What Is An NTRP Tennis Rating?
Most sports have ranking systems or stats that can be used to judge the proficiency and skill of their players, but how does ranking work in tennis? What organization provides tennis rankings, and what level of skill do these rankings correspond to? Below, we will learn all about the NTRP Ranking System, one of the well-known ways of ranking tennis players.
NTRP Rating
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) uses the National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) to analyze the skill of different players and determine what competition they will face during USTA league play, which affects rankings. The NTRP starts at 1 and goes up in intervals of 0.5 for adults and intervals of 0.1 for junior competitors, with a 7 being the highest a person can be rated.
NTRP Rating Scale
Below is a breakdown of NTRP rankings below:
| RANK | LEVEL |
|---|---|
| 1.0-2.5 | Beginner |
| 3.0-4.5 | Intermediate |
| 5.0-5.5 | Advanced |
| 6.0-6.5 | National Competitor |
| 7.0 | World Class Competitor |
How to Get an NTRP Rating
When first competing in an NTRP-sanctioned event, a player will self-rank their skill. If you have played competitive racket sports before, it is recommended you self-rank no lower than a 3.0.
After your matches, your ranking will be adjusted based on your play. Ratings are derived from your match results in official UTSA league or tournament competitions.
For junior players, the ratings are calculated every night. An updated list of the ratings for junior players appears every two weeks for public view. Adult year-end ratings are published each December and designate which level competitors must play at during the following year.
Male and Female NTRP Ratings
Junior ratings rank both boys and girls on the same scale. In terms of ratings, a 4.0-rated boy and 4.0-rated girl would have an equal chance to win a match against each other.
In adults, the ratings are adjusted slightly, as men and women are judged on different rating charts. The difference is not huge, but it is large enough to matter in competitive play. In general, a woman rated 4.0 would be equal to a man rated 3.5.
FAQ
What is NTRP in tennis?
In tennis, NTRP is a classification system that identifies and rates players’ general tennis-playing abilities. Based on the NTRP General Characteristics Guide, players are assigned a rating ranging from 1.5 for beginners to 7.0 for touring professionals.
What does NTRP stand for in tennis?
In tennis, NTRP stands for the National Tennis Rating Program. Developed by the USTA in 1978, the NTRP is a system for rating the abilities of tennis players and assigning them to well-matched competitors.