Tennis Comp For All Officially Launched

drawforall, a new nationwide grassroots tennis competition designed to provide opportunities for adult players to compete against others of a similar standard, has been launched with the support of the LTA, Dunlop and Tennishead magazine, as well as a number of professional players.

The drawforall format is based on the LTA Volkswagen Ratings tournaments that used to take place in the 1980s when the tournaments grew from 10 in the first year to almost 400 four years later. 

The concept was simple, each tournament featured a progressive draw with the lowest rated players playing one another in the early stages and higher rated players being fed into the tournament as it progressed – so players could be confident that they would be competing against someone of a similar ability.

The tournaments have now been re-branded and modernised as drawforall. The first tournaments will start in March 2013 and there will be an initial circuit of approximately 60. 

The tournaments will be run at a variety of tennis venues, including local authority sites, traditional clubs and community indoor tennis centres. The tournaments will predominantly be open to players aged 15 or older, although some tournaments may also run junior events. 

Features of the drawforall concept include:

• A minimum of two matches against similarly rated opponents (where possible both matches will be on the same day)
• Two draws – main and consolation – so even if you lose your first match you get another opportunity to play another match.
• Matches played over two full sets and a match tie break. Sudden death deuce will also be used.
• 3 new Dunlop balls for each match, with the loser of the match keeping the balls
• Standardised entry fees of £15.00 for each tournament
• Prizes for all ratings categories including an exclusive drawforall rucksack

drawforall’s Jeremy Dier said: ‘This new circuit is a resurrection of the very successful LTA Volkswagen Ratings Scheme which I co-founded in the 1980’s. I would like to thank the LTA’s Keith Carder, Mike Bain and Caroline Blincoe (and her team) for helping me to bring drawforall to life and look forward to offering the opportunity to players of all Ratings to enjoy competing. I would also like to thank my sponsors Dunlop and tennishead for their support as well as all the venues who have agreed to take part.’

Upcoming British tennis stars Liam Broady and Heather Watson have already backed the idea. 

Meanwhile drawforall has hired Aduro to handle its social media and wider comms plans. The brief focuses on driving entries for the nationwide grassroots tournaments and building a groundswell of support across the tennis community.