received by the Receiver of
Score Cards by Tuesday 6 pm following the match. Use Australia Post, or fax 83640566. Cards signed by both
captains & scanned to metrolawnsa@hotmail.com will be accepted. Any team whose card does not arrive
shall be liable to lose all points for that match. If a result is disputed or contrived the Executive Committee
has the power to investigate and order a re-match.
DISPUTES
All disputes shall be forwarded in writing or by email to the Association within three days of the event which
caused the dispute. Action taken by the committee may result in the forfeit of matches or sets, and the loss
of premiership points.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
The Association may cancel matches due to excessive weather conditions: 37 degrees or higher on Radio
Station Triple M 104.7 at 9:00am, matches will be cancelled. For rain & other factors check, website
www.metrolawntennis.com between 11:00am and 12:00noon or Weather Phone 8411 6006
If the round is not officially cancelled and the Receiver of Score Cards receives less than 50% of cards for a
division by Wednesday, the round for that division shall be cancelled. Captains shall arrange when to play
abandoned matches (to be resumed where they stood at the interruption) and these should be completed
within two weeks, except those of the last two rounds which shall be completed by the following
Wednesday. The Association may set a time if the captains cannot agree.
FINALS
To qualify a player must have played in five rounds in that division or below (“Played in” includes a minor
round subsequently cancelled due to weather provided the player is recorded on a completed score card,
signed by both Captains which was received by the receiver of score cards as required by the Constitution.
Nominations in writing shall be forwarded to the Recording Secretary by the Tuesday before the first finals
round.
Players in the major rounds are to be played in order of their position of merit in the team as played in the
Previous three minor round matches prior to the commencement of the major round. Such positions are to
remain fixed for these last three minor round matches – unless injury or similar requires any replacement players
The highest ranked team of the minor round has the option of a home final for the semi final. The standard of
courts must be approved by the Committee. The grand final venue will be at the discretion of the Match Committee.
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