Tennis ratings explained: NTRP, UTR and WTN
The three systems side by side
| NTRP | UTR | WTN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run by | USTA | UTR Sports | ITF (World Tennis) |
| Scale | 1.5 to 7.0, in 0.5 steps | 1.00 to 16.50 | 40 to 1 (lower is better) |
| Men and women | Rated against your own gender | One scale for everyone | One scale for everyone |
| Singles and doubles | Blended | Separate doubles rating | Separate numbers |
| Updates | Year-end rating, dynamic ratings nightly (hidden) | Daily | Weekly, on Wednesdays |
| Main use | USTA League and NTRP tournaments | College recruiting, juniors, many clubs | ITF events, Britain, college tennis (ITA) |
Which one do you need?
- Playing USTA League in the US: NTRP. You need a valid computer or self rating to register.
- Heading for US college tennis: UTR (Verified) is what coaches use, and the ITA names WTN its official rating, so expect both.
- Playing in Britain: WTN, which replaced the old LTA ratings in late 2021.
- In Australia: UTR is Tennis Australia's official rating tool.
Why the numbers don't convert neatly
The three systems use different results, different formulas and different scales, and NTRP rates men and women separately. None of the three bodies publishes an official conversion. Any table you see is an approximation, including ours.
Questions
Is UTR better than NTRP?
They do different jobs. NTRP sorts adults into league levels. UTR is a finer, results-based number used for recruiting and matching players.
Has WTN replaced NTRP?
No. USTA says it has no current plans to replace NTRP, and WTN isn't used for USTA League, though league results feed into it.
What is a good tennis rating?
It depends on the system. An NTRP 4.0, a UTR around 6 to 8 for men or 4 to 6 for women, is a solid club player.