Entering a tournament the right way

This is the point that surprises people most, because it goes against habit: at most tournaments, each player receives their own payment link and pays their share. One partner cannot pay for the whole team.

Until both shares are paid, the pair is not confirmed. If your partner tells you “it's paid”, that only covers their half: don't delete the message containing your link, you will need it.

Two draws in the same discipline, for example an open Men's doubles and a Men's doubles 50+, can be played at the same time. Entering both means you may only be able to play one.

Check the level too: a draw capped at 4.0 does not accept a player ranked above it. If in doubt, ask the organiser before paying: it is much simpler than undoing it afterwards.

Your address is what identifies you from one tournament to the next. Using one address one time and another the next creates two player records for a single person: your entries end up split, and payment links go to the wrong place.

Beware of copying and pasting from a messaging app: sometimes an invisible character slips into the address. It looks right on screen, but no email can reach you any more. Type it in by hand.

If you are not sure your entry went through, don't start again: a second entry creates a duplicate that takes up an extra place, muddles your pair and can make you pay twice.

Go back to the link you received by email, or write to the organiser. They will find your entry in a few seconds.

When a draw is full, you can join the waiting list. There is no position that gives you a right to a place: as soon as a place frees up, it is offered, and the first person to pay gets it.

So keep an eye on your emails after joining the waiting list. Nothing is charged until you have a place.

You can enter on your own, as a player looking for a partner. You then appear on the tournament page, and another player in the same situation can join you.

Waiting until you have found someone before entering is the surest way to find the draw full in the meantime.

Tournaments sanctioned by the French Tennis Federation (FFT) ask for your FFT licence number: seven digits and a letter, for example “0541950 A”. It is what allows your results to count towards the rankings. You will find it on your licence certificate and in your licence holder area; if you already hold a tennis or padel licence, it is the same number.

No licence? You can get one from an FFT-affiliated club, often within a few days. Without a number, an entry to a sanctioned event cannot be confirmed: ask the organiser whether they offer an event open to players without a licence, or come back and enter as soon as your licence is issued.