Zurich Rainbow Open is a GLTA-sanctioned tournament.
The Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance (www.glta.net) is the international organization that manages and sanctions the gay tennis circuit around the world. The GLTA is comprised of gay and lesbian tennis clubs around the world. Our tournament will be played according to the guidelines of GLTA and of the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
The draws with the names of the players will be published on the GLTA website.
Rules and regulations
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) tennis rules apply. GLTA rules as described below are added to the ITF rules. By participating in the Zurich Rainbow Open tournament, players agree with the tournament rules.
The GLTA rules can be retrieved on the GLTA website.
Entries
Players can enter in 1 or 2 events. The rules and rankings from the GLTA and the National Associations will be used to determine players' divisions.
Players have to register in the appropriate division. The highest ranking determines the placement. If a participant still plays in an inappropriate division (too low) he will be defaulted.
For doubles, the strongest partner's division determines the placement.
Levels, Ranking and Seeding
All players have to play in the appropriate GLTA division. You can find your GLTA ranking on the GLTA website: glta.tournamentsoftware.com/rankings.aspx. For the seeding we will use the GLTA ranking list as of 21 days before our tournament and all other relevant information.
Players have always to play according their level of their National Associations, also when their GLTA level may be lower then their national level - see the conversion table.
Events
Men
Singles and Doubles
If there are not enough entries in one level, there will be a Round Robin match format.
Women
Singles and Doubles
If there are not enough entries in one level, there will be a Round Robin match format.
Balls
to be defined (ITF approved)
Match format
Main draw
Singles:
All matches will be played best of 3 sets with a tie-break in 1st and 2nd set. Third set is a champions tie-break (10 points).
Semi-Finals and Finals will be played with best of 3 sets with a tie-break in every set.
Doubles:
All matches will be played best of 3 sets, with a tiebreak at 6-6 in the first two sets. The third set will be played as a Champions Tiebreak (10 points instead of 7 points).
Consolation
Consolation rounds are open to all players who lost in the first match in the singles events. There are no consolation rounds in round robin events. First macht looser will be put in consolation rounds, please let us know, if you don't want to play consolation rounds.
Matches in the consolation rounds will be played as a pro-set. This is a set until 8 games with a difference of at least 2 games and a tie-break at 8-8.
Match times
Please report to the tournament desk 15 minutes prior to each match!
Between matches a 30-minute break is allowed after a singles match and a 15-minute break after a doubles match. Balls
All matches will be played with ITF approved "Tennis-Point Premium" tennis balls.
The balls will be used for a maximum of 3 matches.
New balls will be provided for each final.
After each match, the balls have to be returned to the tournament desk! Trophies
Winners and finalists in all levels will be awarded.
Winners of the consolation rounds will also get a price.
Unforseen delays
In case of unforeseen delays (rain, etc.), the tournament committee can change the match format.