## VII. THE COMPETITION 

b) Teams who did not enter through the online on-site alternate sign-in and teams where one member of the team is eligible to re-pair following the with - drawal of his partner are eligible* to sign the daily alternate sign-in and are placed below those teams on the alternate list who did enter through online on-site alternate sign-in method. 

* To be eligible, alternate teams who did not enter through the online protocol must sign-in on the first day of the doubles competition. 

7) Teams may remain on the alternate list for multiple events in the same week, however, they may only sign-in at one of those events on any given day. 

8) Vacancies in Challenger Doubles main draw will be filled from an alternate list using the same protocol as used for entries. 

Case: A team submits an advance entry for a 250 tournament with one of the players using a protected ranking. They are among 6 teams not ranked high enough to be selected. The other 5 teams are using their best of rankings. Where is the team using the pro- tected ranking placed on the alternate list if they are the next team in based on that ranking or the 4th highest team using their best of ranking? 

Decision: The team using the protected ranking is placed at the top of the alternate list. Protected ranking is used for entry into a tournament either directly or as an alternate (either an advanced entry or as an on-site entry). 

## Who is inserted as the doubles alternate? 

Case 1:  After the sign-in deadline for doubles alternate has closed, there are 7 teams signed-in. At 16:55 a team scheduled to play at 17:00 withdraws due to injury of one of the players. The #1 team on the alternate list is inserted into the draw. The match is called at 17:00. It is discovered that the inserted team is at the hotel and at 17:15 the alternate is defaulted for punctuality. What should be done now? 

Decision: If an eligible alternate team cannot be found who is ready to go on court by 17:20, then a walkover is awarded. 7.20 B 2) b) states that to be eligible for substitution, a lucky loser (alternate) must “be ready to play within five (5) minutes after the announce - ment of a default for punctuality”. 

ATP POLICY: While every effort must be made to locate an eligible, signed-in alternate team, the 15 minute punctuality rule must be en- forced to protect the opponent who is ready to play. It is incumbent upon the teams signed-in as alternates to be available, reachable and ready to go when the match is called or within 5 minutes of the announcement of a punctuality default. In the instance of one player on court in singles, his partner must be available, reachable and ready to go, the team would be inserted and the match rescheduled. This policy extends to Lucky Losers also. 

Case 2:  A doubles match is called at 11:00 AM and one of the teams cannot be found. At 11:15 AM a punctuality default is award- ed. How is the vacancy filled? 

## VII. THE COMPETITION 

Decision:  The highest ranked doubles team from the alternate list who are eligible to be inserted in the draw and are ready to play within the five (5) minute allotted time period will replace the de - faulted team. 7.20 B 2) b) states that to be eligible for substitution, a lucky loser (alternate) must “be ready to play within five (5) minutes after the announcement of a default for punctuality”. 

ATP POLICY: (See ATP Addendum, page 387) . Alternates (Lucky Losers) are to be ready when called upon to fill a vacancy. By sign - ing the daily alternate (Lucky Loser) list they are declaring that they are on-site and ready to play, if needed. While every effort will be made by ATP staff to locate the alternate/LL teams it is the alternate/ lucky loser teams/players responsibility to keep ATP staff informed of their whereabouts and to remove their names if they leave the site or otherwise become unavailable for substitution. 

## Advance Entry Qualifying 

Case: How are vacancies handled for ATP Tour qualifying events if there are no eligible players remaining on the Advanced Entry list and there are not enough players who signed the Friday On Site Alternate list to fill the draw? 

Decision: If there are no eligible players remaining on the Ad- vanced Entry list and there are not enough players who signed the Friday On Site Alternate list to fill the draw then Byes should be awarded to the seeded players by ranking order. Any additional vacancies occurring after the draw will be filled from the “day of” Alternate sign-in list. 

## ATP 500 Doubles Qualifying 

Case: How are vacancies handled for ATP Tour 500 doubles quali - fying if there are not enough teams who entered the Qualifying Entry list through the On-line On-site entry method to fill the draw? 

Decision:  If there are not enough teams who signed the Friday On- line On-Site Doubles Qualifying list to fill the draw then Byes should be awarded to the seeded teams by ranking order. Any additional doubles Qualifying vacancies occurring after the draw will be filled from the “day of” Alternate sign-in list. 

## B.Lucky Loser/Alternate Substitution 

1) A lucky loser/alternate shall be inserted in the appropriate position as a substitu - tion for any player who withdraws or is withdrawn before the first ball of his first match is struck. 

NOTE:  A player winning a match by walkover is considered to have played a match. 

2) In order to be eligible for substitution, a lucky loser/alternate must: 

a) Sign the lucky loser/alternate sign-in record at least one-half (1/2) hour prior to the first scheduled match of each day; and 

b) Be ready to play within five (5) minutes after the announcement of a default for punctuality. 

c) If the eligible lucky loser/alternate is not available to play, he shall be placed at the bottom of the lucky loser/alternate priority list for that day correspond - ing to the qualifying round in which he lost. If the eligible player is playing in 

