AEGON British Junior National Championships
19-25 August 2012
The questions and answers below will support a more detailed understanding of the changes to the AEGON British Junior National Championships and how British tennis people and other areas of competition will be affected by the changes.
The changes have been made to benefit players and ultimately their competition experience, these are, amongst others:
Following a review of the current structure and feedback from people in tennis we will be making changes to the Junior Nationals in 2012.
The Junior National Championships is a showcase for juniors and British tennis and the event should reflect this. The changes will minimise issues around overlapping tournaments, provide more match opportunities for all players involved and hopefully we can create a better atmosphere and overall competition experience for the pinnacle of the junior domestic calendar.
Currently the 14U – 16U age groups are played on clay at The West Hants Club, Bournemouth over a period of 16 days and the 18U age group is played on acrylic at the National Tennis, Roehampton over a period of seven days. All age groups run a knock out qualifying event feeding into a main draw of 32, with optional consolation and doubles events as well.
There is also a 9U and 10U Invitational event run at the National Tennis Centre in the same week as the 18U event.
The 14U – 18U age groups will be played on acrylic at Nottingham TC over a period of seven days and the 12U age group will be played on clay at The West Hants Club, Bournemouth also over a period of seven days. Each age group will have just a main draw, no qualifying, with a consolation for first match losers and a doubles event. All events will take place in w/c 20th August.
There will not be an Invitational event for the 9U and 10U age groups. Instead, the Summer National Tour will be extended for them and a Summer National Tour Finals arranged, following the same principle as the Winter National Tour Finals.
In order to provide all players accepted into Nationals with the same opportunity for a minimum number of matches it was decided to remove the qualifying event and run a straight main draw, whilst at the same time not losing the competitiveness of matches at each round and minimising the difference in total number of players accepted in each age group. This option removes the previous uncertainty that players in qualifying experienced as to whether they should risk getting a minimum of just one match at Nationals and forfeit the opportunity to participate in a grade 3 competition which would provide more match opportunities. With just a main draw all players (and parents) accepted into Nationals know where they stand.
Firstly the events are scheduled between Sunday – Saturday, thereby complying with the ‘standard tournament week’ that the LTA are strongly recommending for all multi age group junior tournaments which last for three or more days during the school holiday periods, in order to minimise the overlapping issues with other competitions.
The w/c 20th August is preferable for the 12U age group to avoid any clash with the 12U Nations Challenge, a 12U International team event. The LTA are fully committed to this international team competition, whilst also ensuring that the best players at this age group compete at nationals.
In 2012, due to the Olympics, the ITF have moved the dates of the 14U World Junior Finals to take place in w/c 12th August. As with the 12U age group it is a priority to not clash Junior Nationals with this international competition and as such the w/c 20th August is also chosen for 14U – 18U age groups events. It is acknowledged that, for 18U players, this later date is close to the ITF Grade 1 in Canada and Junior US Open, therefore the dates for the 14U – 18U events will be reviewed again for 2013 when the ITF have confirmed the 2013 international dates.
Surface, number of courts, geographical location and suitability as a tournament venue were all taken into consideration when reviewing the venues. The possibility of having 12U – 18U age groups all together at one venue was investigated, however, there is not a venue with enough outdoor courts (~26+) to be able to schedule all matches into the one week. Venues were chosen where we are confident that it will be possible to run successful events, and which are also conducive to a festival of tennis atmosphere to showcase Britain’s best junior talent.
Clay is the preferred surface for the younger age groups as it is better for the development of the game and the Summer National Tour, as well as Tennis Europe events, in the months leading up to the Nationals will be prioritised where possible to be on clay.
There will be some difference in the number of players accepted. Once it was decided to remove qualifying for the reasons stated in point 4 above, the draw sizes were worked out based on number of players accepted in 2011 as well as the maximum number of matches that could be scheduled at the venues. There will be a 48 player main draw for the 18U & 16U age groups, a 56 player main draw for the 14U & 12U age groups.
(this answer was updated on 15 March)
No, a player may only play in one singles event and one doubles event. The doubles event must be in the same age group category as the singles event. (if a player is not playing singles they may still sign up for doubles but there is no restriction to which age group they sign up). There are also certain exceptions surrounding entry into different age groups, details of which are on the Compete tab.
No player is permitted to play in two different age groups. There are age group rules surrounding entry into different age groups and it is important that you read this information in advance – Age Group Rules
These were published on 15 March, view the Age Group Rules
The acceptance criteria for grade 1 & 2 competition includes an international criteria, which is considered ahead of AEGON British tennis rating & ranking. The full details of the acceptance criteria can be found in the competition’s Regulations.
Yes, wild cards may be available and the number available for each event is outlined on the 2012 Format tab.
In line with the LTA Wild Card Policy, players do not need to apply for a wild card. All players entered will be considered for a wild card. The only exception is if a player is returning from injury/illness, in which case please contact the Tournament Organiser for a wild card request form, which must be completed and returned before the entry deadline.
Yes. Up to four places per singles event will be reserved. View entry information.
No, there are no special conditions for Junior Nationals in 2012. The overlapping tournament regulations published in the LTA Competition Regulations will apply (Regulation 3.10). Regulation 3.11 (b) will not apply in 2012, there will be no specific circumstances for Junior Nationals.
For players not playing singles they may still sign up for doubles but there is no restriction to which age group they sign up
There will be no invitational event for the 9U and 10U age groups. Instead, an additional event will be added to the Summer National Tour, which will be the Summer National Tour Finals and will follow the same principle as the Winter National Tour Finals. Information on the Summer National Tour and Finals will be published on the Summer National Tour page.
The implementation of the changes will be monitored in 2012 along with feedback from tennis people. We will continue to plan the national level competitions in conjunction with the international calendar as well as the competition and competitor experience.