The Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars provides young Canadian tennis players (ages 7 to 10) with an opportunity to play competitive tennis in a fun environment. Last year approximately 1,000 boys and girls across the country competed in almost 400 events. Rising Stars tournaments are the perfect opportunity for young tennis players to improve their skills and make new friends. The Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars is designed to provide a tournament format for kids whereby they take part in multiple meaningful matches in a short block of time, making it convenient for families. 

Getting Started 

Rogers First Set Tour – RISING STARS is for: 

How to join & find a tournament

To compete in Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars tournaments, players must be a registered member of their Provincial and Territorial Tennis Association (PTTA). Once players purchase a PTTA membership, they must register for a specific tournament on the Tournament Software website.

Please visit the Tournaments Calendar to find a Rising Stars tournament near you.

Rising Stars Tournaments Calendar

Step 1: How to register for a PTTA membership*

Register here

*If players have participated in Rookie tournaments previously, they simply need to upgrade their membership type within the membership section

Step 2: How to register for a tournament 

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What to Expect? 

Tournament Format 

The aim of Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars tournaments is to provide year-round quality matchplay opportunities for advanced U9/U10 junior tennis players. Rising Stars tournaments are recommended for players looking to take their first step along the competitive pathway. Take a look at the competition formats below to see how each age groups’ matches are structured:

U9 – orange ball competition

  • 3/4 court will be used
  • Racquet: 23” (depending on child’s size)
  • Boys and girls combined draw

U10 – green ball competition

  • Regular full court will be used
  • Racquet: 23-25” (depending on child’s size)
  • Boys and girls on separate draw

Draw Format

Compass or Round Robin draw format will be used to provide a minimum of three match opportunities to each player.

Match Format

Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars tournaments use modified scoring formats to provide a friendly introduction to competition and have matches completed in a shorter period of time. U9 and U10 events will use one of the scoring formats outlined below. Please consult your PTTA website for which match format is used in your province.

U9 Events (30-45 min matches)

(1) 1 set, first to 6 games with no-ad scoring, or 35-minute timed match, whichever comes first
●  7-point tiebreak at 6-6, deciding point to be played at 6-6 in the tiebreak

(2) 8-game Pro Set (first to win 8 games with a margin of 2 games), or 45-minute timed match, whichever comes first
●  7-point tiebreak at 7 games all (if no time left, play deciding point at 6-6 in the tiebreak, otherwise, first to 7 points winning by 2)

(3) Best 2 of 3 short sets (first to win 4 games with a margin of 2 games)
●  5-point set tiebreak at 4 games all (first to 5 points winning by 2)
●  5-point or 7-point match tiebreak at 1 set all (in lieu of a 3rd set) (first to 5 or 7 points winning by 2)

(4) Best of 3 short sets up to 4, no ad
●  5-point set tiebreak at 3 games all
● 5-point match tiebreak at 1 set all (in lieu of a 3rd set)
● All tie breakers must be won by 2 points

* No ad scoring, players do not call lets

U10 Events (35-45 min matches)

(1) 1 set, first to 6 games with no-ad scoring, or 35-minute timed match, whichever comes first
●  7-point tiebreak at 6-6, deciding point to be played at 6-6 in the tiebreak

(2) 8-game Pro Set (first to win 8 games with a margin of 2 games), or 45-minute timed match, whichever comes first
●  7-point tiebreak at 7 games all (if no time left, play deciding point at 6-6 in the tiebreak, otherwise, first to 7 points winning by 2)

(3) Best 2 of 3 short sets (first to win 4 games with a margin of 2 games)
●  5-point set tiebreak at 4 games all (first to 5 points winning by 2)
●  5-point or 7-point match tiebreak at 1 set all (in lieu of a 3rd set) (first to 5 or 7 points winning by 2)

(4) Best of 3 short sets up to 4, no ad
●   5-point set tiebreak at 3 games all
●   5-point match tiebreak at 1 set all (in lieu of a 3rd set)
All tie breakers must be won by 2 points

* No ad scoring, players do not call lets

Prizing

Competitors will receive a Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars prize when they play in their first event and fifth event throughout the calendar year.

Leaderboard

To create a healthy and positive competitive environment, Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars leaderboards are designed to reward participation as well as performance. Points will be awarded as follows:

  • Participation Points: Points are awarded for each tournament a player competes in (40 points per tournament played)
  • Bonus Participation Points: One-time bonus points are awarded to players at the end of the year if they have played in 10 or more Rising Stars tournaments in the same age category (U9 or U10) (200 bonus participation points for playing 10 tournaments)
  • Tournament Points: Points are awarded for wins and ties (10 points per match win)

Each province maintains 4 leaderboards: Boys U9, Girls U9, Boys U10, and Girls U10. At the end of the year, the top 5 players on each leaderboard are awarded prizes.

Fair play 

Providing a competitive environment in which all matches are contested fairly is essential to ensuring a positive experience for all players. Everyone must work together to make this happen including Tennis Canada, Provincial Associations, players, parents, and officials.

Players are expected to follow these key Fair Play elements:

  • Following the rules of the game 
  • Treating opponents, officials, organizers, coaches, parents, and spectators with respect 
  • Embracing both victory and defeat with dignity  
  • Displaying appreciation for a good performance 
  • Exercising self-control 
  • Playing a part in creating a safe and inclusive tennis environment by not engaging in any form of maltreatment or verbal, physical or online abuse towards opponents, officials, organizers, coaches, parents, and spectators 

Tennis Canada Rulebook: Rules of the Court – click here 

Player & Parent Resources 

Parents are asked to be familiar with the information of the Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars and tournament regulations before signing up your child to a tournament. 

If you would like to provide feedback on the Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars, please take the time out to complete our survey. This short survey will take approximately five minutes to complete.

What’s the Next Step?

Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars events are designed to prepare players for entering the U12 junior provincial competitive structure. 

To view the next tournament steps for players who compete in the Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars, click here. To view the Whole Player Development Pathway (WPDP) click here.

For a complete overview of nation-wide tournaments, consult our calendar.

Tournaments Calendar

To learn more about your province’s junior competitive structure, please visit your PTTA website.

If you have any further questions about the Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars, please email tournaments@tenniscanada.com

Resources for Tournament Directors

For more information on hosting a Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars tournament at your club, please email tournaments@tenniscanada.com