2012 Official Rulebook
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1-114-Intro-Players.qxp_Layout 1 11/14/11 9:20 PM Page 1 2012 Official Rulebook Copyright 2012 WTA Tour, Inc. All Rights Reserved WTA and WTA Tour are trademarks of WTA Tour, Inc. Reg USPTO. Printed in the United States of America 1-114-Intro-Players.qxp_Layout 1 11/14/11 9:20 PM Page 2 . 1-114-Intro-Players.qxp_Layout 1 11/14/11 9:20 PM Page 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE WTA I. INTRODUCTION 7 A. DESCRIPTION 7 B. ADMINISTRATION 7 C. RULES 7 D. TOURNAMENT ACCEPTANCES 8 E. TOUR YEARS 8 F. WORLD CHAMPION 8 G. WTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 9 II. TOP 10 PLAYER LIST 11 A. COMPOSITION AND ORDER 11 B. MINIMUM COMMITMENT REQUIREMENTS 12 C. COMPENSATION 13 D. MINIMUM COMMITMENT DEADLINES AND RULES 14 E. INCENTIVE PAYMENTS 16 F. SUSPENSION RULE 17 G. CALCULATION AND PAYMENT 21 H. ADDITIONAL RULES FOR TOP 10 PLAYERS 21 I. YEARS OF SERVICE 22 J. FUNDING OF BONUS POOL 22 III. ENTRIES/WITHDRAWALS/DRAWS/SCHEDULING 23 A. ENTRIES AND ACCEPTANCES 23 B. WITHDRAWING FROM A TOURNAMENT 32 C. DRAWS 43 D. SCHEDULING 75 IV. PLAYER RESPONSIBILITIES/ON-COURT RULES AND PROCEDURES 81 A. DIAMOND ACES POLICY 81 B. MEDIA/SPONSOR/PUBLIC RELATIONS RESPONSIBILITIES 90 C. CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT 103 D. TOILET/CHANGE OF ATTIRE BREAKS 110 E. WTA MEDICAL RULE 111 F. CODE OF CONDUCT 111 G. DELAY OF PLAY 112 H. HINDRANCE RULE 112 1 1-114-Intro-Players.qxp_Layout 1 11/14/11 9:20 PM Page 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. DEFAULTS 113 J. FINE APPEALS 114 V. TOURNAMENT CATEGORIES 115 A. GRAND SLAM EVENTS 115 B. WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS 115 C. TOURNAMENT CATEGORIES 115 VI. PLAYER COMMITMENT AND PRIZE MONEY POLICY 119 A. PLAYER COMMITMENT FORMULAS 119 B. TOURNAMENT MISSED PLAYER COMMITMENT 120 C. TOURNAMENT NOTIFICATION OF PLAYER COMMITMENT 120 D. PREMIER 700 AND INTERNATIONAL PRIZE MONEY POLICIES 121 VII. TOURNAMENT APPLICATIONS 127 A. WTA CALENDAR 127 B. APPLICATION FOR A NEW TOURNAMENT 127 C. CONDITIONS OF TOURNAMENT MEMBERSHIP 129 D. ANNUAL PROCEDURES FOR AN EXISTING TOURNAMENT 130 E. REASONS FOR REJECTION 132 F. TOURNAMENT PRIORITY 133 G. NO RELEASE 134 H. TERMINATION OF TOURNAMENTS 138 I. TOURNAMENT OWNERSHIP 139 J. TOURNAMENT MINIMUM INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS 150 VIII.TOURNAMENT RESPONSIBILITIES/BENEFITS TO WTA 153 A. WTA SPONSOR PRODUCT CATEGORY EXCLUSIVITIES 153 B. COMMERCIAL BENEFITS GRANTED TO WTA 153 C. FAILURE TO PROVIDE COMMERCIAL BENEFITS 161 D. SPONSORSHIP RESTRICTIONS 161 E. PRE-TOURNAMENT RESPONSIBILITIES 161 IX. WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS 163 A. PREMIER WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS 163 2 1-114-Intro-Players.qxp_Layout 1 11/14/11 9:20 PM Page 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS B. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS 173 X. PRIZE MONEY 183 A. DISTRIBUTION 183 B. AMATEUR EXPENSES 185 C. AMATEUR PRIZE MONEY 186 D. DEFAULTS, WITHDRAWALS AND BYES 186 E. SINGLES AND DOUBLES CANCELLATIONS 188 F. PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWNS 189 XI. PRIZE MONEY FORMULA 193 A. PRIZE MONEY FORMULA 193 B. ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION 197 C. DEFINITIONS 197 D. PMF COMMITTEE 202 E. REPORTING SYSTEM 204 F. ACCOUNTING RULES 207 G. AUDITS 209 H. COMPLIANCE 210 I. EXPIRATION 211 J. AMENDMENT 212 XII. TOURNAMENT FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS 213 A. TOURNAMENT FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS 213 B. TOURNAMENT FINANCIAL COMMITMENT 213 C. FINANCIAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS 215 D. TOURNAMENTS PAYING PRIZE MONEY IN EXCESS OF THE MINIMUM PRIZE MONEY LEVEL 217 E. CONDITIONS 218 F. LATE PAYMENTS 218 XIII.WTA FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO TOURNAMENTS 221 A. COMMERCIAL BENEFITS PAYMENTS 221 B. PAYMENT DATES 221 XIV.WTA RANKING SYSTEM 223 A. GENERAL 223 B. GENERAL RULES 228 C. WTA SPECIAL RANKING RULE 233 3 1-114-Intro-Players.qxp_Layout 1 11/14/11 9:20 PM Page 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS D. RETIRING FROM THE WTA 239 XV. AGE ELIGIBILITY AND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT 241 A. AGE ELIGIBILITY RULE 241 B. PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS 252 C. PLAYER PENALTIES 260 XVI.CODE OF CONDUCT 261 A. GENERAL PRINCIPLES 261 B. DEFINITIONS 262 C. APPLICABILITY AND AVAILABILITY 263 D. RULES AND PENALTIES – PLAYERS 264 E. EXHIBITION/NON-WTA EVENT RULE 275 F. WTA-AFFILIATED EVENTS – FED CUP 277 G. DISHONORABLE OR UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF TOURNAMENT SUPPORT PERSONNEL 278 H. PROCEDURES FOR PLAYER AND TOURNAMENT SUPPORT PERSONNEL VIOLATIONS 279 I. PROCEDURES FOR PLAYER SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS AND CREDENTIALED PERSONS 283 XVII.STANDARDS 289 A. TOURNAMENT STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE 289 B. WTA REPRESENTATIVES 330 C. MEDICAL SECTION 334 D. ON-COURT SIGNAGE 358 E. COURT MEASUREMENTS 363 F. LIGHT MEASUREMENTS 364 G. ELECTRONIC REVIEW 365 H. ON-COURT COACHING 368 I. INTERNATIONAL MEDIA RIGHTS POOL 372 J. WTA TELEVISION BROADCAST STANDARDS 383 K. CODE FOR OFFICIALS 396 XVIII.FINAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION 399 A. ARBITRATION 399 B. CONFIDENTIALITY 399 C. INVALIDITY 399 APPENDICES 401 4 1-114-Intro-Players.qxp_Layout 1 11/14/11 9:20 PM Page 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS A. WTA MEMBERSHIP 401 B. 2012 WTA CALENDAR 409 C. WTA CONTACT INFORMATION 410 D. WTA TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR CONTACTS 412 E. WTA PLAYER FINES 430 F. GLOSSARY 432 G. ITF RULES OF TENNIS 434 H. ANTI-DOPING CONTROL STATION 478 I. ROOF POLICY 480 J. UNIFORM TENNIS ANTI-CORRUPTION PROGRAM 482 INDEX 498 5 1-114-Intro-Players.qxp_Layout 1 11/14/11 9:20 PM Page 6 6 1-114-Intro-Players (final v2).qxp_Layout 1 11/19/11 3:03 PM Page 7 INTRODUCTION THE WTA I. INTRODUCTION A. DESCRIPTION The Women’s Tennis Association or WTA is an international award compe- tition open to all female players. The tournaments comprising the WTA are connected by a points system in which players earn ranking points based on a tournament’s category and the player’s performance. B. ADMINISTRATION The WTA is administered and governed by the WTA Tour, Inc. (referred to herein as “WTA Tour” or “WTA”), a US registered corporation whose mem- bers are the players, its recognized tournaments worldwide (“WTA Tournaments”), and the International Tennis Federation (“ITF”). The Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the WTA Tour is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the WTA. The Board of Directors of the WTA Tour is com- prised of three (3) Player Board Representatives, three (3) Tournament Board Representatives, one (1) ITF Board Representative and the CEO. The Board of Directors is responsible for establishing the long-term strate- gic plan for the WTA. Alternate Board Representatives for each member class may also attend Board of Directors meetings as determined by the CEO. C. RULES In accordance with the rules set forth in this WTA Official Rulebook (“Rulebook”), as amended from time to time (“Rules”), the WTA Tour selects and schedules WTA Tournaments and is responsible for