TENN360 | THE FAN'S GUIDE TO THE TOUR
tennis is more than the score.
TOURNAMENT TALK
ALTERNATE
A player who is next in line for entry if a player withdraws.
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Waiting in the wings and hoping someone's withdrawal opens the door.
BYE
Automatic advancement to the next round without playing a match.
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A free pass. No opponent, no match, no complaints.
CENTRE COURT
The main or principal court at a tennis tournament.
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The big stage. The one where the atmosphere usually turns up a notch.
COURT ALLOCATION
The assignment of a match to a particular court.
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Because where you play can be almost as interesting as who you play.
DEFENDING CHAMPION
The player who won the tournament in the previous edition.
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They've already got the trophy. Now everyone wants to take it from them.
DRAW
The tournament layout showing which players will face each other and how they can progress.
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The tournament roadmap — and sometimes the source of some very interesting match-ups.
FINAL
The last match of a tournament, deciding the champion.
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This is what everyone came for.
MAIN DRAW
The principal tournament competition in which players compete for the title.
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This is where the tournament properly gets going.
MAIN DRAW WILD CARD
A special invitation allowing a player direct entry into the main draw.
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A golden ticket into the tournament.
MATCH REFEREE
The official responsible for tournament-level rules, administration and disciplinary matters.
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When things get complicated beyond the umpire's chair, this is one of the people who gets involved.
ON-SITE ALTERNATE
A player present at a tournament who can enter if a place becomes available.
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Ready, waiting and hoping for a phone call.
ORDER OF PLAY
The schedule showing which matches are being played on each court and when.
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Your tennis-day timetable — and the first thing to check if you've come to watch someone.
QUALIFIER
A player who earns a place in the main draw by winning qualifying matches.
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They didn't get in through the front door. They fought their way in.
QUALIFYING
Matches played before the main draw to determine which players earn entry.
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The road in — and for some players, the beginning of the best story of the week.
QUARTER-FINAL
The round in which eight players or teams compete for places in the semi-finals.
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Eight left. Four will make the next step.
RETIREMENT
When a player stops a match before it has finished, usually because of injury or illness.
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The match ends before the tennis does.
ROUND OF 32
A tournament round containing 32 players or teams.
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The field is getting smaller and the stakes are getting bigger.
SEED
A player given a ranking-based position in the draw to help prevent top players meeting too early.
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A little protection for the favourites — although it certainly doesn't guarantee anything.
SEMI-FINAL
The round in which four players or teams compete for places in the final.
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One win away from the final. No pressure, then.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
The person responsible for overseeing the organisation and operation of a tennis tournament.
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The person trying to make hundreds of players, matches, schedules and logistics behave.
TOURNAMENT EDITION
A particular year's staging of a recurring tournament.
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Same tournament name, new year, new stories.
WALKOVER
Advancement to the next round because an opponent cannot play, usually due to injury or withdrawal.
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Nobody wants to win this way, but sometimes the tournament moves on without a ball being hit.
WILDCARD
Special entry given to a player who would not otherwise qualify directly for the main draw.
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The tournament says: “We want you here.”
WITHDRAWAL
When a player removes themselves from a tournament before or during competition.
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Sometimes the smartest decision is knowing when not to play.
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