Okay, so you can play tennis. You may also have won some tournaments. But have you ever been curious about your current level in tennis? Well, if you open this article, then you are interested. Like in video games, tennis has a ranking system where players “level up” the better they are in the game.
So, what are the tennis levels?
There are 4 tennis levels, the NTRP, UTR, ITF, and ATP/WTA. Every tennis player starts with NTRP and UTR rating levels, which change depending on their match’s performance. When they become professional, they will begin with the ITF ranking level and then finally, ATP/WTA levels.
What is the difference between these 4 tennis levels? How do you improve your tennis level? Read along to learn more about these!
Table of Contents
What are The Tennis Levels?
Tennis levels are rankings of tennis players based on how well they play. The better the player is in the game, the higher they are rated.
Every player started off from the bottom of the rank when they started their career. They can level up much faster if they win against more higher-rated players.
If you have played a video game before, this concept is similar to elo ratings. Winning more games increases your rating, which resembles how good you are at the game.
Tennis has four rating levels: NTRP, UTR, ITF, ATP (or WTA).
Players start with NTRP and UTR and will get ITF and ATP (or WTA) when they become professionals.
NTRP (USTA) Rating
NTRP is a rating system used by USTA and is the level where a new player starts his career. The NTRP rating is self-assessed and revised annually by the USTA.
The NTRP can be rated in numbers from 1.0 to 7.0 or in letters A, B, C.
1 – 7 Tennis Level
Here is the level representation on each level:
Level 1.0: This player just started playing tennis.
Level 1.5: This player has limited experience and is working primarily on getting the ball in play.
Level 2.0: This player is familiar with basic positions on the court but still has incomplete stroke controls.
Level 2.5: This player can sustain a slow-paced short rally with other players of the same ability, but mostly with forehands. Still need to work on backhands and faster rally experience.
Level 3.0: This player is consistent in hitting medium-paced shots. But still need improvement in directional control, depth, or power.
Level 3.5: This player is able to do directional control on moderate shots and incorporate net plays into their games. But they need to work on variety and teamwork in doubles.
Level 4.0: This player has dependable ground strokes with directional control and moderate shots. They need to work on being patient on rallies.
Level 4.5: This player has started mastering consistent power and spins to your shots, as well as having solid footwork and pace management. They are also beginning to handle pace but need work on game strategy.
Level 5.0: This player is able to consistently hit winners, hard-hitting shots, and serves. But they need to improve on strategic plays and mental strength.
Level 5.5: This player has excellent consistency and shot power, can use various strategies in competitive situations, and hits dependable shots under pressure.
Level 6.0: From this stage onward, NTRP ratings are not important anymore. This player has leveled up to the next stage. They have had intensive training for national competitions and have obtained national rankings.
Level 7.0: This is the highest NTRP (USTA) rating. Achieving this means that you are a world-class player.
A, B, C Tennis Level
In the A, B, C level system, A is the top-level play rated for advanced players. A is equivalent to an NTRP rating of 5.0 or above in the number system.
B-level players are intermediate and equivalent to a 3.5 – 4.5 rating. C-level players are beginners and equal to 2.5 – 3.5.
Finally, players with ratings below 2.5 are D-level players (newbies).
UTR Rating
The UTR or Universal Tennis Rating is a global rating system for men and women ranging from 1.00 to 16.50. The higher the UTR rating, the better the player is in tennis.
The rating is calculated based on the player’s outcome of their last 30 matches within the last 12 months. So, the rating is always proportional to the most recent match’s outcome.
Players who are planning to go professional should have to register for a UTR rating. For example, a UTR rating is required for college (NCAA) recruitment process.
From a perspective, a male college Division 1 player has a UTR rating of 13.00. Novak Djokovic currently has the highest UTR rating in the world, with 16.25.
See here if you want to learn more in-depth about UTR rating.
ITF, ATP & WTA Ranking
Unlike NTRP and UTR ratings that players can register at any point, the ITF, ATP, and WTA rankings are only obtained when a player becomes a professional.
The ITF, ATP, and WTA rankings are calculated based on matches won at professional tournaments. These are the rankings established when a player goes professional. The higher the rankings, the more professional matches that player has won.
In professional competitions, you will compete with the world’s best, including Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. Therefore, these levels are the highest levels a tennis player can reach.
An example is Holger Rune, who became a professional in 2020 and started in the top 1000 ATP rankings. Throughout his time, he was able to win the ATP Masters 1000 Paris, including winning against the world’s number 1, Novak Djokovic, in the final, and raised his ATP ranking as high as #4.
The ITF, or International Tennis Federation, organizes international events for men and women. Some tournaments the ITF handles include the Davis Cup and Fed Cup.
Professional players usually go through ITF ranking first to gain entry to tournaments at the lower levels.
The ATP and WTA are where the big tournaments and money prizes are, such as the Grand Slam Tournaments.
The ATP, or Association of Tennis Professionals, only organizes men’s professional tennis tournaments. The WTA, or Women’s Tennis Association, organizes women’s professional tennis tournaments.
See here to see the creation of ITF, ATP and WTA in tennis history.
How To Improve Your Tennis Level?
A higher tennis level is directly proportional to how good a tennis player is since they increase the more matches you win. So, in order to improve your tennis level, you need to get better at tennis.
Easier said than done, of course.
But how do you actually get better at tennis? Here are some tips you can utilize to improve your tennis level:
- Don’t try to perfect every skill set in tennis. Stick to one way of playing and practice it until you master it. For example, some great players are average on rallies but are deadly at net play, such as volleys.
- One of the tennis skills you should put extra practice on is serving. Since serves are the game’s first shot, it is also the most crucial. Work on increasing the speed and power of your serves, and the game will be easier for you to win.
- Research your opponent before matches are good to know his habit and weakness.
- Be confident, and trust your hard work in practice. It is okay to lose some games. Just make sure there is something you can improve for the next game.
- Work in endurance and mental aspects of the game. A tennis game can last really long with tennis rallies ending in multiple shots.
Utilize these tips and play more competitive matches. Whether you win or lose, you will still get valuable tournament experience and improve over time, increasing your tennis level.
Wrapping Up
The 4 tennis levels, NTRP, UTR, ITF, and ATP/WTA is a way that you can see your current tennis level. What every player should aim for is to aim for the number 1 rank for ATP/WTA. Achieving this means that the player is the current best player in the world. Novak Djokovic currently holds the number 1 ATP rank.
But if you are a new player, you should take your time with it. Improve your skills one at a time, practice diligently, and play many competitive tournaments. Then, over time, you will increase your tennis level bit by bit.
