Selection Policies & Tours

WILDCARDS 

Definition

• Wild Cards are opportunities which provide a player a chance to compete into the Main Draw or Qualifying at the discretion of the Tennis NZ/Region/Tournament Director. 
• The ITF determine the number of wildcards based on the draw size. Tennis NZ determine the number of wildcards for National events.

Player Eligibility 

Players must have entered the tournament unless special exemption is granted by Tennis NZ or event organiser.

• ITF events - players are encouraged to email the Tournament Director by the entry deadline and no later than the Freeze deadline
• National events - players must email the Tournament Director prior to the entry deadline

Players who wish to be considered for a Wild Card should contact the below emails, please note it is the player's responsibility to email the correct contact for their request to be considered:

ITF Men’s & Women’s World Tennis Tour in New Zealand

If you would like to apply for a wildcard to World Tennis Tour in New Zealand, please email [email protected]

18/u Junior ITF events held in New Zealand 

If you would like to apply for a wildcard to ITF Junior events in New Zealand – please email [email protected]

Tier 1 events, Junior Masters or National Championships in New Zealand

If you would like to apply for a wildcard to Tier 1 events, Junior Masters or National Championships in New Zealand please email [email protected]

Allocation

For all Junior ITF events, wildcards will be determined by Tennis NZ in consultation with the host.

Applying for a wildcard does not guarantee allocation, wildcards will only be awarded if they are deemed to be warranted. This is regardless of total number of wildcards vs requests. The Selectors decision is final and there is no right of appeal.

The Tennis NZ Selection Panel (selection panel) have the right to make objective and subjective assessments in making their decisions and to weight each assessment on a case-by-case basis, without in any way creating any form of precedent relevant to the determination of any subsequent case. The size of the team may change depending on the event, age group and available budget but the process will at all times be fair and transparent. When the Selection Panel is deciding on those players to represent New Zealand, they will use the criteria below in selecting the team. Other criteria, which will be communicated, may also apply for certain trips. 

Eligibility

Players must be New Zealand citizens and passport holders at the time of selection.  

Age - ITF age eligibility rules must be met for ITF competitions. Australian age eligibility requirements must be met for Australian tournaments. 

Players must meet the eligibility criteria and conditions of the tournament for which selection is being made.

SELECTION FACTORS:

The selection panel will consider the following factors, but not limited to, in selecting players for Tennis New Zealand Junior Teams to compete in national and international team’s events as follows (in no particular order): 

1. Rankings & Results

• Tournament performances and competitive matches 

• Ranking most relevant to the circuit and age group of the trip. Ranking Systems include but not limited to: ATP or WTA Rankings, ITF rankings, Tennis NZ Rankings, WTN, UTR, Match hub as at the date of selection; 

• Head to head results from Match hub or ITF as at the date of selection; 

• Performance in Singles; 
  
  
• Performance in Doubles;

2. Game Development

The Selection Committee will consider whether a player has a high level of on- going development in the technical, tactical, physical and mental aspects of the game and a game style that has the potential to be successful in professional tennis.

3. Physical Performance

The committee reserve the right to conduct a full and comprehensive fitness testing battery on potentially selected athletes. This may be used to ascertain preparedness to compete abroad both from an injury and performance perspective. Every attempt will be made to forewarn athletes of required benchmarks prior to 30 days from departure with regard to minimum standards.

4. Development opportunity 

The Selection Committee will consider whether a player shows the potential to develop their game to an international standard and will gain a benefit from being selected for this trip.

5. National Player Camp attendance 

A player’s attendance record will be taken into account at the time of the trip/selection. A player’s attitude and performance at the national player camp will also be considered.

6. Professional standards/Personal Qualities 

Players are expected to display the attitude and conduct required of an aspiring professional tennis player at all times. This will include giving maximum effort, displaying high levels of commitment and respect and having high operating standards. Poor conduct may result in a player not being selected or being subject to further education in this domain during a tour.

