Tournament Weekend Information

To help you prepare for the upcoming tournament, please read through the following information that we hope will answer questions about the events.  Most importantly – we will update draws daily and more frequently if possible.  We will be posting any weather related info on the home page as well as X and Facebook.  Make sure to follow us to stay up to date!

Tournament Values

• Sportsmanship – Litchfield Watercade has prided itself on the sportsmanship of its partipants for over 4 decades!  This is a fantastic small town tournament with some excellent tennis!  However, it is not a pro event.  No money or ranking points are at stake.  Players and fans are expected to conduct themselves appropriately at all times.
• Safety – We will err on the side of caution given the summer heat and occasional inclimate weather.  We try to ensure players have appropriate rest between matches throughout the tournament.  This can raise a little havoc with the draws at times.   We appreicate your patience and grace as we work through inevitable snafus that can occur.

Location

Tournament Headquarters – Litchfield High School Tennis Complex (south of high school) – 8 courts
Armory Tennis Courts (Just down the street from high school courts.  Corner of E 6th St and N Gilman Ave) – 4 courts
Please check in and be ready to play 15 minutes before your scheduled match.  You will be given your t-shirt upon first match check in.

Food and Drink

The tournament will have some water available for players and do our best to keep water stocked throughout the tournament.  The softball tournament typically has food and food trucks available for purchase on Saturday and Sunday.  On Friday, for the junior tournament, please pack food and snacks for your children as there will be no food provided onsite.  Over the weekend, we recommend to bring some food and drinks/sports drinks of your own and picnic during the tournament!  Please remember that alcohol cannot be consumed on the high school grounds – but can inside the fenced area of the softball tournament only.

Junior Events – Friday

• Boys and Girls 18U Singles
• Boys and Girls 15U Singles

All junior boy’s and girl’s singles matches will take place on Friday, July 11th.  Matches will begin at 8:30 AM and run throughout the day.  Finals matches should conclude by around 7:00 PM, weather permitting.  Water will be available for players.  However, as mentioned earlier, the softball tournament vending will not be open on Friday.  Players should bring food or arrange for meals between their scheduled matches.

 Match Format

• The tournament will provide tennis balls for all matches.
• All matches will be played using the “short-set” format.  This format is where a set is played up to 4 games as opposed to 6.  Therefore, a set can be won with scores such as 4-2 or 5-3 (similar to a 7-5 set in a 6 game set).
• No-ad games scoring.  When a game reaches deuce – the receiver picks the side they would like to receive on.
• When a set reaches 4-4, a 7 point tie-break will be played.
• If the players split sets, a 10 point tie-break will be played in lieu of a 3rd set.
• In set and match tie-breaks, players/teams will switch sides every 6 points.

The matches are scheduled in 1 hour and 15 minute time slots.  If we are delayed due to weather – matches will be moved back together in increments of 1:15.  We will update the website, X, and Facebook to delays and timing as needed.

Consolation

All events have a 2 match guarantee. The inclusion of consolation brackets will be dependent on the number of entries in any given event class.  However, this is not a “double elimination” tournament.  In the draws you will see some “if necessary” matches in the consolation draw.  This is because if a player wins a match, but then loses their second match – that player would be done.  They would not move to the consolation bracket.  You can only move to the consolation bracket if you lose your first match.

If a player is waiting to see if they will be affected by a “if necessary” match – they should be ready to play because if the match is not necessary – the bracket will move forward and the next match will be played.  If you have questions – come to the tournament desk and we’ll be happy to explain!

Adult Events – Friday (late afternoon) through Sunday

• Men’s Open Singles
• Men’s Open Doubles
• Women’s Open Singles
• Women’s Open Doubles
• Mixed Open Doubles
• Men’s A Doubles

Depending on draw sizes, play will begin late Friday afternoon (4:00 PM) and continue through Saturday and Sunday.  We may not be able to schedule players who are unable to compete on Friday evening.

The schedule and brackets will be updated on this site throughout the tournament

• The tournament will provide tennis balls for all matches.
• Friday: Matches may begin as early as 4:00 PM and be played until sunset
• Saturday: Matches will begin at 8:30 AM and be played until sunset.
• Sunday: Matches will begin at 9:00 AM and be played until tournament completion

The matches are scheduled in blocks of 1 hour and 30 minutes.  If there are weather delays, we will move all events back by the same amount.  We will make every attempt to not shorten the individual matches, but reserve the right to shorten matches to complete the tournament.

Main Draw Matches – Up to Semi-Finals and All Consolation Draw Matches

• Matches will be 2 standard sets with no-ad game scoring
• If the score becomes deuce, in singles and doubles, the receiver will decide which side of court they would like to receive the final point.
• On deuce points in mixed doubles, server will serve to the receiver of the same sex for the final point.
• Set tie-break will be played at 6 games all. Tie-break is first player/team to seven points – winning by two points.
• If the players/teams split the first two sets, a match tie break will be played in lieu of a full third set.
• A match tie-break is the first player/team to ten points – winning by two points.
• Set and match tie-breaks may continue past 7/10 points until a player ahead by two points. (9-7), (12-10), etc.
• In set and match tie-breaks, players/teams will switch sides every 6 points.

Main Draw Matches – Semi-Finals and Finals (Changes from above)

• Matches will be 2 standard sets with standard game scoring (deuce and ad points).
• If the players/teams split the first two sets, a match tie break will be played in lieu of a full third set.

Consolation

All events have a 2 match guarantee. The inclusion of consolation brackets will be dependent on the number of entries in any given event class.  However, this is not a “double elimination” tournament.  In the draws you will see some “if necessary” matches in the consolation draw.  This is because if a player wins a match, but then loses their second match – that player would be done.  They would not move to the consolation bracket.  You can only move to the consolation bracket if you lose your first match.

If a player is waiting to see if they will be affected by a “if necessary” match – they should be ready to play because if the match is not necessary – the bracket will move forward and the next match will be played.  If you have questions – come to the tournament desk and we’ll be happy to explain!

We look forward to seeing you this weekend! 

All tournament proceeds benefit the Litchfield Tennis Association