How to Organise a Tennis Tournament
Running a social tennis tournament is one of the best ways to build community at your club, bring casual players together, or raise money for a cause. It doesn't need to be complicated — a well-organised 16-player event can run in a single afternoon on just two courts.
Choose Your Format
The format depends on how many players you have, how many courts are available, and how long you want the event to run. Here are the most practical options for social tournaments:
| Format | Players | Courts Needed | Duration | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round Robin | 6-12 | 2-3 | 2-3 hours | Social events, mixed abilities |
| Single Elimination | 8, 16, 32 | 2-4 | 3-5 hours | Competitive events, clear winner |
| Double Elimination | 8-16 | 3-4 | 4-6 hours | Competitive, everyone plays at least twice |
| King/Queen of the Court | 8-20 | 1-2 | 1-2 hours | Quick fun, warm-up events |
| Mixer Doubles | 8-24 | 2-4 | 2-4 hours | Social, rotating partners |
For your first tournament, start with a round robin. Everyone plays everyone, there's no elimination (nobody sits out for long), and it's easy to manage. Short sets (first to 4 games, no-ad scoring) keep matches to 20-25 minutes.
Planning Timeline
4 Weeks Before
Book courts, set the date, choose format, create sign-up (Google Form works fine). Set a player cap based on your courts — 4 players per court per round is the maximum.
2 Weeks Before
Close registrations, seed players if competitive, create the draw. Order any equipment you need — balls, scorecards, markers. Arrange prizes if applicable.
3 Days Before
Send final details to all players: time, location, format explanation, what to bring. Check weather forecast and set a rain policy (postpone or move indoors).
Day Of
Arrive 30 minutes early. Set up scoring table, mark courts, distribute balls. Brief everyone on format and rules. Have the draw visible on paper or a whiteboard.
Equipment Checklist
Don't rely on players bringing gear. Supply the essentials centrally so everything runs smoothly:
| Item | Quantity (16 players, 4 courts) | Why | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennis balls | 4 cans (12 balls) per court = 48 balls | Courts chew through balls. Fresh balls per round is ideal | 48-Pack Bucket |
| Scorekeepers | 1 per court | Eliminates score disputes. Players flip numbers between games | Portable Scorekeeper |
| Net height measurer | 1 total | Check all nets before play starts. Nobody wants to argue about net height mid-match | Net Height Measurer |
| Court line tape | 1 roll (if lines are faded) | Old public courts often have barely visible lines. Tape over them for the day | 50m Court Line Tape |
| Court squeegee | 1 per 2 courts | If it rains overnight or there's morning dew, you'll need to clear standing water | Court Squeegee |
Scoring Systems That Actually Work
Traditional tennis scoring is too slow for tournaments with limited time. Use one of these modified formats:
- Short sets (first to 4 games, no-ad): At deuce, one point decides the game. The receiver chooses which side. This keeps matches to 20 minutes and is the standard for social tournaments in Australia.
- Timed matches (20 minutes): Play normal scoring but stop at the time limit. Whoever leads wins. If tied, play one more game. Perfect for round robins where scheduling is tight.
- Fast4 (Tennis Australia format): No-ad scoring, first to 4 games, tiebreak at 3-all, lets are played, no second serve on set point. This is the official fast format and most club players know it. Check the scoring explained guide for the full rules.
Night Tournaments
Evening tournaments have a special atmosphere — especially in summer when daytime is too hot. If your venue has floodlights, book the 6-9pm slot. If it doesn't, you can still run a night event with LED tennis balls and glow overgrips. It turns a standard social event into something memorable.
For a full guide on running evening sessions, see how to play tennis at night.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Too many players, too few courts. Maximum 4 players per court per round. 16 players on 2 courts means some people wait 40+ minutes between matches. Either add courts or reduce numbers.
- No set match time limit. Competitive matches go long. Without a time limit, your schedule collapses by round 3. Set a hard cap and enforce it.
- No one managing the draw. Designate one person (who isn't playing) to update results, call next matches, and resolve disputes. This role is essential for anything beyond 8 players.
- Forgetting water and shade. Australian tournaments need a water station and somewhere to sit between matches. If the venue doesn't have shade, bring a pop-up gazebo.
Kit out your tournament
Scorekeepers, net tools, bulk ball packs, and court gear — everything to run a smooth event.