7. Extenuating Circumstances

The selection panel may decide in its absolute discretion to take account of any exceptional circumstances which have resulted in a player’s performance being adversely affected (i.e. injury). The existence of exceptional circumstances will be for the selectors to determine. 

Team Selection Process

The physical embodiment of how the ITF Junior teams (WJT, BJK Cup and JDC) are selected for age group camps can be found HERE.  

Junior Representative Teams:

Emily Carter (Head of High Performance, Convenor), Matt Alexander (Development Coach), David Knight

Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) is holding the 12u invitational Intercontinental Cup once again in 2025. The inaugural tournament was held in Hong Kong in 2024.

New Zealand has been invited to send a boys and girls 12u team in 2025 from 29^th September – 4^th October in Kazakhstan.

Each team consists of three boys and three girls.

Age Eligibility

Players must be born between 1st January 2013 and 29^th September 2015. Further, they should have turned 10 years of age and have reached their 10th birthday on or before the first day of the event until the end of the year in which the player turns 12 years of age.

The team will be selected at the end of August/start of September.

14U Asia-Pacific Elite Trophy

The 14u Asia-Pacific Elite Trophy is an invitational event that is held annually in Melbourne in January. 

New Zealand receives one male and one female place in an 8 draw format. 

The two places in the January event will be offered to the winners of the National Championships 14u held in December immediately prior. In the event the winner is unable to attend, the runner up will be offered. If the runner up is unable to attend then the Junior selection panel will assess in accordance with the Tennis NZ Junior Selection policy. 

For 2025 (unless otherwise advised by the OTF), New Zealand is allocated 3 wildcard for athletes in each of the boys/girls events in the B2 ITF Junior event. 2 Main Draw spots and 1 Qualifying. 

These slots are for New Zealand athletes that have entered the event by the entry deadline will be allocated as follows:  

Specifically, for this invitational event the following selection policy shall apply for the NZ wildcard allocations:

Wildcards

For both genders the following process will be adhered to for selection;

- The highest ITF-ranked 17th birth-year (only awarded if inside top 1000 ITF)  or younger at 29^th July 2025

- The highest ITF-ranked 16^th birth-year (only awarded if inside top 1500 ITF) or younger at 29^th July 2025

- The highest ITF-ranked 15^th birth-year or younger

Regardless of age, the two main draw wildcards will be allocated to the highest ranked, with the lowest ranked player receiving the qualifying WC

- In the event no player meets ranking benchmark for the 17^th or 16^th birth year, TNZ selection panel will allocate the WC at their discretion, under the Development Opportunity category within the selection criteria.

Singles Wildcard selections will be determined on the 30^th July, after the entry close deadline on the 29^th July.

Doubles Qualifying

- One wildcard selection to be offered at the discretion of the TNZ Selection Panel in alignment with the selection policy

- Doubles wildcards will be determined onsite following sign-in

Please note: to be eligible for a NZ wildcard, NZ athletes that have entered the event by the entry deadline.

For the 2026 ASB Classic, Tennis New Zealand has one wildcard into the main draw, and one into the qualifying draw for New Zealand players, in both the ATP and WTA tournaments. 

Players will be allocated the wildcard on the basis of the ATP/WTA points achieved from their eight best events across the year.

The player with the most points out of their top eight events will receive the wildcard into the main draw, while the player with the second highest will receive the qualifying draw wildcard.

See below for the current points information. 

Note: If a player receives direct entry into the tournament, the wildcards will move to the next in line. 

Selection Criteria for NZ Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup Teams

Selection Criteria
The selectors shall have the right to make objective and subjective assessments in making their decisions and to weight each assessment on a case-by-case basis, without in any way creating any form of precedent relevant to the determination of any subsequent case. The size of the team may change depending on the event and available budget, but the process will at all times be fair and transparent. When the Selection Committee is deciding on those players to represent New Zealand, they will use the criteria below in selecting the team. Other criteria, which will be communicated, may also apply for certain trips.

