TTT Sacred Text

Vision

The purpose of the TennCom Tennis Trials (TTT) is to increase the “specialness” of match play amongst recreational players. Too often, few rec players make it past the first couple rounds of a tournament. Further, what are they even playing for? Tennis Canada ranking points? Who really cares?

In the TTT, players must defend their own ranking in the league. Player’s are competing for the number one position in the league, TTT Champion.

Initial Matches

Beckett and Simon will play the first ever TTT match to incept the league. Once this is complete, new players will be able to enter the league at any time by challenging the lowest ranked player.

If you wish to enter the TennCom Tennis Trials, click here.

Scoring

Regular Matches will be played in a Best of 3 format. Sets are replaced by 10-point tiebreakers to increase the frequency of high-pressure moments, minimize the time commitment to the players and help manage court time in public parks.

  • Matches are best of 3 sets.

  • Sets 10 point tiebreakers.

Title Matches

A player must play a minimum of 5 matches against 5 different opponents before they become eligible for a Title Match. Title matches are subject to special scoring to increase the epicness of becoming TTT Champion.

  • Matches are best of 5 sets.

  • Sets are 10 point tiebreakers.

TTT Champion

The TTT Champion will be awarded the “Champion’s Jersey,” a bespoke t-shirt symbolizing your great victory. The Champion’s Jersey is to be worn by the Champ as they defend their title. It would be a shameful disgrace to wear your Champion’s Jersey in a TTT Match after you lose your title.

The loser of any Title Match MUST remove their shirt immediately after the loss. If the TTT Champion is dethroned, they must immediately remove their Champion’s Jersey, as they are no longer the champion.

A ceremonial photo will be taken of the shirtless loser next to the Champ, donning their Champion’s Jersey.

Exceptions will be made for players who play in bras without shirts or choose to play shirtless.

Wearing one’s Champion’s Jersey in TTT Matches while NOT the reigning champ will result in the immediate suspension from the TTT.

The League

Players move up and down the TTT Rankings by challenging higher ranked players. Players can issue challenges to rivals at anytime. Incumbents cannot deny more than 3 challenges per month or they risk falling to the position of the lowest ranked player who submitted one of the 3 most recent challenges.

For example, Player ranked 1 (#1) receives 3 challenges in June, one from #2, one from #3, and one from #4. If #1 declines all three challenges, they will fall to position 4 on the rankings, and all players ranked from #2-4 will move up one position.

If #1 is unable to defend their position, a Title Match will be played between #2 and #3.

Challenges

Challenges are not a free-for-all. The bottom Ranked Player cannot simply challenge the top Ranked Player at any time.

The final score of a player’s most recent Regular Match determines the Challenge Power of that player, according to the following schedule.

  • You lose in a 3 sets, but in overtime scoring (11-9 or tighter) | You are eligible to challenge the player who beat you to a rematch. A rematch challenge must be issued immediately after, or in lieu of, the closing handshake. You may also await challenges from lower ranked players.

  • You lose by any other score | You must await challenges from a lower ranked, or unranked, player.

  • You win in 3 sets, but in overtime scoring (11-9 or tighter) | If challenged, you must accept the rematch challenge issued by the player you just beat. If no rematch is issued, you may challenge the player +1 spot above you.

  • You win in 3 sets | You may challenge the player +1 spot above you.

  • You win in 2 sets | You may challenge the player up to +2 spots above you.

  • You win, losing no more than 10 points | You may challenge the player up to +3 spots above you.

  • You win, losing no more than 5 points | You may challenge the player up to +4 spots above you.

When you defeat a player, you claim that player’s ranking.

When you lose to a player, your ranking falls by 1. A player’s ranking can fall by 1 position if they are leap frogged by a lower ranked player.

Examples:

Julie is the Bottom Ranked Player at #9. A new challenger, Bob, enters the TTT as #10 and challenges Julie, #9.

Potential Outcomes:

  1. Bob wins with a score of 10-8, 7-10, 15-13. He becomes #9 and Julie falls to #10.

    • The match is Rematch Eligible, so Julie has the right to challenge Bob to a rematch in their next sanctioned match. Bob cannot decline without losing his #9 to Julie.

  2. Julie wins with a score of 10-4, 4-10, 10-0. She has earned the right to challenge Mike [#8].

    • If Julie beats Mike, she will become #8 and Mike will fall to #9.

  3. Bob wins with a score of 10-2, 12-10. He has earned the right to challenge Mike [#8] or Holly [#7].

    • If Bob beats Holly, Bob will rise to #7, Holly will fall to #8 and Mike will fall to #9.

  4. Julie wins with a score of 10-5, 10-4. She has earned the right to challenge Mike [#8], Holly [#7] or Johnson [#6].

    • If Julie beats Johnson, Julie will rise to #6, Johnson will fall to #7, Holly will fall to #8 and Mike will fall to #9.

  5. Bob wins with a score of 10-0, 10-1. He has earned the right to challenge Mike [#8], Holly [#7], Johnson [#6] or Angie [#5].

    • If Bob beats Angie, Bob will rise to #5, Angie will fall to #6, Johnson will fall to #7, Holly will fall to #8 and Mike will fall to #9.

Declined Challenges/Inactivity

  • If a player declines a rematch, that player will fall to the position of the player who issued the rematch.

  • If a player declines more than 3 challenges per month or they risk falling to the position of the lowest ranked player who submitted one of the 3 most recent challenges.

  • If a player is unable to play matches due to injury or travel, they will fall 1 ranking position per month. In this case, ranking position will only be lost if there are multiple matches played amongst players ranked lower than the unavailable player.

Balls, Court and Time Selection

  • The challenger has the right to select the court (except for Title Matches). The court must be within a reasonable commute for the incumbent. The challenger may select a court in a private club as long as the incumbent is allowed to play there. Court fees must be split 50/50 amongst the players. If the financial burden is too great, players have the ability to force the challenger to choose a free outdoor tennis court. In this case, the challenger may overrule this by offering to pay for court fees.

  • Matches can be player at anytime, but must be agreed upon by both players.

  • Both players MUST bring 3 or more balls to the match. A coin flip will determine which player gets to select the balls which will be used. Any tennis balls in working condition may be used. Junior balls and pressureless balls are not allowed, but used balls are fine.

Showcases

At some point, it will become infeasible or redundant to film every match for YouTube. Title matches and rematches will be prioritized in the showcases.

Changeover coaching will be filmed as well and SwingVision will be used to track shots.

Bonus Rules

  • Hinderances are ALLOWED. You may distract your opponent with gestures and noise. Calling fake lets is illegal though and will cost you the point if Beckett sees.

  • Service lets are to be PLAYED. If the ball clips the net and bounces in, the point is live.

  • The player who brings the largest crowd (with a minimum 10 viewers) gains an additional +1 to their Challenge Power if they win the match. This is because more popular players are better (why Fed is the GOAT and Djokovic is not).

  • On-court coaching is allowed. Players may choose one coach to sit on the bench with them during the match. Coaching can occur at anytime and can also be done by audience members.

  • Aggressive booing and taunting is not only allowed, but engouraged.

  • Cheating is allowed. You can hook as much as you want but beware these matches will be posted online and SwingVision will be used to track shots.

  • The Commissioner is allowed to change rules without notice and setup random matches at will. For the safety of The Commissioner, The Commissioner’s identity will remain anonymous.