What is World Team Tennis?
World Team Tennis (WTT) is a team-based, professional tennis league that has been around since 1974. The league is composed of eight franchises, each with a roster of four players — two men and two women — who compete in a series of singles, doubles, and mixed doubles matches. The teams play each other in a round-robin format, with the winner of the match determined by the number of games won by each side. The team with the most points at the end of the match is declared the winner.
WTT is unique among professional tennis leagues in that it allows for coaching during the match, and its matches are played over best-of-five sets. WTT also has a number of other rules that make it distinct from other professional tennis leagues, such as no-ad scoring (each game is played to its conclusion) and an 11-point tiebreaker at five games all.
How is World Team Tennis Scored?
In WTT, each match is played to the best of five sets. Each set is composed of seven games, with the first team to win four games declared the winner. If the score reaches three games all, then a tiebreaker is played to determine the winner of the set.
The scoring is slightly different in doubles and mixed doubles. In doubles, each game is played to its conclusion and the winner is declared when one team has a two-point lead. In mixed doubles, each game is played to four points and the winner is determined by who wins the most points.
Who Can Play in World Team Tennis?
Players in WTT are required to have an ATP or WTA ranking. The league also allows a certain number of wildcard players who are not ranked but are invited by the league to compete. Most wildcard players are former top players looking for a chance to get back into the game.
What is the Format of World Team Tennis?
The WTT season consists of a regular season and playoffs. The regular season is composed of 14 matches — seven home and seven away — played against each other team in the league. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams advance to the playoffs, which are a single-elimination tournament.
How Long is a World Team Tennis Match?
A WTT match typically lasts two to three hours. Each set is composed of seven games, and each game is played to its conclusion. The tiebreaker is played to 11 points.
What is the Prize Money in World Team Tennis?
The prize money for the WTT season is determined by the number of wins each team accumulates during the regular season. The team with the most wins at the end of the regular season is awarded the championship trophy, and the top four teams split the league’s total prize money.
What are the Rules of World Team Tennis?
WTT has a number of rules that set it apart from other professional tennis leagues. These rules include no-ad scoring, a five-game tiebreaker, coaching during the match, and a player substitution rule.
No-Ad Scoring
In WTT, each game is played to its conclusion and the winner is declared when one team has a two-point lead. This is in contrast to other professional tennis leagues, where the game is typically won by the first team to reach four points.
Five-Game Tiebreaker
If the score reaches three games all in a set, then a tiebreaker is played to determine the winner of the set. The tiebreaker is played to 11 points and the winner of the tiebreaker is declared the winner of the set.
Coaching During the Match
WTT is unique in that it allows for coaching during the match. Coaches are allowed to provide advice and encouragement to their players during the match, as long as the player is not actively in the process of hitting the ball.
Player Substitution Rule
WTT also has a player substitution rule, which allows teams to substitute players in and out of the match during the course of the match. This can be done for strategic or tactical reasons, or simply to rest a player who is fatigued.
How is World Team Tennis Broadcast?
WTT matches are broadcast on the Tennis Channel in the United States, as well as on various international networks. The league also streams matches on its official website.
Conclusion
World Team Tennis is a unique and exciting professional tennis league that offers a different experience than other professional tennis leagues. With its no-ad scoring, five-game tiebreakers, coaching during the match, and player substitution rule, WTT provides an exciting and unpredictable experience for both players and fans alike.