2014 Wta Official Rulebook Official Wta 2014
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2014 WTA OFFICIAL RULEBOOK 2014 WTA OFFICIAL RULEBOOK 2014 WTA WTA - Women’s Tennis Association 100 Second Avenue South, Suite 1100-S St. Petersburg, Florida, USA 33701 TEL: +1.727.895.5000 FAX: +1.727.894.1982 www.wtatennis.com Printed in the United States of America 1-122-Intro-Players (vNov2013):Layout 1 11/19/2013 9:53 AM Page 1 2014 Official Rulebook Copyright 2014 WTA Tour, Inc. All Rights Reserved WTA and WTA Tour are registered trademarks of WTA Tour, Inc. Printed in the United States of America 1-122-Intro-Players (vNov2013):Layout 1 11/19/2013 9:53 AM Page 2 . 1-122-Intro-Players (vNov2013):Layout 1 11/19/2013 9:53 AM 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. COMMITMENT DEADLINES AND RULES 13 E. INCENTIVE PAYMENTS 15 F. SUSPENSION RULE 16 G. CALCULATION AND PAYMENT 20 H. ADDITIONAL RULES FOR TOP 10 PLAYERS 20 I. YEARS OF SERVICE 21 J. FUNDING OF BONUS POOL 21 III. ENTRIES/WITHDRAWALS/DRAWS/SCHEDULING 23 A. ENTRIES AND ACCEPTANCES 23 B. WITHDRAWING FROM A TOURNAMENT 34 C. DRAWS 45 D. SCHEDULING 81 IV. PLAYER RESPONSIBILITIES/ON-COURT RULES AND PROCEDURES 89 A. DIAMOND ACES POLICY 89 B. MEDIA/SPONSOR/PUBLIC RELATIONS RESPONSIBILITIES 98 C. CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT 111 D. TOILET/CHANGE OF ATTIRE BREAKS 118 E. WTA MEDICAL RULE 120 F. CODE OF CONDUCT 120 G. DELAY OF PLAY 120 H. HINDRANCE RULE 121 1 1-122-Intro-Players (vNov2013):Layout 1 11/19/2013 9:53 AM Page 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. DEFAULTS 121 J. FINE APPEALS 122 V. TOURNAMENT CATEGORIES 123 A. GRAND SLAM EVENTS 123 B. WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS 123 C. WTA TOURNAMENTS 123 VI. PLAYER COMMITMENT AND PRIZE MONEY POLICY 127 A. PLAYER COMMITMENT FORMULAS 127 B. TOURNAMENT MISSED PLAYER COMMITMENT 128 C. TOURNAMENT NOTIFICATION OF PLAYER COMMITMENT 128 D. INTERNATIONAL PRIZE MONEY POLICY 128 VII. WTA TOURNAMENT MEMBERSHIPS 131 A. WTA CALENDAR 131 B. APPLICATION FOR A NEW TOURNAMENT 131 C. CONDITIONS OF TOURNAMENT MEMBERSHIP 133 D. ANNUAL PROCEDURES FOR AN EXISTING TOURNAMENT 134 E. REASONS FOR REJECTION 136 F. TOURNAMENT PRIORITY 137 G. NO RELEASE 138 H. TERMINATION OF TOURNAMENTS 142 I. TOURNAMENT OWNERSHIP 143 J. TOURNAMENT MINIMUM INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS 154 VIII.WTA TOURNAMENT RESPONSIBILITIES/BENEFITS TO WTA 155 A. WTA SPONSOR PRODUCT CATEGORY EXCLUSIVITIES 155 B. COMMERCIAL BENEFITS GRANTED TO WTA 155 C. FAILURE TO PROVIDE COMMERCIAL BENEFITS 163 D. SPONSORSHIP RESTRICTIONS 163 E. PRE-TOURNAMENT RESPONSIBILITIES 164 IX. WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS 165 A. PREMIER WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS 165 B. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS 175 2 1-122-Intro-Players (vNov2013):Layout 1 11/19/2013 9:53 AM Page 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS X. PRIZE MONEY 185 A. DISTRIBUTION 185 B. AMATEUR EXPENSES 187 C. DEFAULTS, WITHDRAWALS AND BYES 188 D. SINGLES AND DOUBLES CANCELLATIONS 190 E. PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWNS 191 XI. PRIZE MONEY FORMULA 193 A. PRIZE MONEY FORMULA 193 B. ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION 199 C. DEFINITIONS 199 D. PMF COMMITTEE 205 E. REPORTING SYSTEM 207 F. ACCOUNTING RULES 208 G. AUDITS 211 H. COMPLIANCE 212 I. EXPIRATION 212 J. AMENDMENT 213 XII. TOURNAMENT FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS 215 A. TOURNAMENT FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS 215 B. TOURNAMENT FINANCIAL COMMITMENT 215 C. FINANCIAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS 217 D. TOURNAMENTS PAYING PRIZE MONEY IN EXCESS OF THE MINIMUM PRIZE MONEY LEVEL 219 E. CONDITIONS 220 F. LATE PAYMENTS 220 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 234 D. RETIRING FROM THE WTA 240 3 1-122-Intro-Players (vNov2013):Layout 1 11/19/2013 9:53 AM Page 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 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. DISHONORABLE OR UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF TOURNAMENT SUPPORT PERSONNEL 277 G. PROCEDURES FOR PLAYER AND TOURNAMENT SUPPORT PERSONNEL VIOLATIONS 278 H. PROCEDURES FOR PLAYER SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS AND CREDENTIALED PERSONS 283 XVII.STANDARDS 289 A. TOURNAMENT STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE 289 B. WTA REPRESENTATIVES 331 C. MEDICAL SECTION 335 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 381 K. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR OFFICIALS 396 XVIII.FINAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION 401 A. ARBITRATION 401 B. CONFIDENTIALITY 401 C. INVALIDITY 401 4 1-122-Intro-Players (vNov2013):Layout 1 11/19/2013 2:12 PM Page 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS APPENDICES 403 A. WTA PLAYER MEMBERSHIP 403 B. 2014 WTA CALENDAR 411 C. WTA CONTACT INFORMATION 413 D. ROOF POLICY 415 E. WTA PLAYER FINES 417 F. GLOSSARY 419 G. ITF RULES OF TENNIS 423 H. ANTI-DOPING CONTROL STATION 459 I. TENNIS ANTI-CORRUPTION PROGRAM 461 INDEX 479 5 1-122-Intro-Players (vNov2013):Layout 1 11/19/2013 9:53 AM Page 6 6 1-122-Intro-Players (vNov2013):Layout 1 11/19/2013 9:53 AM 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 (“WTA Tournaments”) are connected by a points system in which players earn ranking points based on a tour- nament’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 Premier and International tournaments worldwide, 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. An excerpt of the ITF Rules of Tennis are set forth in Appendix G. For the complete and current ITF Rules of Tennis, please visit http://www.itftennis.com/officiating/rulebooks/rules-of-tennis.aspx. 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 - Section XVI and the Glossary appearing in Appendix F. The headings and titles to the 7 1-122-Intro-Players (vNov2013):Layout 1 11/19/2013 9:53 AM Page 8 INTRODUCTION 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 (“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 day of the International Tournament of Champions and extends through the final day of the International Tournament of Champions the following calen- dar 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.