RULES OF PLAY - CHALLENGER SERIES
Baseline UTR Tour Challenger – Event Breakdown – 11 – 12 April 2026
ABOUT THE EVENT
The Baseline UTR Tour Challenger is a high-level competitive tournament designed for
dedicated, performance-driven players aiming to elevate their UTR and progress toward US collegiate tennis opportunities.
This event brings together strong competitors, offering quality match play, meaningful
ranking points, and the chance to compete for substantial prize money. Players will be
divided into UTR brackets/ divisions based on their UTR rating at the time of entry,
ensuring challenging, fair, and development-focused matchups.
Beyond competition, the Baseline UTR Tour Challenger promotes a culture of on- and off-
court learning, focusing on both physical and mental development. While competition is
embraced, the tournament is grounded in sportsmanship, fair play, respect for opponents,
and enjoyment of the game.
Climb the UTR ratings. Gain valuable match experience. Compete like a college athlete.
- Play the level. Build the rating. Chase college tennis.
- Where performance meets progression.
- Built for players chasing the next level.
ELIGIBILITY & RATINGS
• Players must have a valid UTR Rating and an active UTR profile to enter.
• This is a rating tournament with UTR points allocated per round played.
• Rankings are managed through the Baseline UTR Ranking System and ratings are
managed via the UTR Platform.
• This is not an age-based tournament and there are no age restrictions.
Divisions are rating-based, not age-based.
• All Baseline UTR Tournament Rules apply to players, parents, and coaches.
• Roving umpires will assist with on- and off-court matters.
MATCH FORMAT & GUARANTEED PLAY
• Minimum Matches: 2
• Maximum Matches: 4 (pending draw size)
Main Draw:
• Best of 3 sets to 6
• Tiebreak at 6–6 (win by 2 points)
• 10-point match tiebreak in place of 3rd set (win by 2 points)
• No-ad scoring
• No-let rule
Back Draw:
• First-round back draw only
• Best of 3 sets to 6
• Tiebreak at 6–6 (win by 2 points)
• 10-point match tiebreak in place of 3rd set (win by 2 points)
• No-ad scoring
• No-let rule
• Used balls provided
• Back draw matches are compulsory
Baseline UTR may allocate Lucky Loser matches at our discretion.
EVENT DATES & MATCH TIMES
Entries Open 11 th May at 2pm
• Saturday 20 June – Matches start at 08:00
• Sunday 21 June – Matches start at 08:00
• Sunday is the final tournament day regardless of round
• Draws available online by Wednesday, 8 April at 19:00.
Order of Play available online by Thursday, 18 June at 19:00
ENTRIES, SEEDING & DRAWS
• Entries Close: Sunday 14 June at 23:30
• Seeding and draw placement determined by Tournament Director based on your UTR rating at time of entry. You will be placed in your division based on your UTR rating.
• Open to all players with a 5.0+ UTR (Universal Tennis Rating)
• Men’s & Women’s Singles Draws (No age restriction)
• Accepted entries based on highest UTR rating. Entry fees will be refunded to entrants who do not qualify for the tournament within 5 working days after publication of draw
Women’s Draw - Minimum entry of 32 players and maximum 48 players required to avoid Draw cancellation, and Men’s Draw - Minimum entry of 32 players and maximum 64 players required to avoid draw cancellation - Maximum entry of 112 players across men and women combined.
• Tournament Draw is broken up into Divisions of 16 players grouped highest-to-lowest
according to UTR ratings
o Up to 3 draws for women (48 players)
o Up to 4 draws for men (64 players)
• Current and former college players are welcome
• Tournament Director may issue up to 4 Wild Cards per division at their discretion
PRIZE MONEY – TOTAL PRIZE POOL R25,000 * Based on maximum Entries.
