What is a Tennis Tournament Draw?
A tennis tournament draw (also called a bracket) is the structured chart showing every match from the first round through the final. In tennis, the term "draw" is used more than "bracket" — you'll hear players ask "who's in my draw?" or "when does the draw come out?"
Draws are the standard format for competitive tennis at every level — from club championships to USTA sectionals to the Grand Slams. A draw uses elimination formatting (lose and you drop out or move to a consolation) combined with seeding to ensure the strongest players are spread across the bracket.
Our free tennis draw generator creates properly formatted draws for any number of players, with correct seed placement, bye distribution, and multiple format options including compass draws and feed-in consolation.
Tennis Tournament Draw Formats
Single Elimination (Main Draw)
The standard format. Seeded players are placed according to USTA/ITF placement rules. Lose one match and you're done. Used at every level from club to Grand Slam.
Consolation Bracket
First-round losers play in a separate consolation draw. Guarantees every player at least two matches. The most common addition to single elimination at USTA and club events.
Feed-In Consolation (FMLC / FIC)
More sophisticated than basic consolation. Losers from each round feed into the consolation bracket at progressive stages. Provides more matches for everyone and is required at many USTA-sanctioned events. Common abbreviations: FMLC (First Match Losers Consolation), FRLC (First Round Losers Consolation), FIC-R16 (Feed-In Consolation through Round of 16), FIC-SF (Feed-In Consolation through Semifinals).
Compass Draw
An 8 or 16-player format where after each round, winners and losers are redirected to different sections of the draw (North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest). Every player plays the same number of matches (3 matches for 8 players, 4 for 16). Natural skill-sorting occurs — stronger players end up competing against each other in later rounds. Extremely popular for junior development tournaments, club social events, and any event where you want everyone to play exactly 3-4 matches.
Double Elimination
Less common in tennis than in other sports, but used in some recreational events. Must lose twice to be eliminated.
Group Stage + Knockout
Players are divided into groups of 3-4 for round robin pool play. Top finishers advance to an elimination bracket. Used in Davis Cup, ATP Finals, and many club team events.
How to Seed a Tennis Draw
In sanctioned events, seeding follows specific USTA/ITF guidelines. Seeds are placed in specific draw positions to ensure they can't meet until the designated round.
Seed placement rules: Seeds 1 and 2 are in opposite halves (can only meet in final). Seeds 3 and 4 are in separate quarters (can meet in semis). Seeds 5-8 fill the remaining eighths. Seeds 9-16 fill the remaining sixteenths.
Seeding criteria (in order): NTRP/UTR rating, recent tournament results, head-to-head records, current ranking.
Our generator handles all of this — just enter players in seed order.
When the draw size isn't a power of 2, byes are needed. Byes always go to the highest seeds first. In a 12-player draw (which fits in a 16-player bracket), the top 4 seeds receive first-round byes.
| Draw Size | Max Seeds |
|---|---|
| 4-7 | 2 |
| 8-15 | 4 |
| 16-31 | 8 |
| 32-63 | 16 |
| 64-128 | 32 |
How Long Will My Tennis Tournament Take?
| Players | Format | Courts | Rounds | Matches | Est. Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | SE | 2 | 3 | 7 | ~3.5 hrs |
| 8 | Compass | 2 | 3 | 12 | ~5 hrs |
| 16 | SE | 4 | 4 | 15 | ~4 hrs |
| 16 | SE+Con | 4 | 4+3 | 22 | ~6 hrs |
| 16 | Compass | 4 | 4 | 32 | ~8 hrs |
| 32 | SE | 8 | 5 | 31 | ~4 hrs |
| 32 | DE | 8 | 8-9 | 62 | ~8 hrs |
Times assume pro set format (first to 8 games). Full sets take ~50% longer.
Tips for Running a Tennis Tournament
- Use pro sets for early rounds, full sets for semis and finals. This keeps the event moving while giving the championship matches the weight they deserve.
- The compass draw is perfect for 8 players. If you have exactly 8 players and want everyone to play 3 matches, the compass draw is the best format. It's self-seeding — by round 3, players are matched against opponents of similar ability.
- Always include a consolation. Nothing kills the vibe of a tournament like losing your first match and going home after 45 minutes. A consolation bracket guarantees at least 2 matches.
- New balls for every match in the main draw. Reuse balls in the consolation if needed, but the main draw should always have fresh balls.
- Build in rest time. If a player has back-to-back matches (common in consolation), give at least 30 minutes between matches. Post the "not before" times on the bracket.
- Print a large draw poster. A poster-size bracket displayed at the club is the single most important communication tool. Update it with a marker after each match.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a compass draw in tennis?
A compass draw is a format for 8 or 16 players where after each round, winners and losers go to different sections labeled like compass points (North, South, East, West, etc.). Everyone plays the same number of matches — 3 for 8 players, 4 for 16. There's a winner in each direction, but the North direction is considered the "main" winner.
What's a feed-in consolation?
In a standard consolation, only first-round losers get a second chance. In a feed-in consolation, losers from later rounds also feed into the consolation bracket at progressive stages. This provides more matches and is required at many USTA-sanctioned events.
How do I handle byes in a tennis draw?
Byes fill in when your number of players isn't a power of 2 (4, 8, 16, 32). They always go to the top seeds first. In a 12-player draw, the top 4 seeds get first-round byes. Our generator places byes automatically following USTA rules.
What draw size should I use?
Draws use the next power of 2 above your player count. For 10 players, use a 16-player draw with 6 byes. For 20 players, use a 32-player draw with 12 byes.
Should I use a blind draw or seeded draw?
Seeded draws are better for competitive events — they prevent the best players from meeting early. Blind draws (random) work for social events where fairness is less critical and surprise matchups are part of the fun.
What is a USTA-formatted draw sheet?
A USTA draw sheet follows specific formatting standards: seeds in correct positions, proper bye placement, match times and court assignments, and space for scores. Our generator produces draws compatible with USTA formatting guidelines.
Tennis Brackets by Size
Jump to a bracket generator pre-configured for your exact player count:
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