Play Tennis: USTA ADULT TOURNAMENTS
The USTA offers tournaments for every age and skill level, whether you are looking to play in your local community, travel the country to face the nation's best, or even looking to represent Team USA in a senior international competition. Tournament events are offered on clay, hard, and grass court surfaces.
Here’s a quick look at all the different ways that you can test your game and play USTA Adult Tennis Tournaments:
GETTING STARTED
FIND AND REGISTER FOR TOURNAMENTS
TOURNAMENT STRUCTURE
All Adult tournaments are given a level from 1 to 7. Click here for an overview of the levels. As a USTA member, you can participate in any of these tournament levels as long as you meet the eligibility criteria of each tournament (i.e. age, NTRP, etc).
Ranking points are awarded for each tournament–the more you win, the more points you earn in a tournament! For a breakdown of ranking points, click here.
If you are just looking to play more and don't want to worry about points, no problem! The Serve Tennis tournament software automatically calculates points for you so all you have to do is register and play. What are you waiting for? Register for a tournament today!
NTRP TOURNAMENTS
The National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) is the official system for providing level-based competition for USTA Adult Leagues and NTRP Tournaments. The primary goal of NTRP is to help all tennis players enjoy the game by providing a method of classifying skill levels for more compatible matches and tournament play.
The rating categories are generalizations about skill levels. Players must have a USTA rating to enter sanctioned NTRP events, and they may "play up" in divisions .5 higher than their NTRP rating. Players are not permitted to play events below their rating or more than .5 above their rating. If you do not have a self-rating, click here.
NTRP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Players can earn points and potentially qualify to participate in the NTRP National Championships. NTRP Divisions for 3.0 - 5.0 are offered for Men's and Women's Singles and Doubles for the 18+ age group. For 40+ and 55+, 3.0-4.5 is offered. For more information on how to punch your Golden Ticket to Nationals, click here.
AGE DIVISION/OPEN TOURNAMENTS
Many tournaments are categorized by age or "open." An age-division tournament simply requires players to be a minimum age and is not based on NTRP. There are age-division tournaments all over the country that range in both court surfaces and competitiveness–from competing at local tournaments to competing for the coveted Gold Ball at a National Championship.
Open tournaments are open to any and all USTA members. Typically, players who are equivalent to a 4.0 or higher will participate; however, as the term "open" implies, anyone can play as long as they are a current USTA member. To find an age-division or open tournament near you, click here.
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
The best-of-the-best age-division players can team up to represent the USA at the ITF World Team Championships. These are equivalent to the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup for the "open" players; however, they require players to be in the 35-85 age range. For more information, click here.
RESOURCES FOR USTA ADULT TOURNAMENTS
Comparing the Ranked Event Levels (PDF)
2023 USTA Adult Tennis Tournaments Ranking System (PDF)
2024 USTA Adult & Family Tennis Tournament Ranking Table Changes (PDF)
2024 USTA Adult & Family Tournament Regulations (PDF)
National L1/L2/L3 Tournament Schedule
For additional questions, please contact AdultTournaments@usta.com.
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