The phrase "round robin" dates back to the late 17th century, when British navy sailors used circular-signed petitions—known as round robins—while keeping their identities anonymous.
A 1698 court deposition mentions sailors creating "a paper commonly called a Round Robin" to pressure their captain for shore leave. The term likely comes from the French phrase "rond ruban," meaning "round ribbon," which was used for anonymous petitions.
By the 18th century, the meaning expanded to refer to any multi-signed document that concealed the order of signatures.
It was adopted for sports competitions in the United States by the late 1800s, particularly in tennis. Early documented uses in tennis contexts appear around the 1890s in American publications, such as the *Official Lawn Tennis Bulletin* (1895), which described a "round-robin tournament" as a format where "each man plays every other" because it provided "the best possible test of tennis skill" and helped avoid "flukes" common in single-elimination brackets.
In the UK and some other places, it was sometimes called an "American tournament" because round-robin formats contrasted with the dominant single-elimination (knockout) style used in events like Wimbledon .
At events like the ATP Finals and WTA Finals, the top eight players are divided into groups and compete in round-robin matches, with the top two players advancing to the knockout rounds. This format rewards consistency over multiple matches rather than relying on the outcome of a single game.
In contrast, single-elimination tournaments—such as USTA events—offer less room for error: one loss can end a player's journey, even for top seeds. Poor performance, injury, or an unexpected upset can eliminate the best players early on in a tournament.
From sailors advocating for better conditions to elite tennis events, "round robin" remains a symbol of fairness—ensuring that everyone gets a fair chance, whether on a ship or on the court.
Written by Coach Koko (Karen Hackett)
Add comment
Comments