Racquets & Strings: Toronto's tennis community
Tournaments, round robins, league ladders and social meetups played on Toronto's public tennis courts, with a court finder for 182 Toronto locations and 322 more across the GTA.
Frequently asked questions
What's the match format?
Warm up for 5–10 minutes. Players choose between one set, 2 sets plus a 10-point match tiebreak, best of 3 tiebreaks, or a pro set. If court time runs short, play a quick 7-point tiebreak.
Who serves first?
Toss a coin, or spin a racquet and call the logo. The winner chooses to serve, receive or pick an end.
How is the draw made?
Knockouts: your first-round opponent is chosen by skill level, then zone, then preferred courts. If you've collected enough points to be in the top 8 of an event's entrants, you get a seed. A seed doesn't guarantee an easier opponent. Round robins: players are grouped by skill level, zone and preferred courts.
How will I know when my next opponent is ready?
We send you a WhatsApp message (or a text) with your opponent's name and number: straight away if they're decided between 8am and 4pm, otherwise at 8am the next morning. Add your WhatsApp or text number to your profile if you'd like these timely updates.
When should I contact my opponent?
Within 48 hours of the draw being published. If they haven't replied in 5 days, tell the organizer.
Who brings the balls?
First round: both players bring a new can. The winner keeps the unopened can for their next match, and the loser keeps the opened one.
What if my opponent is late?
Wait 30 minutes from the agreed time. Tap Check In when you get to the court, which records that you were there. If they still haven't shown, tell the organizer. Cancelling with less than 3 hours' notice counts as a no-show.
What if we can't play before the deadline?
Ask the organizer for a one-week extension at least 4 days before the deadline. If a match still isn't played, the organizer may schedule it on a weekend matchday. A player who can't make it is replaced by a Lucky Loser.
What's a Lucky Loser?
We get no-shows. Play your match before the deadline, even if you lose, and the organizer may bring you back into the draw to fill an empty spot.
What's a wildcard?
A player chosen to fill an empty slot and keep the draw moving. If an opponent is unavailable in a later round (QF, SF), the organizer can bring in a replacement.
How do line calls work?
You call the lines on your side. Call right away and loudly enough for your opponent to hear. If a ball is too close to call, replay the point if you both agree; otherwise it counts as good and the point goes to the player who hit it.
What if it rains?
Don't play on wet public courts. Rearrange the match before the deadline, or ask the organizer for an extension.
Someone's waiting for our court.
Public courts rotate every 30 minutes when there's a queue. Ask for 5 more minutes to finish a game, then rejoin the queue. Locations with 4 or more courts make it easier to finish a match.
What if we run out of time and can't finish?
The score when your time runs out or the court changes over is the result. If it's level (e.g. 3–3) with 5–10 minutes left and people waiting, play a tiebreak to 7. Please try not to spread a match over several days.
How do I report a score?
Either player taps Enter Score, picks the winner and the court, and enters the sets. It counts straight away.
How are points awarded?
Round robin: 3 for a win, 1 for a loss. Knockout: R32 1, R16 2, QF 3, SF 5, final 10, champion 20. Challenges: +3 / −3. Rallies: +2 / +1. Half your points carry into next season.