TOURNAMENT CHAIRMAN (for all pre-July 4 communications): Richard Bell, rsbell@ameritech.net

1. ELIGIBILITY
This is an open tournament. You need not live in Evanston to enter. However, all participants must be members of ECTA. Joining ECTA is automatic upon submitting a paid entry that includes applicable dues. You must be 16 or older by June 1, 2026, in order to participate. Players participating in 40 (and Over) or 60 (and Over) events must be those ages (or higher) by June 1, 2026.

Further information about the association and the tournament can be found at www.evanstontennis.org. Players may enter up to three events, including two doubles events, for one entry fee. A full list of the events is on the entry form. A few rules related to those events are highlighted here.

Community Tennis Events: The century doubles, 40 (and over) and 60 (and over) singles and doubles, mixed doubles, women’s doubles and 3.5 (and under) brackets are designated as Community Tennis Events. In order to promote a more enjoyable and competitive tournament experience for each entrant, pros will not be allowed entry into community tennis events.

Community tennis events are intended to provide players of moderate ability the opportunity to compete against their peers rather than in the open events. Generally, players with NTRP ratings higher than 3.5 or similar abilities are ineligible. The definition of a 3.5 player can be found on the USTA web site at www.usta.com/leagues. Some brackets are age-sensitive. Your age in this tournament is determined as your age as of June 1, 2026.

2. E-MAIL
In order to receive tournament updates, please register your email address on the bottom right of the ECTA homepage at www.evanstontennis.org where it says “Keep informed and up to date by entering your email address here.” E-mail will be the primary form of communication with you on all tournament matters.

3. ONLINE REGISTRATION
All registrations will be made online. (Contact the Tournament Chairman if this is a problem). You can register directly at www.evanstontennis.org. Each entrant must submit a completed official Entry Form. Doubles partners must each submit a completed form with entry fee.

4. ENTRY FEES
Tournament Entry Fee is $30 for each player, which covers up to three events (no more than two doubles or two singles categories per person, please), provided you are a member of the ECTA ($25 for 12 months). If you are not currently a member, please make full payment of $55.

5. PAYMENT
Payment may be made via Zelle (ECTAtreas@gmail.com) upon submitting your online form or by check. Personal checks should be made payable to Evanston Community Tennis Association and sent to:

ECTA Treasurer
1313 Cleveland Street
Evanston, IL 60202

7. DRAW POSTING
Event draws will be posted online and sent out via email the Tournament Director reserves the right to reassign entries in all brackets in order to allow for the best tennis experience and reserves the right to cancel or combine events with insufficient entrants. (If cancellation leaves an entrant without any event in the tournament, that entrant’s fee will be refunded.)

All final communications and information will be posted on the ECTA website and sent out via email. Inquire with the Tournament Chairman if you have any questions.

8. EARLY ROUNDS OF PLAY
Early-round matches will be self-arranged and completed two days before Fourth of July finals. Entrants may be defaulted for failure to play by the deadline. To protect yourself against default, immediately advise the Tournament Chairman of any reason you will be unable to keep to the schedule.

10. MATCH FORMAT
Each match is decided by two out of three sets. If a match is even at one set apiece, the third set will be determined by USTA 10-point match tiebreaker (first team to 10, winning my two), sometimes referred to as a super tiebreaker.

Each singles player or doubles team must bring a can of new USTA-approved tennis balls to each match. The winner of the match keeps/gets the unopened can.

11. MATCH RULES
International Tennis Federation (IFT) rules of tennis govern all matches. USTA’s Friend at Court: Handbook of Rules and Regulations” also are applicable. The code for unofficiated matches governs all matches except those played with chair umpires.

12. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Any dispute should be settled by the players in accordance with the tournament’s Match Rules (see above) or by directing an inquiry promptly to the Tournament Chairman. The Tournament Director shall have the final decision-making authority over any dispute that arise during tournament play.

13. DEFAULTS
Any player may be defaulted for failure to appear for a scheduled match; inability to complete a match in progress due to injury, illness, or personal emergency; a failure to maintain the tournament schedule, including scheduled semi-final or championship matches; and any other grounds specified under the tournament’s Match Rules (see above). The Tournament Director has discretion to default a single player/team or both players/team(s) whose match is not completed by the deadline. Any potential default must be ruled on by the Tournament Director before it is effective.

14. REPORTING RESULTS
The winner of each match is responsible for promptly reporting the result to the Tournament Chairman.

15. POSTING OF RESULTS
Final match results will be posted on the ECTA website.

16. CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
Most championship matches will be played at Ackerman Park (as indicated by “ACK” on draw sheets) on July 4. Participants must be available to play on July 4 unless the match is played at a self-arranged time with the consent of the Tournament Director. The Referee will schedule the specific times of all championship matches. The schedule/draws will be posted at www.evanstontennis.org and shared via email.