## X. AGE ELIGIBILITY AND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT 

## A. AGE ELIGIBILITY RULE 

Player Development requirements and the Age Eligibility Rule (“AER”) are applicable to competition in Professional Tennis Tournaments worldwide. 

## 1. Definitions 

a. Competition in a Professional Tennis Tournament 

For the purposes of this Rule, competition in a Professional Tennis Tournament is defined as participation in the singles or doubles Main Draw or Qualifying Draw of any Tournament at which a player earns WTA ranking points (singles or doubles) or, but for the operation of the WTA Rules or the player’s violation of the WTA Rules, would have earned WTA ranking points. Participation in a Professional Tennis Tournament counts toward a player’s AER Tournament Allotment. If a player participates in the Qualifying Draw and qualifies for the Main Draw, it will count as only one (1) Tournament. Similarly, if a player is competing in both the singles and doubles draws, it will count as only one (1) Tournament. 

Competition in a Professional Tennis Tournament under the AER does not include: (i) participation in the draws of the Women’s ITF World Tennis Tour events in which a player does not earn WTA ranking points; (ii) participation in the draws of Women’s ITF World Tennis Tour 15s events before August 5, 2019; or (iii) receiving a zero (0) ranking point result for not participating in a Grand Slam or Commitment Tournament. 

b. Age 

For the purposes of this Rule, a player’s age is determined by her age as of the date of the start of a Tournament’s singles Main Draw. 

A player 18 years of age or older no longer is subject to sub-Section A of this Rule but is required to continue participating in Player Development (sub-Section B) until she receives notification of graduation from a WTA representative. 

## 2. Event Participation 

a. AER Tournament Allotment and AER Wild Card Allotment at Professional Tennis Tournaments 

