Latest Posts

The Code, Principle 9: When Partners See It Differently Jannik Sinner’s Shoulder Activation Drill with a Weighted Ball Tennis Beyond the Headlines: May 11, 2026 Where Clutch Comes From (Hint: Tournaments) The Problem with Single-Match Playoffs Court Space Isn’t the Problem Once Upon a Time There Was (My) Tennis

Voluntary Consolation

Voluntary consolation is a variation of the First Match Loser’s Consolation (FMLC) draw. In that format players that lose their first match have the option of signing up to participate in a back draw. Doing so is not required. When the USTA unveiled the 7 tier unified national tournament system, the voluntary consolation draw was explicitly included as an option at every tier of competition. Today’s post outlines the case for why the format arguably shouldn’t be used.

1 response