## VII. THE COMPETITION 

## Can I Withdraw from Doubles to Accept a Singles Wild Card? 

Case: A player, who is main draw in doubles, is offered a singles wild card into an ATP Tour or ATP Challenger Tour event. Can he withdraw from main draw doubles to accept this singles wild card at another event? 

Decision: Yes. The player can withdraw from the doubles before the doubles on-site entry deadline to accept a wild card into the singles. This would be considered the same as the player being accepted into the main draw singles of another ATP Tour or ATP Challenger Tour tournament which is allowed. 

## Partner Injured: Who May Replace Him? 

Case:  A player’s doubles partner withdraws after the on-site sign-in deadline but before the draw is made. In looking for a new partner, is the withdrawing player’s partner allowed to choose another part- ner from the qualifying draw? 

Decision:  No. The player seeking a new partner may not team with any player who is accepted into the qualifying or main doubles draws. He may re-enter with any player that he chooses as long as their combined position in the FedEx ATP Rankings qualifies them by virtue of the system of merit for doubles entries. He may not se- lect from players who will be or who are in the qualifying draw based on the sign-in sheet. 

## ATP Challenger Tour 

1) A team shall constitute a doubles entry. If either of the players of a team cannot play, that doubles entry is subject to withdrawal and substitution. 

2) If a player from a team that is a direct acceptance in the main draw withdraws based on a medical reason or other unavoidable circumstances after the on-site sign-in deadline but before the draw, his partner may enter again with another player who has not already been accepted into the main draw doubles event. This new team may be considered for acceptance based on its position in the entry list including any entry protection position. 

## Remake of the Draw 

Case: On Monday morning, two (2) of the four (4) seeded teams withdraw from a 16-draw doubles event. The doubles competition has not yet begun. May the draw be remade? 

Decision:  Yes. However, it is the option of the tournament. 

## D.Prior to Qualifying Competition 

1) ATP Tour Singles.  After the main draw is made and prior to the commencement of the qualifying competition, all vacancies created by the withdrawal of unseeded players including wild card withdrawals, shall be filled by the next highest posi - tioned player(s) on the original acceptance list. If the vacancy was created by the withdrawal of a seed, then the procedures for replacing seeds are followed and the vacancy created by replacing the seed is filled by the next highest positioned player(s) on the original acceptance list. 

2) ATP Tour Doubles.  After the main draw is made and prior to the commence - ment of the qualifying competition, all vacancies created by the withdrawal of un seeded teams including wild card withdrawals, shall be filled by the next highest 

## VII. THE COMPETITION 

positioned player(s) on the on-site entry list. If the vacancy was created by the withdrawal of a seed, then the procedures for replacing seeds are followed and the vacancy created by replacing the seed is filled by the next highest positioned player(s) on the on-site entry list. 

3) ATP Challenger Tour. (See Challenger Addendum, page 388) After the with - drawal deadline and prior to Sunday*, 3pm local time before the tournament, vacancies will be filled from the original acceptance list by players who have preserved their position on the list. If there are no Alternates from the original ac - ceptance list, the vacancy will be filled from the on-site Alternate List. (*Saturday for a Sunday start event.) 

If a withdrawal occurs after 3:00pm local time on the day prior to the commence - ment of qualifying, the main draw vacancy will be filled from the on-site alternate sign-in list (players must personally sign-in to be eligible as an on-site alternate), with the first priority being those players who have preserved their eligibility, fol - lowed by players in ranking order from the original Acceptance list who signed in for qualifying, followed by players who were not on the Acceptance List or who did not preserve their position, using the most recent FedEx ATP ranking. If the va - cancy was created by the withdrawal of a seed, then the procedures for replacing seeds are followed and the vacancy created by replacing the seed is filled by the next highest positioned player(s) from that event’s alternate sign-in list, following the protocol specified above. 

## ATP Tour Main Draw Vacancy Before Qualifying Starts 

Case:  After making the qualifying draw, a vacancy occurs in the main draw. How is the vacancy filled? 

Decision:  If the qualifying competition has begun, the vacancy is filled by the eligible lucky loser. If the qualifying competition has not begun, the vacancy is filled by the next player on the original acceptance list. 

## E. Qualifying started or finished 

1) During Qualifying Competition.  If a lucky loser position should become avail - able during the qualifying competition, it shall be treated the same as the qualify ing places for placement in the main draw. If a seeded player or team withdraws after the main draw has been made but prior to the release of the order of play for the first day of main draw in that event, the vacancy created by the withdrawal of a seed shall be filled by the following method: 

a) 16/24 (Doubles)/32/48/64 and 96 Draw.  The vacancy shall be filled by the next highest positioned player or team in the main draw eligible to be seeded. The appropriate lucky loser shall fill the remaining vacancy. 

b) 28 Draw.  If the vacancy involves a seed #1-4, then seed #5 moves to the vacated seed position and the next highest positioned player in the main draw eligible to be seeded shall be placed in the position vacated by the #5 seed. The appropriate lucky loser shall fill the remaining vacancy. If the vacancy involves a seed #5-8, then the next highest positioned player 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. 

c) 56 Draw.  If the vacancy involves a seed #1-8, then seed #9 moves to the vacated seed position and the next highest positioned player or team in the main draw eligible to be seeded shall be placed in the position vacated by the #9 seed. The appropriate lucky loser shall fill the remaining vacancy. If 