• RANKING/RANKING PROGRESSION – Significant weight will be placed on those ranked 300 (singles) or 100 (doubles) or better. The weighting placed on ranking for those ranked below this threshold will be reduced and greater weighting will be placed on the other factors below. However, the threshold should not supersede other critical factors and will not be a “guarantee” for selection/support.
• RESULTS– The quality of recent results will be considered, particularly where players have made progress within events close in standard to the tie under consideration. This means consideration of ATP/ WTA , ITF Pro results, as well as College based results for players attending College full time. Factors considered but not limited to level of tournament, round, win-loss ratio, ranking trend, notable victories over higher ranked players (current form) and DC record (opportunities vs results in DC).
  
  
• GAME DEVELOPMENT- The Selection Committee will consider whether a player has a high level of on- going development in the technical, tactical, physical and mental aspects of the game and a game style that has the potential to be successful in professional tennis.
  
  
• PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE – The committee reserve the right to conduct a full and comprehensive fitness testing battery on potentially selected athletes. This may be used to ascertain preparedness to compete both from an injury and performance perspective. Every attempt will be made to forewarn athletes of required benchmarks prior to 30 days from departure with regard to minimum standards.
  
  
• DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY - The Selection Committee reserve the right to select a development player as part of the team. This player will show the potential to develop their game to an international standard and will benefit from being selected for this tie. This player could be younger and/or lower ranked than other players in contention.
  
  
• PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS – Players selected will be full time players (juniors, pro or college) following a professional schedule and are expected to display the attitude and conduct required of a professional tennis player at all times.
  
  
• COURT SURFACE – The proficiency of a player on the relevant court surface to the tie will taken into consideration.
  
  
• TEAM CULTURE AND BEHAVIOUR - Players should be willing and able to contribute positively to team culture which will be demonstrated through the following behaviors:
  • Players work with integrity, holding themselves accountable for high standards of excellence
  • Players demonstrate manaakitanga in that their actions uplift other members of the team
  • Players demonstrate mutual respect towards all
  • Players play with courage, always learning and hungry to improve

 Poor conduct during or outside of the ties may result in a player not being selected or being subject to further education in this domain.

Process of Selection of Teams:

The following outlines the timings and process of selection of teams: GENERAL POLICY

Please Note: This policy is an overview of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup Selection process. Specific tie documentation will be uploaded on this page to provide timings and further details when applicable.

Davis Cup Team Selections:

Artem Sitak (Davis Cup Captain), Clint Packer (Davis Cup Coach), Emily Carter (Head of High Performance, Convenor)

Billie Jean King Cup Team Selections:

Matt Hair (Billie Jean King Cup Captain), Emily Carter (Head of High Performance, Convenor)

The next Olympic Games is in 2028 in Los Angeles.

The full selection criteria to be advised. 

The NZOC will ratify Tennis NZ selection panel nominations on the basis that the nominated players meet both the ITF and the NZOC selection criteria.

The NZOC criteria is based on subjective and objective evaluation of a player’s rankings and results are sufficient to achieve a top 16 placing in this games or as a potential for the next games.

New Zealand Travelling Coach Selections: 

Emily Carter (High Performance Manager; Convenor, Interim)

The selectors shall have the right to make objective and subjective assessments in making their decisions and to weight each assessment on a case-by-case basis, without in any way creating any form of precedent relevant to the determination of any subsequent case. The size of the team/number of coaches may change depending on the event, age group and available budget but the process will at all times be fair and transparent. When the Selection Committee is deciding on coaches to represent New Zealand, they will be guided by the philosophy outlined above. Other criteria, which will be communicated, may also apply for certain trips. Coaches should also be aware that they will be required to provide a police check (automatically occurs upon registration for Tennis NZ national programmes) and sign Tennis NZ's code of coaching ethics as a part of their contractual responsibilities.