the resolution of any matter of dispute pertaining to the WTA, including imposition of penal- ties on players, WTA Tournaments, tournament officials, player relatives and representatives, coaches and other credentialed persons. The ITF Rules of Tennis shall apply to all WTA Tournaments except as amended by the Rules. The ITF Rules of Tennis are set forth in Appendix G - page 434. The Rules may be altered, amended or repealed by the WTA pursuant to the WTA By-Laws. Capitalized terms which are used but not defined in the Rulebook have the meanings set forth in the Code of Conduct - page 261 and the Glossary appearing in Appendix F – page 432. The headings and 7 1-114-Intro-Players.qxp_Layout 1 11/14/11 9:20 PM Page 8 INTRODUCTION titles to the Sections contained herein are inserted solely for convenience purposes and shall not affect the meaning or construction of the Rules. Any action of the WTA Tour pursuant to these Rules or otherwise with respect to the WTA shall be deemed effective only when the parties affect- ed thereby shall have been sent notice of the action, or, in the case of any action of general applicability, notice thereof shall have been published in a manner that will ensure wide circulation. PlayerZone and TournamentZone postings and Player and Tournament Alerts shall be considered official forms of WTA communication with its members. The WTA may impose appropriate sanctions, including monetary sanctions, upon any person or entity subject to these Rules who participates in or aids and abets any violation of these Rules. Any violations of these Rules which do not specify a process for imposition of a penalty shall be decided by the CEO and such decision of the CEO may be appealed to the Board of Directors. All monetary terms are in United States dollars unless otherwise stated. English is the official language of the WTA. D. TOURNAMENT ACCEPTANCES Entries and acceptances for all Tournaments shall be the responsibility of the WTA. With the exception of the Grand Slams and unless otherwise pro- vided for in these Rules, the WTA is obligated to provide players to WTA Tournaments in accordance with the formula set forth in Section VI - page 119 (“Player Commitment”). E. TOUR YEARS For the purposes of these Rules, the WTA has been organized into Tour Years. The “Tour Year” commences the day immediately following the final WTA Tournament of the calendar year and extends through the day of the final WTA Tournament of the following calendar year. F. WORLD CHAMPION The ITF World Champion will be determined by the ITF in consultation with the WTA. Selection will be based primarily on WTA Rankings and will take into account performances in the Fed Cup and, in a Summer Olympics year, the Olympic tennis event. 8 1-114-Intro-Players.qxp_Layout 1 11/14/11 9:20 PM Page 9 INTRODUCTION G. WTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Directors • Steve Simon (Tournament Class Director) • Micky Lawler (Tournament Class Director) • Peter-Michael Reichel (Tournament Class Director) • Lisa Grattan (Player Class Director) • Vanessa Webb (Player Class Director) • Carlos Fleming (Player Class Director) • Juan Margets (Federation Class Director) • Stacey Allaster (Chief Executive Officer) Alternate Directors & Observers • Markus Guenthardt (Tournament Class Alternate) • Nicole Pratt (Player Class Alternate) • Francesco Ricci Bitti (Federation Class Alternate) Tentative 2012 Meeting Schedule for Board of Directors • Week 13 (Miami, Florida, USA) • Week 36 (New York, New York, USA) • Week 44 (Istanbul, Turkey) 9 1-114-Intro-Players.qxp_Layout 1 11/14/11 9:20 PM Page 10 10 1-114-Intro-Players.qxp_Layout 1 11/14/11 9:20 PM Page 11 PLAYERS II.