Across Men’s and Ladies
Cash Prizes
Division 1:
Winner R5,000 | Finalist R2,000 | Semis R1,000 | Backdraw Winner R1,000
Division 2:
Winner R1,000 | Finalist R500 | Semis R250 | Backdraw Winner R500
Baseline Racquets Monetary Vouchers
Division 3:
Winner R500 | Finalist R250 | Semis R150 | Backdraw Winner R250
Division 4:
Winner R250 | Finalist R150 | Semis R100 | Backdraw Winner R150
Prize Payment Policy:
• Division 1 & 2 – EFT within 5 working days
• Division 3 & 4 – Baseline Racquets vouchers issued at tournament
• Prize money awarded only for rounds played
• If finalists split without playing, only the championship prize is split
VENUE & TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
• Venue: GETA Lakeside, Benoni
• Surface: Hard Courts
• Balls: Yonex Platinum Tour
• Umpires: On-site at all times
• Current and former college players welcome
DRAW RULES & SCORE REPORTING
• Players must sign in at Tournament Desk at least 15 minutes before the scheduled match
• Both players must report scores together immediately after the match
• Scores cannot be changed once submitted
• Back draw matches are compulsory
OFF-COURT COACHING
• Coaching is permitted but player's and coach's must adhere to the Baseline UTR Code of Conduct.
• Rules regarding coaching are posted at the Tournament Desk and as per Baseline UTR Code of Conduct
• Baseline UTR reserves the right to remove coaches from the venue should they disobey the Code of Conduct around Coaching.
• Policies may be adjusted or removed at discretion of Tournament Director
WITHDRAWALS & REFUNDS
• Players who withdraw or default may not play back draw.
• No Baseline UTR Tour ranking points awarded (no exceptions)
• Withdraw by emailing utrdirector@baselineracquets.co.za
• Valid reason and proof required. A valid doctor's note must be submitted for any injury
withdrawals.
• Refunds only if this is submitted before the entry deadline
• Refunds processed within 5 working days after the deadline
• Do not withdraw via the UTR website
• Should a player withdraw no Baseline UTR ranking points will be granted for any rounds
played. No prize money will be awarded.
WEATHER POLICY
• Tournament will attempt to complete all draws
• Main draw takes priority
• Back draw not guaranteed in prolonged bad weather
• No refunds after the first match begins
• Credits issued only if tournament is fully rained out and no match begins
RULES & REGULATIONS
All Baseline UTR Tournament Rules apply to players, parents, and coaches alike.
Roving umpires will be on-site throughout the tournament to assist with on-court and off-
court matters, ensuring fair play, professionalism, and adherence to tournament
standards.
• Default declared 15 minutes after match call.
• UTR suspensions apply to all divisions.
Smart watches or devices are not allowed on court.
No alcohol is allowed to be brought on site.
No animals are allowed at the venue.
Smoking/vaping is not allowed around the courts, only in designated smoking areas or the parking lot.
PRACTICE COURTS
• Available Saturday & Sunday
• 07:00 – 07:55
• First-come, first-served
STRINGING
• On-site professional stringing by Baseline Racquets
• Phone: 011 453 5005
MEDIA DISCLAIMER
Photos and videos of players may be taken during the tournament for promotional and
reporting purposes. These images and videos may be published across Baseline Racquets
and Baseline UTR Tour media platforms, including social media and digital marketing
channels.
By entering this tournament, players (and guardians where applicable) consent to the use
of photographs and video footage in which they may appear.
Players who do not wish for their media to be published must notify the tournament in
writing by emailing: utr@baselineracquets.co.za
(Requests must be submitted before the start of the tournament.)
Spectator & Parent Photography Restrictions
To protect children and vulnerable individuals, and to safeguard against inappropriate
use of images or potential abuse, parents, spectators, and non-authorised persons are
not permitted to take photographs or videos during the tournament.
This policy is in place to:
Ensure a safe and controlled environment for all players
Protect minors and vulnerable individuals from unauthorised image capture
Prevent misuse, misrepresentation, or distribution of player images
Allow the tournament to manage media in a responsible, transparent, and accountable manner
Only authorised Baseline UTR media personnel may capture photos or video during match play and tournament activities.
Enforcement
Tournament officials and roving umpires may request any unauthorised
photography or recording to cease immediately
Continued non-compliance may result in:
o Removal from the venue
o Penalties applied to the associated player
o Further disciplinary action at the Tournament Director’s discretion
The Tournament Director’s decision is final in all media-related matters.
