## VII. THE COMPETITION 

the vacancy involves a seed #9-16, then the next highest positioned player or team in the main draw eligible to be seeded shall be placed in the vacated seed position. The appropriate lucky loser shall fill the remaining vacancy. 

## Seeds Withdraw or Are Withdrawn 

Case: The team seeded 4th withdraws after the draw but prior to the order of play being released for the first day of main draw. How is the vacancy filled? 

Decision: For a 16 team draw, the vacancy created by the removal of a seeded team is filled by the next highest positioned team eligi - ble to be seeded. The appropriate alternate or lucky loser team shall fill the remaining vacancy. 

## Qualifier Eligible To Be Seeded 

Case:  A qualifier’s ranking was high enough for him to be seeded in the main draw. The main draw was completed prior to the end of the qualifying event. After the player had qualified but prior to the order of play being released for the first day of main draw a seeded player withdraws. Is the qualifier eligible to be seeded? 

Decision: Yes . The successful qualifier shall be accorded the same right to be seeded as the other players who have gained entry as Direct Acceptances, Wild Cards, Special Exempt etc. As per ATP rules a player may not use his Protected Ranking for seed purposes 

## 2) Other Vacancy Procedures After Qualifying Starts. 

a) After the qualifying commences (when the first ball of the first match is struck), vacancies may only be filled by eligible lucky losers (and eligible alternates in the case of a Challenger event). 

b) If a lucky loser position becomes available after the places for qualifiers are drawn for the main draw but before the first day of the main draw event, the highest positioned lucky loser shall be inserted into the draw provided he can be notified. 

c) If a position becomes available during the day, the highest positioned player who has signed that day’s lucky loser sign-in record shall be inserted at the time the withdrawal is confirmed. 

d) Positions becoming available after the start of play for the last match of each day in that event (singles or doubles) shall be filled by the highest positioned player who signs the lucky loser sign-in record on the successive day of play. 

e) When two or more positions become available at the same time, the positions to be occupied by each lucky loser shall be determined by drawing. 

f) In all such cases, the Supervisor is responsible to notify a player(s) that he is in the draw. 

## When is the withdrawn player replaced? 

Case:  A player withdraws from the main draw 2 hours prior to the close of the lucky loser sign-in deadline. A few minutes later, the highest ranked lucky loser signs in. There is still one hour left before the lucky loser sign-in deadline closes. As the player who signed-in is the highest ranked LL, is he inserted at that moment, or is the vacancy filled after the sign-in deadline passes? 

Decision: The player is not inserted in the draw until after the sign- in deadline as others may withdraw necessitating drawing for the 

## VII. THE COMPETITION 

available spots. Multiple withdrawals occurring after the last match of that event began on the previous day, and the time that the sign- in deadline closes on the next day, are considered to have occurred at the same time and the positions to be occupied by each lucky loser shall be determined by drawing. 

## 7.21 Match Scheduling 

## A.Scheduling Committee 

The scheduling of matches and daily order of play in all tournaments shall be pre - pared by the Referee and/or Tour Manager and approved by a committee composed of the Tournament Director, Supervisor, Referee and the Tour Manager. In cases where the scheduling committee cannot agree, the Supervisor shall make the final decision. 

## B.Tournament Week Plan 

1) Main Draw.  The main draw should be scheduled so that the first round in singles begins on Monday and the finals in singles and doubles are completed by Sun - day, unless the tournament has special permission from ATP forty-two (42) days in advance of the event to complete the tournament on Saturday or on Monday. 

a) Considerations and Priorities. The following priorities in the order listed should be followed: 

 ii) Schedule quarters together as an alternative. 

iii) Avoid Monday/Thursday (singles) or Tuesday/Friday (doubles). Schedule some doubles on Monday. 

iv) The singles quarterfinal matches on Friday should be scheduled by halves and as close together as possible. 

 v) Schedule one doubles semi-final on Friday (cannot be done if there are two Saturday sessions). 

vi) When weather or other unavoidable circumstances cause a disruption in the schedule, a player may not be scheduled for more than three (3) matches in a day without his consent. 

2) ATP Tour Qualifying. One (1) round per day except when weather or other un - avoidable circumstances require two (2) rounds to be played on the same day. 

a) In ATP Tour events, one round shall be played on Saturday and the final round shall be played on Sunday except when weather or other unavoidable circumstances forces two rounds to be played on Sunday. 

b) ATP Tour 250 events may petition for qualifying to be held on Sunday and Monday. The petition may be approved or denied after evaluating the impact upon the Match Schedule Plan and its effect upon the players and the tourna - ment as a whole. 

## 3) ATP Challenger Tour Qualifying. 

i) ATP Challenger 80-125. The two (2) qualifying singles matches shall be scheduled as first matches on the first day of the event, no exceptions. 

i) Schedule the halves of the draw together particularly from Wednesday onward. At indoor tournaments, second rounds can be split within sec - tions if necessary to avoid Monday/Thursday (singles). 

1. The matches may not all be singles without the consent of the player. 

2. Completion of a match in progress shall count as one (1) match. 

