The Rules of Tennis
This is the final post in a series that examines new rules that appear in the 2022 USTA League Regulations. This year there are changes in the automatic appeal process that is applicable to players who are 60 and over.
Age-based appeal procedures have evolved fairly significantly over the past two years. In 2020, there were only three provisions in section 2.05E, “Promotion of Players 60 or Over and 65 or Over.” In 2021, a new item was added for players who are 70 and over. In 2022, there are now multiple tiers of ages and conditions under which automatic NTRP appeals can be granted.
I think the current regulations are best expressed in a table.
| Player Age | Caveats/Restrictions | Appeal Option |
| 60-64 | The player has been rated at the same NTRP level or lower for the three most recent years without the benefit of an appeal. | If promoted will receive an automatic appeal back to the previous rating. |
| 65-69 | The player has not been granted an appeal in the last three years. | If promoted will receive an automatic appeal back to the previous rating. |
| 70-79 | The player has not been granted an appeal in the last three years. | Will automatically be granted an appeal to the next lower level. |
| 80+ | The player has not been granted an appeal in the last five years. | Will automatically be granted an appeal to the next lower level. |
Automatic age-based appeals are not available to any player who has been granted an appeal in the three previous years. Players who are 80+ inexplicably have an extra couple of years tacked onto that restriction for a total of 5 years. It seems like the length of time should be consistent across all ages.
Conceptually “apex” rating is the key to understanding the caveats and restrictions for players in the 60-64 age range. Essentially, if a 60+ player is promoted to a ratings level that they have achieved within the last three years, the automatic appeal is not available. That restriction is removed for players who are 65+. Additionally, for all players 60-69, automatic appeal is only available if the player is promoted.
At age 70, players may be granted an automatic appeal down from their current level even if they have been at that level or even higher for years. 80+ players may also receive an automatic appeal down, but only if they haven’t appealed within the past five years. (This is bizarre. A player who could have appealed at 79 but did not would be ineligible to appeal at age 80. This cannot be what was intended.)
The automatic appeals do not exempt any of these players from dynamic disqualification. There is also a provision in this section that automatic appeal will be denied if the player if clearly above level.
Age based automatic appeals are only granted and sustained if the mysterious NTRP algorithm allows it. It’s more of a semi-automatic mechanism.
- USTA League Regulations, 2022, downloaded February 5, 2022.
