Crucial Conversations: Q&A with Adam Hutchinson, USTA Senior Manager for Adult Competition
1. What factors go into creating the tournament schedule each year and when do you expect to release the 2024 schedule?
Level 1 tournaments are typically awarded on three year cycles so most of the Level 1 tournaments are going into their 3rd year. Compete bids can also be done during the cycles and may be considered as replacement if the Adult Competition Committee (ACC) feels a Level 1 Tournament needs to be relocated for any reason. Typically these reasons would include documented evidence that the current host site is not meeting expectations and the ACC feels as though the new compete bid would address those concerns. After Level 1 tournament cycles expire, Tournament Directors are welcome to renew their bids and new Tournament Directors may apply to host. The ACC will choose what they feel is the best overall venue for the tournament and a new three year cycle begins!
Level 2 and 3 tournaments are typically awarded on two year cycles which expire this year. The same process as laid out for Level 1 Tournaments applies to Level 2 and 3 tournaments with regards to compete bids, new applications, etc. The ACC does have set criteria they consider for elevating tournaments to a Level 2 or a Level 3 which is largely based on participation, survey results, and other verifiable sources.
The ACC, Rob Gorden, and myself are all working diligently on finalizing the 2024 schedule. With nearly 100 applications coupled with trying to balance holidays, ITF Masters Tour World Championships and the 2024 Pan American Games, it's quite the complex puzzle to try to put together and ensure there is minimal conflict. Although not always feasible, the surfaces are intended to be date and geographically distant from each other. We hope to have a final schedule ready to publish by the end of September and hopefully all, or at least most, tournaments published on Serve Tennis before Thanksgiving as we know many players want to plan their tournament schedules as soon as possible.
2. How are tournaments funded and supported by USTA National?
Level 1 National Tournament Directors received a grant based on surface and tournament draw size. The larger the draw size, the more funds they receive to offset some expenses. Clay and Grass tournament directors also receive a little bit more due to the increased maintenance required for those facilities (on average). Level 1 National Tournaments also receive trophies and tennis balls from the USTA.
For all National Tournaments, we certainly want to support them the best we can. We recently launched a National Tournament Director Hub which includes all of the necessary information Tournament Directors need to run a successful tournament. More resources geared towards Adult Tournaments will be coming to the Hub in 2024. There is also a dedicated phone number and email for Tournament Directors to use for any Serve Tennis related questions. For the remainder of 2023 and going into 2024, Rob and myself will work on a plan to reach out to TDs approximately six weeks and two weeks prior to entries closing with a checklist of items to check-in on to ensure the tournament is as successful as it can be.
The ACC is also committed to providing maximum support. A subcommittee will be reviewing the survey results and following up with Tournament Directors on improvements that can be made or perhaps just a "thank you" for a job well done. A second subcommittee will be focused on ensuring the National Standings Lists are accurate by doing spot checks of the calculations to ensure these are 100% accurate which means the TDs and Seeding Assistants can correctly seed players.