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Hyde Park Tennis League: Matches and Scoring Rules

The short set format
We use a different match format instead of conventional three set matched at Hyde Park. In this busy centre, courts are bookable for only an hour at a time. To make it easier to complete matches, we are using short set tennis.  

Matches are two short sets with a conventional tie-break at one set all.

A short set is played to four games instead of six.

At set is therefore won at 4-0, 4-1, 4-2. 
At 4-3 the player with the four game advantage needs to win one more game to win the set (ie 5-3). 
At 4-4, the next game is sudden death - the set is won 5-4. 

If the matches goes to one set all, a conventional tie-break is played.
The player who received serve at the end of the previous set serves first in the tie-break. 

Points
You get one point for completing a match
You get one point for every set you win (the tie break counts as a set as far as points are concerned) 
So the player winning the match on a tie-break gets a total of 3 points (one for each set, one for completing the match; the loser gets 2 points (one for the set, one for completing the match)

Typical final scores might be:

Roger Federer bt Andy Murray (Feb 5) 4-0, 4-2
(Federer 3 points; Murray 1)

Andy Murray bt Roger Federer (Feb 6) 2-4, 5-3, (7-4)  
(Murray 3 points, including one for the third set tie-break; Federer 2 points)

Players who complete three or more matches by the mid-point of the round receive 2 bonus points, and a free can of balls which we will post to you. 

Forfeit or walkover matches do not count toward bonus points or free tennis balls. The winner of a forfeit match receives 2 points, the player responsible for the forfeit does not receive a point.

Please note...  

  • Players are asked to keep the warm ups as short as possible to make it easier to complete matches in one hour.
  • If a match can't be concluded in the hour and can't be continued as a court is unavailable, the match should be completed at a later date.
  • Please do respect waiting players' court time and finish playing promptly even if a match is unfinished
  • Unfortunately this match format means matches do not count toward LTA ratings

If you have any questions, please email us at hydeparktennisleague@googlemail.com