A player rating is a way of measuring your tennis ability, so you can see how you are improving. It also means you can make sure you are entering the right level of competitions. You also need a rating to play in competitions.
Are you new to competition?
To get a rating, you’ll need to be a British Tennis Member. If you sign up online, you’ll be asked to fill in a ratings questionnaire about your playing standard. Based on that information you’ll be given a player rating.
Learn more about British Tennis Membership
If you’re already a British Tennis Member you can download the ratings questionnaire and email, post or fax it in to get your rating.
Download Ratings Questionnaire
There are 20 rating bands. A rating of 1.1 is the highest level and 10.2 is the lowest.
The ratings scale goes (from the lowest): 10.2, 10.1, 9.2, 9.1, 8.2, 8.1 and so on until 1.2 and finally 1.1. Junior beginners will start with a rating of 10.2 and adult beginners will start with a 9.2.
How to improve your rating
If you are a junior with a rating of 10.2 you need to achieve:
- 4 wins to move to 10.1
- A further 4 wins to move to 9.2.
* These wins can be against any player with a rating from 10.2 – 1.1
You can record your wins on the 10.2/10.1 results card and send to Competition Services at the LTA. Download your 10.2/10.1 Ratings Card.
If you are a junior with a rating of 9.2 or higher, you need to achieve:
- 7 qualifying wins with a 60% win/loss ratio in all qualifying matches
If you are an adult player of any rating, you need to achieve:
- 3 qualifying wins with a 60% win/loss ratio in all qualifying matches
Which Matches Count?
A qualifying win (QW) = a win against a player rated the same or higher than you.
A qualifying loss (QL) = a loss against a player rated the same or lower than you.
Calculate your win/loss ratio: QW x 100 / (QW+QL)
Use the Win/Loss Calculator
Changes to the Ratings System - From 2008 Winter Season
Meeting the above criteria as from the 2008 winter season is the only way in which a player can improve their rating. Please note that players can only increase one ratings level at a time and the 3 iterations/calculations no longer take place.
It’s a good idea to speak to the competition organiser and check that all the match results from that tournament will be sent to the LTA.
When can your rating change?
There is the opportunity to increase your rating 4 times a year. Your new rating will depend on the results of matches during the previous three or six months.
Results used to increase your rating in the mid season review will also be used during the 6 month review. This is because results from the whole 6 months will be taken into consideration, based on your rating at the time of the ratings run; therefore the same match results may help you increase in both calculations.
What is a Mid-season Review?
A mid-season review provides players who progress quickly in a short space of time with the opportunity to increase in rating without having to wait 6 months. The 2008 winter mid season review includes matches played up until 7th December and new ratings will go live on 5th January.
How is Mid-season Different to a Normal Ratings Run?
The mid-season run takes into account the first 3 months of a ratings run. A player’s rating will increase if they have already met the ratings criteria.
Can My Rating Decrease?
Only adults with a rating of 5.1 or higher can decrease in rating and this can only happen once a year, at the end of the summer.
To find your latest rating you can use the Player Search
The next ratings run:
2008w mid-season Ratings cut-off date: 7th December 2008
2008w mid-season Ratings go live on: 5th January 2009
2008w end of season Ratings cut-off date: 29th March 2009
2008w end of season Ratings go live on: 20th April 2009
If your questions on ratings haven’t been answered here, check out our Ratings FAQs page.