Rules

Fast4 Tournament Scoring Format & Rules

1. Main Draw Singles matches will be played as the best of three (3) short sets (first to 4 games) with a short tiebreak (first to five (5) points, sudden death at four (4) points all) played at three (3) games all.
2. For consolation singles events or if a Doubles event is played,matches will be played as the best of two (2) short sets (first to four (4) games) with a short tiebreak (first to five (5) points, sudden death at four (4) points all) played at three (3) games all. If sets are even at the conclusion of the second set, a Match tiebreak (first to ten (10) with an advantage of two (2) points) will be played to determine the outcome of the Rubber.
3. A short tiebreak is a tiebreak played as the first to five (5) points, sudden death at 4-4. The player whose turn it is to serve at the commencement of the tiebreak (Player A) will serve two (2) points. The opposing player (Player B) will then serve two (2) points. Player A (or team mate of Player A in doubles) will then serve two (2) points. Player B (or team mate of Player B in doubles) will then serve the following two (2) points. If the score reaches 4-4, Player B (or the team mate of Player B in doubles) will serve the final point of the tiebreak with Player A choosing which side the ball will be served. Players will change ends only after the first four (4) points have been played.
4. All singles and doubles matches will be played using no-advantage scoring, with the receiver choosing the service side when the game reaches deuce.
5. No service lets will be played, meaning if the ball hits the net cord on a serve and lands (bounces) within the correct service box, play will continue. In doubles, if the ball hits the net cord on the serve and lands (bounces) within the correct service box, either player can return the ball (e.g.; the ball hits the net cord and drops over the net, the non-receiver can move across and return the serve).
6. When the players change ends at the end of a game and during a tiebreak game, play shall be continuous and the players shall change ends with players having to be ready to play within 60 seconds of the previous games completion. Players are not permitted to sit down during the change of ends during a set.
7. At the end of each set there shall be a set break of a maximum of ninety (90) seconds (Set Break). The Set Break maximum time starts from themoment that one point finishes until the first service is struck for the next point. Players are permitted to sit down at the end of a set.

Fast4 Tennis

From SMH 12-Jan-2015

How did it start?

FAST4 Tennis was introduced by Tennis Australia to give people a quicker (and possibly more exciting) way to play tennis. According to Tennis Australia’s website, “Designed with the time-crunched player in mind, the FAST4 format means that anyone, anywhere has time for tennis.”

What are the rules?

FAST4 Tennis encourages lightning-fast play, with sets won when one player reaches four games, rather than the usual six or seven. Matches don’t generally last any longer than 75 minutes, even at five sets, with each set lasting about a quarter of an hour at most. Players are not allowed to sit down between change of ends and play must resume within 60 seconds of the previous game finishing. Players are allowed a 90 second break at the end of each set.

Innovation #1:

Lets are played. If the serve hits the tape and lands inside the box, it’s a legitimate serve.

Innovation #2:

No advantage scores when deuce is reached. Instead, what happens is a ‘PowerPoint’. The receiving player/doubles pair decides the service side for that point.

Innovation #3:

If the set reaches three games all, a tiebreaker game is played. First player to five points wins, with a PowerPoint played at 4 points all.

Innovation #4:

First player to four games wins the set. It doesn’t matter how many games separate you and your opponent, there are no advantage games.

Francis Lee Rules

On the odd occasion that one player does not appear, we play cut-throat doubles using Francis Lee Rules.

1. One player versus two players.
2. The single player side hits into the opposing doubles court and the two player side hits into the opposing singles court.
3. Four games are played before a change of ends / partners
4. The single player serves in games 1 and 3.
5. The doubles players serve one each of games 2 and 4.
6. The doubles player serving in game 2 moves to the singles end on completion of the four games.
7. The doubles player serving in game 2 receives on the forehand side in game 1.
8. The doubles player serving in game 4 receives on the forehand side in game 3.